"Program Manager"

Job Description

• Employment Type: Full-time, Fixed Term 2-year contract.
• Remuneration: Competitive total package
• Location: Kensington, NSW (Hybrid working model)

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 Program Manager will provide strategic leadership in the delivery of the Academic Calendar Project, overseeing and coordinating multiple interconnected workstreams to achieve successful outcomes across education, systems, teaching spaces, student transition, business transition, and engagement.

This role involves managing complex project delivery within a structured governance and accountability framework. The Program Manager will ensure key milestones are met, risks and dependencies are effectively managed, and all work aligns with the program’s strategic objectives. They will lead project planning, capability development, quality assurance, and stakeholder engagement to drive consistent, high-quality results.

Reporting to the Program Director, the Program Manager may also lead a small team of direct reports.

About the Role

You will be required to undertake and have experience in the following areas of expertise:

• Oversee and manage the successful delivery of initiatives and streams of work within the Academic Calendar project, ensuring alignment with operational and strategic goals.
• Lead the development and delivery of various initiatives in collaboration with the Program Director and coordinate detailed project plans across multiple workstreams.
• Direct and monitor project activity, adjusting work allocation and timelines to ensure milestones, deliverables, and quality standards are consistently achieved.
• Identify and manage project interdependencies across the University, coordinating with relevant teams to mitigate impacts and enable alignment.
• Conduct stakeholder needs analyses, ensuring requirements are identified, prioritised, and managed in a professional and timely manner.
• Act as a point of contact and point of escalation for program stakeholders and other business units.
• Build and sustain strong collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, providing clear and influential communication to achieve project objectives.
• Provide expert advice and information to stakeholders on emerging project issues and implement recommendations to support project delivery in line with established plans, budgets, timeframes, policy objectives and other project priorities.
• Manage project financials, including budget development, allocation, monitoring of expenditure, and preparation of financial reports for governance and sponsors.
• Lead the performance and development of project staff, including work allocation, coaching, feedback, and provision of training and development opportunities.

About the Role

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or significant experience in similar roles, with substantial proven experience in programs and/or Project Management of which 5 years has been in a management role.
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills, and the ability to adapt in a diverse environment and range of stakeholders.
• Exceptional time management/organisational skills and ability to establish strong, effective working relationships.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills including demonstrated high level ability to influence and build productive relationships with university and senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capability to work across multi-functional structures with competing stakeholders in a large and complex organisation.
• High level organisational skills with a demonstrated ability to manage the competing demands of multiple, simultaneous projects.
• Sound financial literacy skills, including the ability to forecast and manage budgets.
• Strong demonstrated understanding of business requirements and technical limitations as determined by the organisation’s enterprise architecture.
• Superior leadership skills, with experience managing direct and indirect stakeholders, including mentoring team members to deliver high quality outcomes.

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 job description) before Sunday 14 September 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).

Job queries contact:

Tai James, Talent Acquisition Consultant E: tai.james@unsw.edu.au (applications to the address cannot be accepted, please apply online) 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.