Job no: 543136
Work type: Full Time
Location: Sydney, NSW
Categories: Administration, Strategy
- Employment Type: Full-time, Continuing role.
- Remuneration: Competitive total remuneration package
- Location: Kensington, NSW
About UNSW
At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work. We aspire to be Australia's global university, improving and transforming lives through excellence in research, outstanding education and a commitment to advancing a just society.
Why your role matters
The Head of Office, University Office of Global Affairs, is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic management and implementation, governance, operational performance, and organisational effectiveness of the portfolio.
Reporting to the Pro Vice Chancellor International (PVCI) the role serves as strategic lead and trusted implementation partner, providing leadership across portfolio strategy, governance, planning, organisational performance, executive operations, stakeholder engagement and business transformation.
The position is accountable for driving global priorities to ensure a high-performing, strategically aligned portfolio. This involves leading complex strategic initiatives, organisational change programs, governance frameworks, and enterprise projects that advance UNSW's goals across international partnerships, global engagement, transnational education, international relations, and institutional reputation.
Working alongside senior university leadership, the Head of Office coordinates strategic priorities across Faculties and Divisions, and represents the PVC in key institutional forums. The role leads a professional team while fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
About the Role
The successful applicant will be required to undertake and have experience in the following areas of expertise:
- Deliver strategic leadership for the new Global Affairs office by proactively driving operations, creating synergies, and ensuring strong follow-through.
- Lead portfolio strategy, planning, and execution by designing robust operating frameworks, performance metrics, and reporting structures.
- Oversee and deliver on major strategic initiatives, transformation programs, and complex cross-functional projects involving faculties, divisions, and external partners.
- Manage high-level governance and writing duties by producing executive papers, Council documents, strategic reports, and business cases.
- Build strong internal and external relationships across the university, government bodies, and international partners to advance UNSW's global profile and influence.
- Lead and develop a high-performing professional team by fostering self-direction, ownership, capability development, and continuous improvement.
About You
- Relevant postgraduate qualifications combined with extensive leadership experience in strategy, governance, or higher education management within a complex institutional environment.
- Proven track record operating in a senior leadership role, demonstrating the proactive drive and self-direction needed to transition a newly established office away from reactive tendencies.
- Demonstrated capability in leading large-scale strategic initiatives, transformation programs, and enterprise-wide projects while effectively balancing competing priorities and budgets.
- Significant experience providing high-level strategic advice to senior executives, coupled with exceptional stakeholder engagement to influence internal and external partners successfully.
- Strong commercial, financial, and operational acumen, including sound resource management to prevent underspends and optimise portfolio performance.
- Expertise in establishing robust governance frameworks, reporting structures, risk management, and accountability mechanisms from the ground up.
- Outstanding written communication skills with a proven ability to draft executive briefings, Council papers, and strategic reports by synthesising information quickly and accurately.
For further information on the role & responsibilities, please refer to the Position Description
How to Apply: Submit your CV & cover letter detailing your interest and suitability for the job (as per the skills & experience bullet points in the Position Description) before Sunday 11th October by 11:55pm.
Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role, valid Australian working rights are required on application.
UNSW Benefits and Culture: People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world. Our benefits include:
- Flexible Working Options (work from home, flexible hours etc)
- Additional 3 days leave during December festive period.
- Career development opportunities
- Up to 50% discount on UNSW courses
- Flexible 17% Superannuation contributions, additional leave-loading payments and salary sacrifice.
- Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness passport)
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.
Pre-Employment Checks
Aligned with UNSW's focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.
These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:-
- National and International Criminal history checks
- Entitlement to work and ID checks
- Working With Children Checks
- Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
- Verification of relevant qualifications
- Verification of relevant professional membership
- Employment history and reference checks
- Financial responsibility assessments/checks.
- Medical Checks and Assessments
Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.
Advertised: 2026-09-24 AUS Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: 2026-10-11 AUS Eastern Daylight Time