"Manager, Queensland Quantum Decarbonisation Alliance (QDA)"

Job Description:

• School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering – Faculty of EAIT
• Part-time (80%), fixed-term position for up to 5 years
• Base salary will be in the range $117,958.12 - $132,247.57 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 8)
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position
• Based at our St Lucia Campus - Brisbane

About This Opportunity

The Manager, Queensland Quantum Decarbonisation Alliance (QDA), is a senior operational and stakeholder leadership role responsible for driving the business, administrative, and strategic operations of the Alliance. This position ensures the smooth and effective functioning of the Alliance, leads end‑to‑end operational delivery, manages high‑level stakeholder engagement, and supports the successful implementation of major research and industry projects.

With a strong focus on organisational effectiveness, strategic planning, and partnership management, this role is pivotal to enabling growth opportunities and shaping large-scale collaborations across industry, government, and academia.

Key responsibilities will include:

Operational Leadership & Project Delivery

• Oversee and manage day‑to‑day operations to ensure the Alliance functions efficiently and delivers on strategic objectives.
• Drive implementation of the Alliance strategy by tracking milestones, coordinating internal and external contributors, managing risks, and ensuring high-quality execution.
• Develop and maintain fit-for-purpose systems, processes, and workflows that support productivity and accountability.
• Support the Alliance Director with operational planning, decision-making, and delivery under tight timeframes.

Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Partnerships

• Act as the primary operational liaison between researchers, industry representatives, and government partners.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships to support strategic programs and real-world deployment of quantum technologies for decarbonisation.
• Lead engagement activities including workshops, events, training programs, and high-level meetings.
• Identify, shape, and support new opportunities for strategic partnerships, commercialisation pathways, and collaborative research projects.

Governance, Reporting & Compliance

• Coordinate governance activities, including committee support, documentation, and preparation of reports for government and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with funding, contractual, and reporting requirements, with strong attention to accuracy, clarity, and accountability.
• Support executive decision-making through high-quality briefing materials and progress reporting.

Financial & Business Management

• Oversee financial operations including budgeting, contract management, and monitoring of intellectual property obligations.
• Provide timely financial insights and advice to the Director and project teams.
• Work collaboratively with university finance teams and investigators to ensure obligations are met and resources are well managed.

About You

• Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant area or progress towards postgraduate qualifications and extensive relevant experience, or extensive experience and management expertise; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.
• Demonstrated capability in strategic and operational management, including financial oversight, project delivery, risk management, and reporting.
• Highly developed interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to build trust-based relationships at senior levels.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging with industry and research partners and negotiating contract research agreements will be highly regarded.
• Extensive project management experience in research environments, with proven leadership in complex operations including strategic planning, budget management, risk mitigation, and compliance.
• Proven ability to organise and lead events, workshops, and engagement activities.
• Exceptional relationship management skills, with experience negotiating with senior industry leaders and government agencies and fostering collaborative partnerships.
• Strong organisational and communication skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and lead with emotional intelligence.

Desirable

• Experience within a university or research environment, including working with relevant systems, policies, and administrative frameworks.
• Demonstrated success in business development, grant development (e.g., CRCs), government tendering, or securing major industry partnerships.
• Strong financial acumen with experience preparing budgets and reports for external stakeholders and funding bodies.

Work Rights?

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Erin Keogh via e.keogh@uq.edu.au.

For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

Want to Apply?

We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:

• Resume
• A cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the 'About You' section

Applications close on Thursday 5 March 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-59653).