"Director, Academic Governance & Standards"

• Fixed Term (5 years), full-time appointment
• Level 10: Attractive executive remuneration package available

Are you an experienced higher education leader ready to drive sector‑leading academic governance and standards? The University of Wollongong (UOW), ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide, is seeking a dynamic and strategic Director, Academic Governance and Standards to play a pivotal institutional role during a period of major national reform.

About the role

Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), this senior leadership role is responsible for providing university‑wide stewardship of UOW’s academic governance frameworks, academic standards, and quality assurance systems.

You will lead the ongoing integrity, coherence and effectiveness of governance and assurance arrangements across teaching, learning, assessment and research training. With growing national attention on university governance, this is a key opportunity to guide institutional self‑assurance, foster public trust, and ensure UOW remains at the forefront of regulatory quality and accountability.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Lead UOW’s academic governance framework, ensuring robust structures, delegations and decision‑making processes.
• Steward academic standards and assurance of learning across all delivery modes and locations.
• Provide strategic leadership and coordination of engagement with TEQSA, ATEC and other regulatory bodies.
• Advise senior leaders, Academic Senate and committees on governance, quality and institutional assurance matters.
• Oversee the University’s academic policy and quality architecture to ensure alignment with UOW’s education model.
• Identify and monitor academic governance and quality risks, and guide mitigation strategies.
• Oversee governance for complex academic activity including offshore delivery and third‑party partnerships.
• Lead sector scanning to ensure UOW remains responsive to evolving governance and regulatory expectations.
• Provide strategic leadership to the Academic Governance and Standards function, supporting high‑quality professional practice and capability development.

About you

You will bring strong higher‑education expertise, including postgraduate qualifications (preferably a Master’s) or substantial senior experience in academic governance, quality assurance or academic standards. You have a proven record of institutional‑level leadership in complex university environments, with deep knowledge of academic governance systems, academic standards, assurance of learning, and the Australian regulatory landscape (including TEQSA and the HESF).

You provide confident, strategic advice to senior leaders, demonstrate excellent analytical and communication skills, and lead professional teams effectively while fostering collaboration and continuous improvement. You model integrity, transparency, equity and values‑based leadership.

Desirable experience includes leading regulatory engagement, overseeing governance of complex or multi‑site academic delivery, and contributing to major governance or quality reform initiatives.

Position Description

How to Apply

Applicants are required to submit a cover letter detailing their skills, qualification and experience in relation to this position, along with an up-to-date CV.

For a confidential discussion or further information regarding this opportunity, please contact Helen Partridge, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) hpartridge@uow.edu.au 

Closing Date:  Monday 30 March 2026, 11:59 PM

Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Only candidates with valid work rights in Australia are eligible.

The University of Wollongong is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, and a recognised leader in gender equality, we encourage and welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and people including culturally and linguistically diverse, women, disability, LGBTIQ+, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians.

• Job Identification
• 6425
• Job Category
• Academic Enablement
• Posting Date
• 03/06/2026, 12:41 PM
• Apply Before
• 03/30/2026, 08:55 PM
• Job Schedule
• Full time
• Locations
•  Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, AU