Director, Research Grants, Contracts & Finance

Job no: 0038361
Location: Parkville
Role type: Full-time; Continuing
Department: Office of Research Management (ORM) - Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (RIC)
Salary: SM2 competitive salary plus 17% super

• Lead the Research Grants, Contracts and Finance team to support the work of researchers
• Make a positive impact on society through research with the University of Melbourne
• Brilliant benefits and a flexible hybrid work environment!

About the Role
As Director, Research Grants, Contracts, and Finance (RGCF) you will be a strategic leader driving innovation and growth within the Office of Research Management. This high-impact role requires a collaborative, results-oriented individual to lead the evolution of research processes, optimize resources, and enhance stakeholder satisfaction. You will spearhead the implementation of critical systems, support emerging research initiatives, and drive revenue growth while delivering exceptional service to researchers.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Support key University growth initiatives and partnerships, including development and implementation of new tools and systems.
• Develop a suite of initiatives to improve the services and reporting for Faculties and academics and sustain a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Participate as a critical senior team member of the ORM, and extended RIC leadership teams and support the development of strategic plans for the portfolio in alignment with the research needs of the University.
• In collaboration with stakeholders, evaluate needs to lead and drive innovative change and process/system improvement.

Who we are looking for
We seek a strategic leader with exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills to drive innovation and service excellence within our complex organization. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, creating and implementing effective strategies, and delivering exceptional client outcomes, preferably within the higher education sector.

You will also have:

• The appointee will have a Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline or an equivalent combination of relevant training and/or experience within the industry.
• Expert understanding of Australia’s research environment and research management including governance, government funding schemes and policies, contract and grant management.
• Outstanding problem solving and judgment skills translatable in a large multidisciplinary University environment.
• Proven capacity to create and implement strategy that creates an end to end process, informed by analysis and with measurable outputs.

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements please refer to the attached PD.

This role requires the successful candidate to undergo and maintain an up-to-date Working with Children Check. This is essential to guarantee a secure environment for all individuals at the University. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

Your new team – "Research Grants, Contracts and Finance (RGCF) "
Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (RIC) is the central facilitator of research funding in the University, taking advantage of the full diversity of research funding opportunities. RIC is a specialist team dedicated to enabling the University's research and enterprise mission working closely with our academics, professional colleagues, industry partners, funding agencies and government agencies.

RIC is composed of the Office of Research Management (ORM), Innovation and Enterprise (I&E), the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre (MEC) and Genesis Pre-Seed Fund. Within ORM is RGCF, Research Ethics and Integrity, and Research Infrastructure. We have a passion to see our academics and their collaboration partners succeed, achieve research excellence and translate their discoveries into real-world innovation and impact.  RIC operates University-wide across all nine Faculties and Chancellery. 

What we offer you!
In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services, and discounts on graduate courses. For more information check out our benefits page!

The University of Melbourne
We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn .  

Be yourself
The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity.  First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities, and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality, and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact the employee listed on the first page of the Position Description found below, with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture, and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.

For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring

Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience

Please note that you are not required to respond to the selection criteria in the Position Description.

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Susan Bradley via email at [email protected] , ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the contact details listed on the Position Description.

Applications close: Sunday 18th of August 2024 11:55 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)

Internal candidates are encouraged to speak with their managers before applying for the role.

Position Description:   Director, RGCF 2024 05 23 (1).docx

Position Description