"Senior Manager, Student Transition and Success"

Job Description:

• Student Enrichment and Success (SES)
• This is a full-time continuing position with salary in the range $135,300 - $143,081 (HEW 9), plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%.
• Lead a newly formed team to bring UQ's transition framework to life, shaping student success through data-driven strategies and collaborative leadership.
• We are seeking a strategic and data-driven program manager who has expert knowledge of the higher education sector and a proven ability to lead a high-performing team, manage change, and engage stakeholders with a core focus on equity, inclusion, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Based at our picturesque St Lucia campus.

About This Opportunity

The Senior Manager, Student Transition and Success will play a critical role in operationalising UQ's transition framework. This position will work closely with stakeholders across the university to develop and implement programs and initiatives that support students' journeys into, through, and beyond UQ.

As part of the senior leadership team within Student Enrichment and Success, you will continuously seek innovative methods for improving student engagement and success. The ideal applicant will have a desire to promote a positive student culture and demonstrate excellent data analysis, reporting, project coordination, and planning skills.

Key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Leadership and Collaborative Engagement

• Lead a collaborative effort as part of the Divisional Senior Leadership Team to support student transition and success across UQ. This involves enacting and leading the UQ Transition Framework while building and maintaining effective internal and external partnerships.

Data-Informed Direction and Impact

• Provide leadership and direction to staff on student transition and success. You'll take a data-informed approach, effectively presenting impact data and insights to stakeholders and translating these findings into clear, actionable strategies.

Expert Knowledge and Proactive Advice

• Maintain expert knowledge of the portfolio area, including a comprehensive understanding of national and international best practices. This ensures you can provide proactive, relevant advice to senior staff and identify new initiatives to enhance the student experience.

Team and Resource Management

• Lead a dedicated team, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment that supports professional growth. This also includes managing, planning, and coordinating staffing levels and preparing the annual budget for your areas of responsibility.

About You

• Postgraduate qualifications (or progress toward them) and at least five years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of experience and education. This includes expert knowledge of student transition and success issues, such as sense of belonging and widening participation, both nationally and internationally, particularly within the higher education sector.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and implement change to improve operational efficiency in a large and complex environment. This requires experience with a range of evaluation and data analysis methods to inform decision-making, monitor outcomes, and conduct formal reporting to senior management.
• Proven excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You will need the ability to develop and maintain professional networks, negotiate, and effectively liaise with a wide range of stakeholders, including students, staff, and external contacts.
• Experience managing a team to deliver effective, student-centred services. This includes the ability to prioritise workloads in a high-pressure environment, work independently and proactively, meet deadlines, and provide expert advice to senior leaders.
• 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.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world. Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as: 26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave, 17% superannuation contributions, 17.5% annual leave loading. Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family. Cheap parking, On campus childcare and Salary packaging options.

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 Renee at r.desimone@uq.edu.au. For application queries, please contact talent@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. Applications close 21 August 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-54329). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for 29 August 2025. UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role. We know one of our strengths as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. Reach out to talent@uq.edu.au for accessibility support or adjustments.