"Senior Manager, Pre-Award"

This is a full-time fixed term position through to May 2027 with salary in the range $138,006 - $145,943 (HEW 9), plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%.

Elevate UQ’s research impact in a senior leadership role, providing high-level strategic grant craft and oversight for high-value funding applications in a high-profile stakeholder environment.

Lead and mentor a high-performing team through the energy of peak submission cycles, balancing strategic transformation with the operational momentum required to hit critical, high-stakes deadlines.

Work within a dynamic, rapid-response setting where your resilience and project management expertise drives institutional excellence.

Based at our picturesque and conveniently located St Lucia campus.

About This Opportunity

Join us in a senior leadership position responsible for driving the quality, compliance, and success of UQ’s research funding applications. You will manage a dedicated team, oversee complex submission cycles, and partner with the Major Initiatives team to curate high-stakes programmatic grant opportunities. This role is perfect for a strategic thinker who excels at mentoring staff, managing high-pressure workloads, and implementing innovative process improvements to maintain UQ's competitive edge.

Key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Leadership & Mentoring

• Support and develop the Pre-Award team through active mentoring and training, fostering a culture of expertise and service excellence across the Research Office.

Submission Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Oversee the end-to-end submission process for competitive funding, ensuring absolute compliance with University policies and sponsor rules, while managing casual staff during peak periods.

Pipeline & Resource Development

• Collaborate with the Major Initiatives team to curate programmatic grant opportunities and develop high-quality guidance materials to help researchers craft winning proposals.

Stakeholder & Agreement Management

• Build influential relationships with senior academic leaders (Heads of School, Centre Directors) and manage the effective review of funding agreements in coordination with Legal Services.

Process Innovation

• Drive continuous improvement of the MyResearch platform and internal workflows, using data and feedback to establish long-term priorities and enhance service delivery.

About You

• Extensive experience in all aspects of grant support, including the ability to critique proposals and deliver high-impact workshops and writing guides.
• Proven track record of managing and leading teams in a high-volume, customer-focused service environment, with the ability to maintain team motivation during intense workload peaks.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to high-level policy formulation and operational planning, proactively identifying risks and implementing innovative solutions, particularly during system transitions (RMS).
• Comprehensive understanding of the Australian (ARC, NHMRC, MRFF) and international higher education funding environments and the regulatory frameworks that govern them.
• Outstanding oral and written skills, with the ability to build constructive relationships across a variety of settings and campus locations.

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment, and may be required to complete background checks including, criminal history and education checks. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

Want to Apply?

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section
• Resume

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Madonna Devaney, Associate Director, Major Initiatives at m.devaney@uq.edu.au. For application queries, please contact talent@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

Applications close 18 March 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-61472). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for 27 March 2026.