Director, Policy and Projects

Apply now Job no:522976
Work type:full time
Location:Sydney, NSW
Categories:Management

• Employment Type: Continuing role   
• Remuneration: Highly competitive remuneration package 
• Location: Kensington, NSW. This role is based on campus.

About UNSW:

UNSW is one of the world’s leading research and teaching-intensive universities, known for innovative, pioneering research and high-quality education with a global impact. Since its foundation in 1949, it has aimed to improve and transform lives through excellence in research, outstanding education and a commitment to advancing a just society. It is ranked equal 19th in the 2024 QS World University Rankings, reflecting the university community’s focus on educational excellence.

About this newly created opportunity:

The Director, Policy and Projects is a newly created senior position in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor (VCO) and will work collaboratively with a close knit executive leadership team to help prepare the Vice Chancellor for key internal and external engagements. The expectation is that this role will collaborate in a truly innovative manner with academic and professional leaders across UNSW to gather input, proactively address any risks or concerns, and ensure policy and strategy from the VCO is aligned with the high performing University community. In this role you will be an integral stakeholder in the full lifecycle of multiple strategic projects, from conceptualisation through execution, to post-implementation and evaluation. A pre-requisite in this role will be a demonstrable understanding of the higher education funding and regulatory environment or similar transferrable experience, not to mention an innate ability to identify potential risks and challenges in project execution.

This role reports to and works in close collaboration with the Chief of Staff.  With oversight from the Chief of Staff, the role will craft advice for leadership regarding higher education policy, the regulatory frameworks and funding environment, and undertake quantitative modelling as needed on various strategic priorities to provide advice to the Vice-Chancellor and Chief of Staff in relation to policy application.

This role operates in a highly energised and very fast paced environment which can change in an instant. We are looking for a truly unique individual ready to take that next career step in the Higher Education space, who has the ability to embrace the challenge, who thrives in a fast paced, high pressure environment, and who embraces the opportunity to work closely with some of our exceptional leaders here at UNSW. We are looking for someone who is equally at home preparing briefs for the Vice Chancellor and other leaders and undertaking ‘at the desk’ tasks, as they are leading analysis. We are looking for someone who possesses a strategic mindset, understands the downstream translational impacts and more importantly strategic opportunities arising from the Australian Universities Accord. The ideal candidate will be consummate diplomat and policy guru able to flex to ever changing and emerging operational situations, and able to undertake both complex and administrative tasks simultaneously.

This exciting new role would suit someone who is keen to be instrumental across our overarching University Strategy at both a high level and also granular level,

and is responsible for shaping and supporting Faculties and other areas of the University to implement policies and projects that align with UNSW’s strategic goals, and the mechanisms to support and deliver changes to some of our high level strategic outcomes such as Lifelong Learning and Societal Impact.

What skills and experience we are looking for you to bring to this role:

• Tertiary qualifications with record of academic achievement in a relevant field and experience working at a senior strategic level in complex environments. Post graduate qualifications preferred.
• Extensive experience in policy development, strategic planning and project management with a demonstrated ability to navigate regulatory environments.
• Experience in the education sector highly regarded though not essential.
• Experience in delivering cross-institutional initiatives using outstanding critical thinking and analytical skills and ability to successfully apply these to manage complex issues and solve problems.
• Outstanding writing skills and an ability to effectively communicate complex ideas.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to consult, influence, negotiate and effectively manage relationships across all levels in a complex and dynamic environment.
• High level ability and capacity to comfortably work through internal organisation boundaries to achieve objectives.
• Outstanding writing skills and an ability to synthesize complex data and present concisely to educated audiences
• Ability to undertake quantitative modelling as needed
• Highly developed people management and leadership skills with the demonstrated ability to develop and support a professional, collaborative and excellence-driven workplace culture.

Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role, valid Australian working rights are required on application.

 How to Apply:

Please submit your application online before 8th April 2024 at 11:55pm please include a cover letter addressing the key skills and experience required for this role contained in the Position Description. A copy of the Position Description can be found on JOBS@UNSW.

Get in Touch:

For a confidential discussion about this role please can contact: Ian Hoyles, Recruitment Operations Manager. 

Email Contact:

@: [email protected]

Please apply through the application portal not via the contact above .

UNSW is committed to evolving a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can participate fairly, in a safe and respectful environment. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse gender, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.

Advertised:14 Mar 2024 AUS Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:08 Apr 2024 AUS Eastern Standard Time