Associate Director, Space

Capstone Recruitment Group Pty Ltd; City of Brisbane; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Queensland is seeking an experienced Associate Director, Space to lead strategic space planning across its Campus Planning team. You will oversee space requirements, utilisation and allocation across a large university estate, and drive a coordinated decant strategy to support the capital works program.

You will manage a small Space Management team, engage with diverse stakeholders and advance space policies, systems and data-driven planning to optimise space utilisation at

Qualifications

• Extensive experience managing complex programs within a large institutional environment.
• Strong space management, strategic planning or portfolio optimization expertise.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and manage competing priorities.
• Experience developing improvements to space management policies, systems and processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the University's strategic space planning, management and utilisation initiatives.
• Develop and deliver a University-wide decant strategy across multiple interdependent projects.
• Identify suitable decant solutions and coordinate enabling works and relocations.
• Provide strategic advice and reporting to senior executives and governance committees.
• Lead, coach and support a small specialist Space Management team.
• Build strong relationships across Faculties, Institutes, Schools and professional units.

Job description

Capstone Recruitment is partnering with The University of Queensland (UQ) to appoint an experienced Associate Director, Space to join its Campus Planning team.

The University of Queensland is one of Australia’s leading research and education institutions, with a significant property portfolio supporting a diverse university community across multiple campuses.

UQ is embarking on an ambitious five-year, $500 million capital works program, comprising 57 critical projects across the estate. A key component of this program is the Space Strategy 2026–2031, which will transform how space is planned, allocated and utilised across the University.

To support this program, UQ is establishing a coordinated University-wide decant strategy to facilitate major works while maintaining operational continuity.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director, Campus Planning, the Associate Director, Space will provide strategic leadership and expert advice on the University's space requirements, utilisation and allocation.

A key focus of the role will be to lead the development and delivery of a comprehensive decant strategy supporting the University's capital works program. This will involve identifying and preparing suitable decant space, sequencing relocations and re-occupations, coordinating enabling works and ensuring operational continuity across a complex portfolio of projects.

The role will also lead the University's broader space management function, using data, systems and stakeholder engagement to optimise the utilisation of space and support long-term planning.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the University's strategic space planning, management and utilisation initiatives.
• Develop and deliver a University-wide decant strategy across multiple interdependent projects.
• Identify suitable decant solutions and coordinate enabling works and relocations.
• Provide strategic advice and reporting to senior executives and governance committees.
• Lead, coach and support a small specialist Space Management team.
• Build strong relationships across Faculties, Institutes, Schools and professional units.

This is a highly visible role with the opportunity to influence how one of Australia's largest and most complex institutional property portfolios is planned and utilised.

About You

We are seeking an experienced property, space planning, facilities or program management professional who can operate strategically while managing complex, interdependent programs of work.

You will bring:

• Extensive experience managing complex programs, ideally within a large institutional environment.
• Demonstrated experience in space management, strategic planning or portfolio optimisation.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate competing priorities.
• Experience developing and implementing improvements to space management policies, systems and processes.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including mentoring and developing teams.
• Experience with Archibus or a similar integrated facilities management / space management platform would be advantageous.

You will be a confident and collaborative leader who can bring structure to complex problems, communicate effectively with a diverse stakeholder group and drive practical outcomes across a large organisation.