"Head of IT Partnership & Engagement"

About UNSW: UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community, a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.

The Head of IT Partnership and Engagement is a strategic leadership role within UNSW IT. The position leads a team of IT Business Partners responsible for building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships across all faculties and divisions to ensure that IT initiatives are aligned with the University’s academic, research, and operational priorities. Reporting to the Director of Engagement & Change, the Head of IT Business Partnering will build and lead a team of IT Business Partners who serve as the linking function between business needs and IT services, helping to shape demand and influence investment decisions. Operating within a federated and highly complex university environment, this role champions a customer-centric approach, innovation and enables strong partnerships between UNSW IT and its faculties, divisions, research entities and external partners. This role is integral to realising UNSW’s Progress for All strategy through technology-enabled outcomes that support research excellence, teaching innovation, and operational efficiency.

Accountabilities:

• Lead, develop and coach a team of IT Business Partners to support UNSW’s faculties and professional divisions to perform as strategic partners who influence, align, and co-create value with faculties and divisions.
• Play a pivotal role in leading the Business Partnering function by setting strategic direction and providing high-level input into the team’s priorities and initiatives.
• Establish and embed a consistent and transparent stakeholder engagement model across UNSW IT and broader UNSW.
• Foster a culture of value-centric decision-making, where IT initiatives are assessed and tracked based on contribution to academic, research, or operational outcomes. Make it matter.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior business and technology leaders across UNSW, supporting the translation of university strategy into IT-enabled initiatives by building and maintaining effective working relationships with Deans, Faculty General Managers, Heads of School, Directors of Operations, and other senior stakeholders.
• Promote business capability roadmaps and facilitate conversations that connect long-term business planning with digital and technological advancement.
• Collaborate with UNSW IT functions, including Enterprise Architecture, IT Portfolio Management, PMO, and Service Delivery to co-create solutions that are innovative, scalable, and sustainable.
• Collaborate with business partners across UNSW faculties and divisions to co-design and deliver initiatives that provide measurable value.
• Actively participate in UNSW governance and leadership forums to ensure alignment, transparency, and accountability, including representing UNSW IT at external forums and conferences to share expertise and raise the University's profile.

Skills and Experience:

• Tertiary qualification in Information Technology, Business or proven industry experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mature a business partnering or stakeholder engagement function at an enterprise level.
• Extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and portfolio alignment in higher education or similar complex environments.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and build relationships across diverse domains.
• Deep understanding of enterprise IT strategy, governance, and operating models.
• Exceptional interpersonal, influencing, and negotiation skills with executive stakeholders.
• Sound understanding of the tertiary education sector, trends and challenges.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health & safety (psychosocial and physical) responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

Benefits and Culture:

• Flexible hybrid working
• An additional 3 days of leave over the Christmas Period
• Access to lifelong learning and career development
• Progressive HR practices
• Discounts and entitlements

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.