Deputy Director, Operations and Strategy (EQUS)

• Join UQ’s School of Maths and Physics

• Drive the national strategic operations of our ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS)

• Fixed-term, HEW 10A position

• Based at St Lucia Campus

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.

As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

You will join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• 26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave and on campus childcare options

• 17% superannuation contributions, salary packaging options and 17.5% annual leave loading

• Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options

• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family

About the Centre 

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) is a nationally funded research Centre within the School of Mathematics and Physics. EQUS is administered at The University of Queensland and has nodes at the Australian National University, The University of Sydney, The University of Western Australia, and Macquarie University.

EQUS is building sophisticated quantum machines to harness the quantum world for practical applications. Our Centre is pioneering the designer quantum materials, quantum engines, and quantum imaging systems at the heart of these machines. We are solving the most challenging research problems at the interface of basic quantum physics and engineering, and working with partners in industry to translate these research discoveries into practical applications and devices. Our capacity-building programs are training a new generation of scientists in cutting-edge fundamental research and innovation.

The Australian Research Council funded the COE for EQUS between 2011–2017 and again for 2018–2025. The centre has 22 Chief Investigators, 13 Partner Investigators and 65 Associate Investigators.

About This Opportunity 

As Chief Operating Officer (COO), known locally as Deputy Director, Operations and Strategy, the successful candidate will lead the Centre’s national operations and be responsible for high-level strategic, operational and performance planning to enable the Centre to achieve its ambitious research goals and objectives –enabling widespread impact through its research, training, outreach, equity and translation programs.

The COO will lead a team of nine operational staff, based at our St Lucia Campus, tasked with the responsibility of the smooth administrative operations of the Centre (including administration, operations, business management, communications and engagement functions), alongside providing virtual leadership to local node administrators.

The successful candidate will also focus on cementing the Centre’s many achievements over its funding period, ensuring a strong legacy through a range of activities and initiatives and preparing for wind-down activities and final reporting requirements.

You will be someone who values diversity and inclusion, and works to create a culture for all EQUS members that evokes a strong feeling of belonging and supports members as they transition to new opportunities beyond the EQUS.

Working alongside the Centre Director and Executives, key responsibilities include: 

• Develop and action the Centre’s strategic, operational and communications plans, including reviewing and revising as required.

• Identify, develop and pursue new initiatives, innovations and opportunities, especially in relation to the Centre’s legacy activities and the International Quantum Year (2025).

• Oversee effective governance of the Centre, including coordination of agendas and papers for Centre Executive, Advisory Board, Chief Investigator and Scientific Advisory Committee meetings.

• Manage the Centre’s communication and engagement activities, including profile raising of the Centre’s achievements, outreach activities and delivering the mentoring and professional development training plan.

• Oversee management of the Centre budget and deliver regular budget reports to the Centre’s executive leadership team.

For further information relating to the duties of the position, please click here to view the information booklet.

This is a full-time, fixed-term position until December 2024, with the possibility of extension.

At HEW level 10A, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $142,104 - $189,126, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $166,261 - $221,277 annually. 

About You  

We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate:

• A postgraduate qualification (or equivalent education or training) in a relevant discipline, in conjunction with extensive experience in leadership, experience in managing a research centre and/or research administration experience within a university, government or industry environment.

• An ability to lead a high performing team across multiple stakeholders in different locations, and the ability to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion that upholds the Centre’s values.

• Extensive experience in operations and resource management, finance and budget administration within a large and complex organisation.

• An ability to develop and implement strategy, lead planning, set priorities and coordinate complex programs of research, along with the ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.

For further information relating to the selection criteria please see booklet link above.

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. 

• Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to a criminal record check. Please note that people with criminal records are not automatically barred from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits. 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Andrew White , Centre Director via [email protected] .  

For application queries, please contact Caylee-Jade Eve, Principal Advisor via [email protected] stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. 
 

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section in the attached booklet,

• Resume 

Other Information 

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion .  We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in the broader community, whether that be gender identity , LGBTQIA+ , cultural and/or linguistic , Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples , or people with a disability . Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to [email protected]  

If you are a current employee (including casual staff and HDR scholars) or hold an unpaid/affiliate appointment, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.

Applications close 7 Feb 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-34910).