"Chief Operating Officer (COO), Brain and Mind Centre (BMC)"

• Located in Camperdown
• Full-time, five-year fixed-term appointment
• Attractive remuneration package

About the opportunity

The University of Sydney is seeking an outstanding senior leader to take on the pivotal role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), Brain and Mind Centre (BMC). This is a unique opportunity to provide strategic and operational leadership to one of the University's flagship multidisciplinary initiatives, supporting world-leading research, education and engagement that addresses some of society's most complex brain and mental health challenges.

The Brain and Mind Centre is one of seven University-wide Multidisciplinary Initiatives (MDIs), bringing together leading researchers, clinicians, educators and professional staff from across disciplines to deliver impact at scale. Working closely with the Academic Co-Directors and academic leadership team, the COO will play a critical role in translating strategy into action, ensuring the Centre's vision, objectives and priorities are embedded into robust business planning, governance and operational delivery.

Reporting to the Academic Co-Directors, the COO provides overall leadership of the Centre's operations, workforce, finances and infrastructure, while ensuring alignment with the University's broader strategic agenda. The role is central to enabling multidisciplinary collaboration, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring the Centre operates within a sustainable and well-governed business model.

About you (skills, capabilities and experience)

You are a highly capable senior professional leader with a strong track record in operational management within complex, research-intensive or similarly sophisticated organisations. You bring sound business acumen, strategic thinking and the ability to navigate ambiguity, translating high-level strategy into practical, effective operational outcomes. Knowledge of the health system in NSW and/or clinical trials would be an advantage.

As a trusted partner to academic leaders, you will provide clear, confident advice and leadership across financial management, workforce planning, governance, risk and compliance, and change management. You are an inclusive and values-driven leader who builds high-performing teams, supports talent development, and fosters collaboration across disciplines and stakeholder groups.

You will also bring:

• Proven senior-level management experience, with responsibility for complex operations, budgets and resources
• Demonstrated expertise in financial planning, modelling, budgeting and financial governance
• Experience leading and managing people, including performance management, workforce planning and succession planning
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across large organisations and with external partners
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the judgement and discretion required at senior levels
• A postgraduate qualification in management, business administration or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant training and experience

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to the Brain and Mind Centre, ensuring effective delivery of administrative, technical and professional services
• Translate the Centre's strategic objectives into integrated business and operational plans aligned with University priorities
• Oversee financial management, budgeting, reporting and compliance, ensuring sustainable use of resources
• Lead governance, risk management and workplace health and safety across the Centre
• Partner with academic leadership to enable multidisciplinary research and engagement, including through effective systems, processes and infrastructure
• Build and maintain strong internal and external stakeholder relationships to support collaboration and impact
• Lead, develop and support a high-performing professional staff team
• Knowledge of the health system in NSW and/or clinical trials would be an advantage.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Term and remuneration

The term of appointment is a full-time, five-year fixed-term appointment. The successful candidate will be offered a competitive remuneration package commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and the candidate's relevant experience and qualifications.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

How to apply

Applications (including a CV and cover letter outlining how your skills, capabilities and experience meet the requirements for the role) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. Please refer to the position description for further details.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Lucy Porter (Senior Talent Partner, Recruitment Operations, Human Resources) on + 61 429 771 115 or by email lucy.porter@sydney.edu.au

Applications Close

Saturday 17 January 2026 11:59 PM