Associate Director, Governance

Australian Catholic University; North Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Catholic University invites an Associate Director, Governance to lead the Governance Unit within the Legal, Assurance and Governance Directorate. As Deputy Corporation Secretary, you will ensure compliance with statutory functions under the Corporations Act 2001 and strengthen governance across ACU.

You will work across North Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, collaborating with the General Counsel and other senior stakeholders to promote ethical decision-making and continuous

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate ACU's governance processes within the LAG Directorate.
• Support Senate and committees to ensure effective governance and compliance.
• Contribute to governance strategy, reporting, and assurance across the university.

Job description

Associate Director, Governance - Vacancy Details

Campus Location: North Sydney, Australia | Melbourne, Australia | Brisbane, Australia

Job No: APTAV101331#079

Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a young and dynamic institution making a significant impact. Founded on the principles of Catholic social teaching, it aims to promote academic excellence, serve communities, and act as a catalyst for positive change. Ranked in the top two per cent of universities worldwide and in the top 10 Catholic universities, the university has seven campuses around Australia, a campus in Rome, Italy, and an online campus - ACU Online. ACU's Vision 2033 presents a strategy which allows students and staff to respond to the needs of a changing world while working to enable flourishing lives, foster thriving communities and forge an ethical future.

Based in either North Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane and reporting directly to the General Counsel, Corporation Secretary and Chief Legal, Assurance and Governance Officer, the Associate Director, Governance provides senior leadership of the Governance Unit within the Legal, Assurance and Governance (LAG) Directorate and, as Deputy Corporation Secretary, will draw upon corporate governance experience to support the Corporation Secretary in ensuring compliance with statutory functions under the Corporations Act 2001.

The Associate Director, Governance will lead and coordinate ACU's corporate governance processes, support the effective functioning of the Senate and its committees, contribute to institutional priorities, and promote strong governance across ACU, ensuring compliance with governance instruments. The Associate Director will also contribute to governance strategy, reporting, assurance, and organisational effectiveness by identifying emerging governance risks in the context of the governance standards under the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) (HESF), ensuring that existing governance processes enable effective oversight, assurance and institutional performance while simultaneously supporting continuous improvement across governance systems and practices.

As a member of Senior Management within the Corporate Services Portfolio, the Associate Director, Governance will strengthen ACU's governance capability, promote ethical and transparent decision making, and foster a culture of accountability and compliance across the university while supporting a clear distinction between governance and management.

We are seeking candidates with inclusive leadership skills and experience in a large, complex, and preferably regulated organisation. The successful candidate will be a highly collaborative, astute, and mission-led professional who will work in partnership with colleagues across other central service functions and the academic community to drive transformation and improved outcomes in Governance.

Applications close on 30 November 2026.

ACU is not accepting candidate applications via this portal.