- Full time, fixed term for 2 years
- Unique opportunity to deliver the newly-established Technician Commitment in Australia
About the opportunity
Microscopy Australia is the national collaborative research infrastructure providing researchers with access to world class microscopy, imaging and characterisation capabilities. Through a network of leading facilities hosted by the University of Sydney and partner universities and research organisations across Australia, Microscopy Australia supports cutting edge research, innovation and industry engagement across fields ranging from health and medicine to materials science and environmental research.
The Technician Commitment is an internationally recognised initiative driving systemic and cultural change for technical and scientific professionals across higher education, research and innovation. Supported by a major Australian Government investment, this team will support the establishment and delivery of the Technician Commitment in Australia in partnership with Microscopy Australia, the Academy for Collaborative Research Infrastructure (ACRI), and the UK Technician Commitment team.
The Partnerships and External Engagement Manager will play a central role in building the reach, profile and influence of the Technician Commitment in Australia. Working across the higher education, research and innovation sectors, you will develop and deliver engagement strategies that attract new signatories and supporters, strengthen strategic partnerships, and enhance the visibility and impact of the initiative nationally.
Reporting to the Program Lead and working closely with the Steering Board and the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy, you will engage with senior leaders, government representatives, policymakers, funders and sector bodies to advance the Technician Commitment and support positive outcomes for Australia's technical workforce.
Your key responsibilities will be to:
- lead the development and delivery of the Technician Commitment Australia partnerships and external engagement strategy, supporting the growth and influence of the initiative nationally
- build and maintain strategic relationships with senior leaders across universities, research organisations, government, funders, industry, professional bodies and other key stakeholders
- secure and support new and existing signatories, supporters and strategic partners, developing compelling engagement approaches that strengthen participation and impact
- identify and coordinate opportunities to influence policy, funding and sector priorities relating to technical skills, workforce capability and technical careers
- provide strategic advice, stakeholder intelligence and high-quality engagement materials to support programme development, decision-making and external representation
- represent the Technician Commitment at national forums, conferences and stakeholder meetings, working closely with Australian and UK partners to maximise reach and impact
About you
You will be an experienced and credible partnerships and engagement professional with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior stakeholders across Australia's higher education, research and policy communities.
- significant experience in partnerships, stakeholder engagement, business development, policy or external relations within higher education, research, government or a comparable sector
- strong understanding of the Australian higher education and research landscape, including policy and funding issues relating to workforce development, technical skills and research capability
- demonstrated success building strategic partnerships and influencing senior stakeholders across organisational, sector and government environments
- experience attracting organisations to participate in initiatives, networks, programmes or collaborative partnerships and translating strategic objectives into effective engagement approaches
- exceptional communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to represent the programme at senior national forums and sector events
- strong strategic judgement, organisational capability and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, with knowledge of technical professionals and technical services being highly desirable
Sponsorship / work rights for Australia
You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.
How to apply
Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.
For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.
For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Lena Jiang, Recruitment Operations by email to lena.jiang@sydney.edu.au.
Click to view the Position Description for this role.
Applications Close
Wednesday 30 September 2026 11:59 PM
This is a Preview Listing…
You must sign in to see the full job description, and to apply.
Manage / Upgrade this job to a Full Job Listing.
Find Your Best Opportunity
Tell them AcademicJobs.com sent you!