Melbourne Enterprise | Melbourne Research and Enterprise Portfolio
Full-time | Fixed term for 5 years
The University of Melbourne is one of the world's leading research-intensive universities, with the research capability, talent and enterprise ambition to solve society's most significant challenges. Melbourne Enterprise is building a more coordinated, market-facing and partner-centric institution, connecting world-class research and expertise with industry, government and other external partners.
We are seeking an exceptional senior leader to lead the Partnership Success Group, a pivotal enterprise capability that will shape how the University mobilises, delivers and deepens partnerships across research, innovation and workforce development. Reporting to the Executive Director, Partnerships and Precincts, you will bring together commercial development, market intelligence and systems, partnership mobilisation and delivery, workforce capability and organisational capability development to enable partnership growth at scale.
As a key institutional leader, you will work across faculties, Melbourne Enterprise and professional services to mobilise expertise and resources around complex opportunities, strengthen commercial and delivery capability, and create a consistently exceptional partner experience. You will play a central role in establishing the systems, frameworks, governance and ways of working that enable a consistent, market-facing and partner-centric approach to partnering across the University.
The opportunity
This is a career-defining opportunity to build enterprise capability that will shape how one of the world's leading universities develops, mobilises and delivers partnerships at scale.
You will lead the Partnership Success Group, strengthening the University's ability to shape opportunities, structure partnerships and deliver them effectively. Working closely with sector-aligned Enterprise Partnerships leaders and colleagues across the University, you will bring together commercial, delivery and institutional capability to turn major opportunities into enduring partnerships and measurable impact.
You will also lead the University's workforce capability partnering function, bringing together professional education, custom education and industry talent solutions into a coordinated enterprise offering that connects partners with the University's education, workforce and talent capabilities, including students, PhDs and graduates.
A key focus will be building the systems, intelligence and organisational capability that enable better decision-making, effective prioritisation, strong partnership performance and an exceptional experience for partners.
Key responsibilities include:
- Establish and lead the Partnership Success Group, building the commercial, delivery and organisational capability required to mobilise and deliver partnerships at scale.
- Lead the University's workforce capability partnering function, aligning professional education, custom education and industry talent solutions with partner needs and institutional priorities.
- Provide strategic leadership for partnership mobilisation and delivery, ensuring major opportunities and partnerships are governed effectively, executed consistently and deliver value for partners and the University.
- Lead the uplift of partnership development capability across research, innovation and workforce development, including opportunity shaping, business case development, partnership structuring and commercial frameworks.
- Establish and enhance partner intelligence, CRM, pipeline management and reporting capabilities to support effective prioritisation, resource allocation and decision-making.
- Mobilise cross-functional teams and institutional resources around complex opportunities, working across faculties and professional services to maximise partnership outcomes.
- Establish best-practice frameworks, standards and tools that embed consistent ways of working and build enterprise-wide partnership capability.
About you
You are an accomplished partnerships, commercial, business development or enterprise transformation leader with a strong track record of building capability, leading complex functions and converting opportunities into sustainable organisational, commercial or societal outcomes.
You bring strategic insight, commercial acumen and exceptional stakeholder engagement capability, with the credibility to work across a complex, matrixed organisation and influence senior executives, academic leaders, professional teams and external partners.
You will bring:
- Significant experience leading strategic growth, business development, partnership delivery or enterprise transformation functions, with a track record of converting opportunities into sustainable outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to mobilise diverse functions around large-scale, complex and high-value opportunities, bringing together commercial, delivery, technical and stakeholder capability to achieve institutional outcomes.
- Strong technology-enabled leadership, championing digital innovation, human-centred design and data-driven approaches to partner engagement, pipeline management and growth. An ability to create the conditions and environment for innovation.
- Strong commercial acumen, including experience developing business cases, shaping partnership models, structuring opportunities and navigating financial, governance, risk and delivery considerations.
- Proven experience establishing, leading or transforming complex functions, operating models or organisational capabilities, including embedding new ways of working and leading organisational change.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to build credibility and trust with senior executives, academic leaders, professional teams and external partners.
- Highly developed strategic judgement and problem-solving skills, with the agility to operate in ambiguity, balance competing priorities and make sound decisions at pace.
- A collaborative and influential leadership style, with the ability to break down organisational silos, align diverse stakeholders around shared outcomes and build trusted relationships across the University.
How to apply
To apply, please submit:
- A current CV.
- A cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining your suitability for the role.
For role or application process enquiries, please contact Lucy Porter, Executive Recruitment Partner, at [contact details available in the full listing].
If you are ready to build enterprise capability that will shape how the University develops, delivers and deepens partnerships at scale, we invite you to apply.
Applications must be submitted through the online application portal and will not be accepted by email.
Please note: The University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
Applications close: Monday 2nd November 2026 at 11:55pm Melbourne time.
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