Centre Manager-Centre for Disability Research Policy

The University of Sydney; Sydney; On-site; AUD 131,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Sydney's Centre for Disability Research and Policy at Camperdown Campus invites applications for the Centre Manager role. You will provide operational leadership to advance the centre's research agenda, governance, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement.

The role requires postgraduate qualifications in disability, strong policy knowledge and experience in research management, plus excellent communication and financial management skills.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualifications in the field of disability with research management experience.
• Understanding of Australian disability policy landscape and co-design principles.
• Extensive operational and administrative leadership translating strategy into action.
• Advanced communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Financial management experience including budgets and expenditure control.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Centre Director to lead the centre and implement strategic plans.
• Oversee business planning, monitoring, reporting and budget management.
• Drive process improvements and manage workforce and resources.
• Provide strategic direction to achieve program aims and operational objectives.
• Develop long-term relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee governance, reporting and communications across committees.

Skills

Disability policy

Research management

Stakeholder engagement

Financial management

Communication skills

Education

Postgraduate qualifications in disability field

Job description

Centre Manager-Centre for Disability Research Policy

• Full-time Continuing opportunity, located at Camperdown Campus
• Exciting opportunity for a Centre Manager to join the Centre for Disability Research and Policy
• Base Salary $131,108 - $147,858 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Centre for Disability Research and Policy produces collaborative research that actively influences policy and practice to improve the lives of people with disability in Australia and the Asia-Pacific and aims to reduce the disadvantage that occurs for people with disability. The Centre's research works to improve the social and economic participation, health and wellbeing of people with disability. We have an exciting opportunity for a Centre Manager to provide operational leadership for the Centre for Disability Research and Policy to meet its core objective whilst also supporting the Centre and School and Faculty’s strategic research agenda.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• collaboratively work with the Centre Director, Senior academic leaders and colleagues in the Centre for Disability Research and Policy to lead the Centre
• play a key role in overall business planning and implementation, monitoring and reporting
• drive improvement in process and overall performance and manage the workforce and operational resources, ensuring centre operations, communications, and events adhere to leading accessibility and inclusion standards
• deliver on budget and financial management support and manage/prepare the Centre’s budget and work collaboratively with FMH Finance
• provide strategic direction to ensure the Centre’s programs achieve their aims and operational objectives
• initiate and develop long-term relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• manage governance and compliance including committee membership, reporting and communications

About you

• postgraduate qualifications in the field of disability, including disabled people's organisations, government, and community partners, with proven experience in research management with the ability to work on multiple projects and adapt to changes in line with overall strategies
• a well-developed understanding of the Australian disability sector policy landscape and the principles of co-design, with lived experience of disability viewed favorably
• extensive operational and administrative leadership, possessing the capability to translate strategic goals into operational initiatives
• advanced interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills with sound negotiating and conflict resolution skills and a demonstrated level of tact and discretion in dealing with day-to-day operational matters and stakeholders in the research process
• excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to liaise effectively with all levels of staff, students, management and external stakeholders
• financial management experience and literacy, experience in management budgets and controlling income and expenditure
• hold strong analytical, problem solving and time management skills.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.