Director, Partnerships & Engagement

• Lead Strategic Partnerships, Shape Local and Global Impact at UC
• Competitive salary and conditions
• Fixed Term, 5-year contract opportunity

About us:

The University of Canberra is an ambitious, values-led institution with a vision that "Together we work to empower, connect and share knowledge with our people, cultures and places." We are committed to driving innovation and fostering excellence in teaching, learning, and research through global and local impact. As the university for Australia’s capital region, we aim to be the most accessible university in Australia and a global leader in driving equality of opportunity. Our purpose statement, Galambany, reflects this commitment, meaning that we are together as one – one university, one community.

About the role:

Through strategic collaborations and strong partnerships, we create transformative opportunities for students, researchers, and communities. The Partnerships and Engagement unit plays a critical role in advancing our strategic goals, and we are seeking an exceptional leader to join our dynamic team.

Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), the Director, Partnerships and Engagement will lead the initiation, development, and growth of the University’s strategic partnerships. You will work across education, civic, sport, and international engagement portfolios to drive outcomes that enhance student experience, research impact, and the University’s global presence.

Key responsibilities:

As a key advisor to the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and senior leadership, the role provides strategic direction, evidence-based insights, and innovative approaches to partnership development. Other responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing a high-performing partnerships and engagement team
• Driving culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the unit.
• Drive the growth of student enrolments and research impact through effective strategic partnerships.
• Develop, nurture and evaluate local and global partnerships across education, civic, sport, and international engagement portfolios.
• Collaborate with Faculties to identify opportunities, implement innovative solutions and assess risks.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks, including the Higher Education Standards (particularly 5.4) and the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework.

About you:

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent senior-level experience.
• Demonstrated success in leading and managing strategic partnerships within complex organisations.
• Strong experience in higher education, international engagement, or related sectors.
• Extensive senior management experience with the ability to inspire, develop, and manage high-performing teams.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities, assess risks, and deliver results through collaboration and innovation.
• High-level analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to provide evidence-based advice and plans.
• A strong understanding of regulatory requirements in higher education, particularly ESOS and Higher Education Standards.
• Outstanding communication, pragmatic and creative negotiation skills with the ability to network and influence at senior levels within government, business, and educational sectors.

The University offers excellent conditions and benefits such as flexible, family-friendly policies, on site gym, on site medical services, a supermarket and childcare facilities.

University of Canberra embodies it’s Values of Everyone’s invites, Narragunnawali, Change the World, Dare to be Curious and Walk together which we are proud. UC sets a goal to be the national sector leader in equity, diversity, inclusion and access via Connected – A Decadal Strategy 2023-2032. UC encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities and people from culturally diverse groups.

Pre-employment requirements:

Applicants who wish to apply for this position should have valid Australian working rights at the time of submission. The successful applicant will be subject to a police check.

How to apply:

Please apply with you CV and a cover letter addressing your suitability for this position. Please ensure you take the time to align your CV with the Position Description requirements. We want to understand how your skills and experience relate to the position you are applying for.

For job specific information: please contact Michelle Lincoln, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Acting Vice Chancellor, President) – [email protected]

Recruitment and application questions: please contact the Talent Acquisition team on 02 6206 3867 or email [email protected]

Closing date: 11.55pm, Sunday, 9 February 2025