Director, Strategic Student Initiatives

Division Education & Students

Location Parramatta, AU

Contract Type Full-Time

Job ID: REF1477Y

Full-time, Senior Position on a 1-Year Fixed-Term Contract.

Parramatta South campus with flexible working arrangements.

Competitive senior-level remuneration, commensurate with experience.

Lead a university-wide portfolio delivering initiatives that improve student access, retention, wellbeing, and success outcomes.

The Opportunity

You will lead the University’s Strategic Student Initiatives portfolio within the Student Success function, bringing together a broad range of programs that support access, participation, retention, wellbeing, and graduate success. This includes oversight of scholarships, financial wellbeing, welfare, engagement programs, Success Coaches, and major strategic projects delivered across the student lifecycle.

You will translate institutional priorities and government policy into integrated initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes. Working across faculties, professional units, and external partners, you will align programs and services to emerging student needs and ensure impactful, evidence-informed delivery. You will also secure and manage funding streams, including government-funded programs and strategic investments, to maximise outcomes for diverse student cohorts.

You will provide strategic leadership, governance, and oversight across a complex portfolio, ensuring strong risk management, compliance, and reporting practices. Leading a multidisciplinary team, you will foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement while driving innovation and strengthening partnerships across the University, government, and community sectors.

What Success Looks Like:

• Integrated initiatives improve student access, retention, wellbeing, and completion outcomes.
• Strategic programs align with institutional priorities and respond to evolving policy and student needs.
• Equity, welfare, and engagement initiatives reduce barriers and support diverse student cohorts.
• Funding streams and partnerships deliver measurable impact and value for investment.
• High-performing teams deliver coordinated, evidence-informed programs across the portfolio.

Please refer to the Position Description for full details.

About You

• Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience.
• Extensive leadership experience managing complex programs or portfolios in a large organisation.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategy that achieves measurable outcomes.
• Strong leadership capability with experience building and developing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated experience in governance, risk, compliance, and managing funded programs or budgets.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across diverse environments.

Benefits

We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Alongside a rewarding career, we offer a range of benefits designed to support your financial, personal and family wellbeing.

• Financial benefits: Access to staff-only products and offers with selected banking partners, salary sacrifice options for onsite parking, and novated motor vehicle leasing.
• Health and wellbeing support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP), complimentary annual flu vaccination, eligibility for Fitness Passport membership, and access to discounted private health cover.
• Onsite childcare: Long day care and early learning services operate at our Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta, and Penrith campuses. Staff may be eligible for discounted fees and salary packaging, with places subject to centre capacity.

Application Details

• Position Enquiries: Direct to the Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Success, Professor Alphia Possamai-Inesedy, via Alphia.Possamai@westernsydney.edu.au. Please include the job reference code REF1477Y.
• Closing Date: 11:59pm, Friday 03 July 2026.
• Working Rights: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. You must provide evidence of your full-time working rights in Australia at time of application.
• How to Apply: Please note that only applications submitted via the University's online recruitment system will be considered. As part of your online application, you will be asked to respond to screening questions addressing the key qualifications, experiences and skills required for this position.

Belonging at Western

We are committed to substantive equality as outlined in our Equal Opportunity Policy. We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, candidates of all gender identities and expressions, people of all abilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact talentacquisitionteam@westernsydney.edu.au.

About Western

This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. By joining Western Sydney University, you become a valued member of our community. As our region changes, so too does our university. Western is boldly different, energetic, global, diverse, dynamic, and youthful.

Our mission is to deliver student success, impactful research, and stronger communities. As part of our team, you will have a stake in shaping the future of education, broadening horizons, and changing lives. Making a difference starts at Western.

For the latest please visit our website and LinkedIn.