Partnership Manager (HEO 6)

Part time fixed term contract for 12 months

Work with an initiative will empower both students and employers, ensuring successful and positive employment outcomes for graduates of our inclusive university program

Base Salary starting from $ 103,185 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The University of Sydney and CDS aim to create a proven best model of practice for an Employment Transition Program that will serve as the gold standard for people with intellectual disabilities to attend university and transition to work. This initiative will empower both students and employers, ensuring successful and positive employment outcomes for graduates of our inclusive university program. With the benefit of an evidence-based engagement and transition program, the CDS and the University envisage future national engagement from university partners.

This program aims to build on the successes of the existing Uni 2 Beyond (U2B) program by targeting current students with intellectual disability and alumni who have been through the U2B program. A fundamental aspect of the program is to identify employers to act as internship hosts and future employers, building capacity and training amongst these partner organisations and ensuring appropriate matching of internship and supports to ensure success is critical.

The University is seeking to employee a Partnership Manager (HEO 6) to have overall responsibility for the partner organisation (internship host organisations) stream and ensuring multiple, diverse, accessible and appropriate internship opportunities and host organisations are engaged, trained and mentored to support successful hosting of student interns. There will be a focus on continued employment opportunities and provision of support to ensure sustainability of roles from the employer and intern perspective.

Overall, the project aims to:

• Co-design an internship module to be delivered to Uni2Beyond alumni and students
• Build capacity with lived experience mentor(s) and supporter(s) in co-design and training delivery
• Prepare students for internship, support transition to, and through internship and into employment
• Engage experts in employment and transition planning to support preparedness for internship through a comprehensive system of learning, goal setting and person-centred supports
• Identify/develop appropriate mechanisms to match individual student with work roles.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Oversee and manage specialised administrative tasks, ensuring efficient support to staff, students, and external partners
• Search and contact decision makers of potential business and government partners across industries
• Initiate and co-ordinate engagement activities for industry partnerships.
• Address enquiries, maintain online content, and ensure effective internal and external communication
• Contribute to the planning, promotion, and presentation of internship program, at events, meetings or corporate seminars
• Lead in the establishment and maintenance of collaborative partnerships, ensuring timely communication and coordination with internal and external entities
• Maintain, analyse, and report data using various record-keeping tools, ensuring alignment with university needs and policies
• Confirm interest and suitability of potential internship business partners.
• Participate in the design, review, and refinement of processes, always seeking opportunities for enhancement and growth
• Take the lead in handling stakeholder communications to gain commitment to internship program outcomes, ensuring that concerns are addressed effectively and timely while fostering a culture of trust and collaboration
• Facilitate timely report submission, uphold data integrity according to university systems, and partner with managers to advance compliance initiatives
• Coordinate purchasing processes and resolve any discrepancies in payment schedules.
• Confirm internship role details, timing, training requirements, manager and mentor details.

About you

• Master's degree in related field in health, Social Science/Disability or equivalent
• Experience working in community development, employment and/or inclusion
• Minimum 12 months' experience in working with and supporting people with intellectual disability
• Experience with project management and coordination
• Hold a current working with Children Check/ NDIS Worker Check
• Knowledge of the NDIS, employment and disability sector
• Co-design experience with people with intellectual disability
• Proven experience in B2B sales, business development, or account management
• Strong understanding of corporate sales cycles and decision-making processes
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills and proven stakeholder engagement
• Proven ability to identify and engage with potential corporate clients across target industries and build and maintain strong relationships with decision-makers and stakeholders
• Ability to think strategically and analytically
• Lived experience-whether personal or through close relationships with individuals with intellectual disabilities-is considered highly desirable.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.