Associate Director, Governance

Uow; Wollongong City Council; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35-hour work week

Flexible working arrangements

Generous leave entitlements

Purchased leave options

Professional development & careerproG

Job summary

University of Wollongong (UOW) seeks an Associate Director, Governance to lead the development and continuous improvement of institutional governance frameworks, policy oversight, and delegations management across the university.

You will guide governance architecture to align with legislative requirements, ECUG principles and UOW’s Strategic Plan 2030, while differentiating governance strategy from operational committee delivery.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading governance, policy, compliance, risk or related functions within a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of contemporary governance frameworks, principles and best practice.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and empower high-performing teams.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with credibility across levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and continuous improvement of UOW’s governance frameworks and policy oversight.
• Provide expert advice to senior executives and Council, ensuring coherent governance architecture.
• Drive governance capability uplift across faculties and divisions and ensure alignment with ECUG principles.
• Ensure governance operations are integrated with Secretariat activities while maintaining clear roles.

Skills

Governance leadership

Policy oversight

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Change management

Risk management

Team leadership

Job description

Make an impact at the University of Wollongong (UOW) - a purpose driven institution ranked in the top 1% of universities globally.

About the Role

As Associate Director, Governance, you will lead the development and continuous improvement of UOW’s institutional governance frameworks; driving best practice governance, policy oversight, delegations management and governance capability uplift across the institution.

This is a substantive, institution-shaping role. You will ensure UOW’s governance architecture is aligned with legislative requirements, the Expert Council on University Governance (ECUG) principles and UOW’s Strategic Plan 2030, and that it keeps pace with the demands of a complex, evolving higher education environment. Working closely with the Associate Director, Secretariat, you will ensure governance frameworks and Council operations are coherent and effectively integrated — with a clear distinction between this role’s focus on governance architecture and framework, and the Secretariat’s focus on operational committee delivery.

You will lead a dedicated team of governance professionals, provide expert advice to senior executives and Council, and build governance capability across faculties and divisions in an environment where accountability and continuous improvement genuinely matter.

About the Team

The Governance team supports the integrity, effectiveness and accountability of decision-making across the University. Partnering closely with senior leaders and stakeholders from across the institution, the team delivers expert advice, governance oversight and strategic support in an environment that is both complex and constantly evolving.

As Associate Director, you will lead a highly capable team and have the opportunity to shape governance practices, drive continuous improvement and contribute to initiatives that have a genuine and lasting impact across the University. This is a role for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of strategy, governance and leadership, and who is motivated by the opportunity to influence meaningful organisational outcomes.

What You’ll Bring

You are a respected and influential leader with deep governance expertise and a passion for helping organisations perform at their best. You bring sound judgement, political acumen and the ability to provide trusted advice in complex environments where competing priorities, risk and strategic objectives intersect.

You thrive on building strong relationships and have a proven ability to influence, collaborate and achieve outcomes through others. Combining strategic thinking with a practical and solutions-focused approach, you can translate governance principles into meaningful action that strengthens accountability, enables effective decision-making and supports organisational success.

You will bring:

• Significant experience leading governance, policy, compliance, legal, risk or related functions within a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of contemporary governance frameworks, principles and best practice.
• Demonstrated success leading, developing and empowering high-performing teams.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to establish credibility and build trusted relationships at all levels.
• Experience providing expert advice to senior executives, committees and decision-making bodies on complex and often sensitive matters.
• Strong analytical, communication and problem-solving capabilities, coupled with sound judgement and professional integrity.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and the ability to drive change that delivers sustainable organisational outcomes

Why Join UOW

• 35-hour full-time work week supporting greater balance and flexibility
• Flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies
• Generous leave entitlementsincluding additional concession days over the Christmas–New Year period
• Purchased leave options to provide greater flexibility throughout the year
• Ongoing professional development and clear career progression opportunities

Role Details

• Employment type: Full-time 5 year fixed-term appointment
• Salary: Level 10 | Competitive remuneration package + 12% superannuation
• Position Description
• Location: Wollongong Campus with hybrid work arrangements
• Work Rights: Valid Australian work rights required. Visa sponsorship is not available.

For further information about this position, please contact Erin Snape on + 61 2 4221 3273.

Closing Date: Sunday 15 November 2026, 11:55pm

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

The University of Wollongong is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where diversity is valued, respected and celebrated. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve, removes barriers to participation, and provides equitable opportunities for staff to reach their full potential. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people of all gender identities and sexual orientations, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, and those with caring or family responsibilities.

As required by federal legislation, prospective employees are required to declare whether they have been investigated for an allegation of Gender based Violence or determined to have engaged in conduct that constitutes Gender based Violence, during their previous employment, or otherwise in a legal process. Any such declaration will be included in the University’s employment screening processes and will be treated with the strictest confidence and in compliance with all privacy legislation.