Portfolio Manager
- University of New South Wales
- Australia, NSW
- Jun 30, 2026
Job Description:
- Full-time continuing role as a Portfolio Manager within Education Solutions, UNSW IT
- Essential experience working within higher education
- Excellent salary package available
- Location: Kensington campus in NSW (Hybrid Flexible Working) 2-3 days in the office
About UNSW:
UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. We’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It’s the reason we’re one of the top 50 universities in the world and a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.
The Portfolio Manager leads the project portfolio within Education Solutions, overseeing the successful delivery of strategic technology initiatives that support the University’s educational objectives and improve the teaching, learning and student experience. Working closely with senior stakeholders across the University, the Portfolio Manager shapes and manages a portfolio of complex projects, balancing strategic priorities, delivery risks, resource capacity and investment decisions to achieve measurable and impactful outcomes.
The role provides leadership to a team of project professionals and is accountable for portfolio performance, ensuring initiatives are delivered effectively, governance requirements are met, and benefits are realized. Success in the role depends on building trusted relationships across academic and professional divisions, partnering with vendors and technology teams, and creating an environment where collaboration, transparency and continuous improvement are part of everyday delivery.
As a senior leader within Education Solutions, the Portfolio Manager influences strategic planning, portfolio prioritisation, and resource allocation, while mentoring and developing team capability and promoting contemporary portfolio management practices.
This position will report to Head of Education Solutions and leads a team of 3 or more direct reports.
Specific accountabilities for this role include:
- Provide senior leadership and advice around the delivery of complex projects and programs to achieve the business objectives, business benefits & business value. This includes the ongoing management of scope, risks and issues, controls and budget as well as monitoring and reporting on the end-to-end program, project or initiative.
- Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to help shape demand into agreed programs and projects of work of varying size and complexity and to agree and adopt the defined technology strategy and new solutions articulated within a project or initiative.
- Develop an effective annual portfolio of work in accordance with the goals and strategic objectives of the UNSW divisions.
- Strategically map-out and monitor portfolio schedule, timeline, budgets, and resourcing, and assist stakeholders in securing and managing funding for the planned portfolio of work.
- Manage key relationships with stakeholders, sponsors, Steering Committees, and senior stakeholders as appropriate.
- Develop and lead the presentation of business cases for high-level initiatives.
- Liaise with colleagues in other IT Teams to secure resources required on Domain projects and initiatives, including but not limited to, Integration and Testing.
- Provide expert and specialist advice to support transformation programs, providing strategy and services to support the resolution of conflicting demands and/or designs and initiatives and managing dependencies between projects and programs of work.
- Provide organisational leadership, including developing, managing, and engaging teams, driving a strong customer centric culture and healthy engagement within the organisation.
- Conduct regular health checks on Domain projects and provide assurance on project compliance and delivery.
- Manage and coach Project Managers and Delivery Leads within the Domain.
- Ensure Domain alignment with IT PMO and EPMO processes and engagement with communities of practice.
- Align with and actively demonstrate the UNSW Values in Action: Our Behaviours and the UNSW Code of Conduct.
- Ensure hazards and risks psychosocial and physical are identified and controlled for tasks, projects, and activities that pose a health and safety risk within your area of responsibility.
Who we are:
- Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field and or extensive equivalent service experience in Portfolio, Program and Project management.
- Extensive experience and knowledge of project management methodologies and techniques, Certifications (PMP, Prince2, Agile).
- Exposure to working in large complex environment and proven track record of managing programs of work and experience in dealing with diverse stakeholders, essential experience working in the higher education sector
- Superior level of Cloud, SaaS, Digital technology knowledge and the general technical landscape.
- Proven ability to successfully develop and lead the implementation of robust digital strategies to deliver business outcomes and experience with driving technology change.
- Strong analytical skills, effective business planning and budgeting skills with demonstrated experience in strategic and operational planning.
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with significant experience in building effective / high performance teams along with developing and retaining staff.
- Versatile, results-oriented, with a continuous improvement focus and ability to influence outcomes with both senior leaders and other stakeholders throughout the organisation.
- Demonstrated creativity, innovation, and ethical thinking in applying solutions for the benefit of the customer/stakeholder.
- Strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills including the ability to develop effective relationships and influence key stakeholders at all levels in the organisation.
- An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
- Knowledge of health & safety (psychosocial and physical) responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.
Benefits and Culture
- Flexible Working Options (work from home, flexible hours etc)
- Career development opportunities
- 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments
- Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period
- Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness)
For further details on the benefits, please visit https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/lifestyle-benefits
How to Apply: please apply through the portal, we would like you to submit a full application including resume and addressing the who you are section.
Applications close: Sunday 12th of July at 11.30pm
Pre-Employment Checks
Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.
These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:-
- National and International Criminal history checks
- Entitlement to work and ID checks
- Working With Children Checks
- Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
- Verification of relevant qualifications
- Verification of relevant professional membership
- Employment history and reference checks
- Financial responsibility assessments/checks.
- Medical Checks and Assessments
Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.
Get in Touch:
Jen MacLachlan
Talent Acquisition Partner – UNSW IT
Please apply through the application portal and not via the contact above.
UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.
At UNSW, we take pride in the broad range and high quality of our teaching programs. Our teaching gains strength and currency from our research activities, strong industry links and our international nature; UNSW has strong regional...
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Job Description:
- Full-time continuing role as a Portfolio Manager within Education Solutions, UNSW IT
- Essential experience working within higher education
- Excellent salary package available
- Location: Kensington campus in NSW (Hybrid Flexible Working) 2-3 days in the office
About UNSW:
UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. We’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It’s the reason we’re one of the top 50 universities in the world and a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.
The Portfolio Manager leads the project portfolio within Education Solutions, overseeing the successful delivery of strategic technology initiatives that support the University’s educational objectives and improve the teaching, learning and student experience. Working closely with senior stakeholders across the University, the Portfolio Manager shapes and manages a portfolio of complex projects, balancing strategic priorities, delivery risks, resource capacity and investment decisions to achieve measurable and impactful outcomes.
The role provides leadership to a team of project professionals and is accountable for portfolio performance, ensuring initiatives are delivered effectively, governance requirements are met, and benefits are realized. Success in the role depends on building trusted relationships across academic and professional divisions, partnering with vendors and technology teams, and creating an environment where collaboration, transparency and continuous improvement are part of everyday delivery.
As a senior leader within Education Solutions, the Portfolio Manager influences strategic planning, portfolio prioritisation, and resource allocation, while mentoring and developing team capability and promoting contemporary portfolio management practices.
This position will report to Head of Education Solutions and leads a team of 3 or more direct reports.
Specific accountabilities for this role include:
- Provide senior leadership and advice around the delivery of complex projects and programs to achieve the business objectives, business benefits & business value. This includes the ongoing management of scope, risks and issues, controls and budget as well as monitoring and reporting on the end-to-end program, project or initiative.
- Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to help shape demand into agreed programs and projects of work of varying size and complexity and to agree and adopt the defined technology strategy and new solutions articulated within a project or initiative.
- Develop an effective annual portfolio of work in accordance with the goals and strategic objectives of the UNSW divisions.
- Strategically map-out and monitor portfolio schedule, timeline, budgets, and resourcing, and assist stakeholders in securing and managing funding for the planned portfolio of work.
- Manage key relationships with stakeholders, sponsors, Steering Committees, and senior stakeholders as appropriate.
- Develop and lead the presentation of business cases for high-level initiatives.
- Liaise with colleagues in other IT Teams to secure resources required on Domain projects and initiatives, including but not limited to, Integration and Testing.
- Provide expert and specialist advice to support transformation programs, providing strategy and services to support the resolution of conflicting demands and/or designs and initiatives and managing dependencies between projects and programs of work.
- Provide organisational leadership, including developing, managing, and engaging teams, driving a strong customer centric culture and healthy engagement within the organisation.
- Conduct regular health checks on Domain projects and provide assurance on project compliance and delivery.
- Manage and coach Project Managers and Delivery Leads within the Domain.
- Ensure Domain alignment with IT PMO and EPMO processes and engagement with communities of practice.
- Align with and actively demonstrate the UNSW Values in Action: Our Behaviours and the UNSW Code of Conduct.
- Ensure hazards and risks psychosocial and physical are identified and controlled for tasks, projects, and activities that pose a health and safety risk within your area of responsibility.
Who we are:
- Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field and or extensive equivalent service experience in Portfolio, Program and Project management.
- Extensive experience and knowledge of project management methodologies and techniques, Certifications (PMP, Prince2, Agile).
- Exposure to working in large complex environment and proven track record of managing programs of work and experience in dealing with diverse stakeholders, essential experience working in the higher education sector
- Superior level of Cloud, SaaS, Digital technology knowledge and the general technical landscape.
- Proven ability to successfully develop and lead the implementation of robust digital strategies to deliver business outcomes and experience with driving technology change.
- Strong analytical skills, effective business planning and budgeting skills with demonstrated experience in strategic and operational planning.
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with significant experience in building effective / high performance teams along with developing and retaining staff.
- Versatile, results-oriented, with a continuous improvement focus and ability to influence outcomes with both senior leaders and other stakeholders throughout the organisation.
- Demonstrated creativity, innovation, and ethical thinking in applying solutions for the benefit of the customer/stakeholder.
- Strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills including the ability to develop effective relationships and influence key stakeholders at all levels in the organisation.
- An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
- Knowledge of health & safety (psychosocial and physical) responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.
Benefits and Culture
- Flexible Working Options (work from home, flexible hours etc)
- Career development opportunities
- 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments
- Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period
- Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness)
For further details on the benefits, please visit https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/lifestyle-benefits
How to Apply: please apply through the portal, we would like you to submit a full application including resume and addressing the who you are section.
Applications close: Sunday 12th of July at 11.30pm
Pre-Employment Checks
Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.
These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:-
- National and International Criminal history checks
- Entitlement to work and ID checks
- Working With Children Checks
- Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
- Verification of relevant qualifications
- Verification of relevant professional membership
- Employment history and reference checks
- Financial responsibility assessments/checks.
- Medical Checks and Assessments
Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.
Get in Touch:
Jen MacLachlan
Talent Acquisition Partner – UNSW IT
Please apply through the application portal and not via the contact above.
UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.
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