Chief Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Enablement Officer

University; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 230,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Competitive remuneration package

Job summary

Western Sydney University seeks a Chief Artificial Intelligence Enablement Officer to lead the enterprise AI strategy, governance, and adoption across the university, delivering responsible transformation and measurable value.

Reporting to the COO, you will establish and lead the AI Enablement function, manage its budget and partners, and build strategic relationships with higher education, government and industry.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent in AI, technology or transformation.
• Senior leadership experience in enterprise AI or technology-enabled transformation.
• Proven ability to advise executives and governing bodies.
• Strong knowledge of AI, ML and generative AI and related governance considerations.
• Experience in complex, regulated or knowledge-intensive environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise AI strategy, governance and adoption across the university.
• Establish and lead the AI Enablement function with multi‑year roadmap and prioritised portfolio.
• Manage budget, resources, vendors and delivery partners for AI initiatives.
• Build strategic relationships across higher education, government, industry and technology sectors.
• Oversee responsible AI governance, standards, controls and human oversight.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance & risk

Stakeholder engagement

AI & ML knowledge

Influencing executives

Education

Postgraduate qualification or equivalent in AI/tech/transformation

Job description

Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Enablement Officer

• Full-time, Senior-level position on a 3-year Fixed-term contract.
• Parramatta South campus with flexible working arrangements.
• Competitive senior-level remuneration, commensurate with experience.
• Where the successful candidate is appointed on an academic basis, the position may carry the title of Pro Vice-Chancellor.

Lead enterprise AI strategy, governance and adoption to deliver responsible transformation and measurable University-wide value.

The Opportunity

In this role, you will set the enterprise direction for artificial intelligence across Western Sydney University, translating institutional ambition into a clear strategy, multi-year roadmap and prioritised portfolio of investment. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will advise the Vice-Chancellor, University Executive and Board on transformation opportunities, emerging technologies, institutional risk and investment priorities.

You will establish and lead the University's AI enablement capability, bringing together academic and professional portfolios to identify, assess and scale high-value opportunities. You will establish and lead a multidisciplinary AI Enablement function, managing its people, budget, resources, vendors and delivery partners while building strategic relationships across the higher education, government, industry and technology sectors.

You will lead the University's responsible AI governance and assurance arrangements, establishing clear decision rights, standards, controls and accountability for human oversight. Working across technology, data, cyber security, privacy, legal, risk and academic governance, you will build institutional capability, reduce fragmented investment and embed accountable AI-enabled ways of working. You will provide enterprise coordination while academic and business portfolios retain accountability for their strategies and operational outcomes.

What Success Looks Like

• Deliver an enterprise AI strategy and multi-year roadmap with clear priorities, investment decisions and adoption targets, supported by an annual assessment of AI maturity and future priorities.
• Establish trusted governance, decision rights and assurance controls that enable responsible AI implementation at scale.
• Build and prioritise a sustainable portfolio of AI initiatives based on strategic value, feasibility, risk, cost and anticipated benefits.
• Establish a high-performing multidisciplinary AI Enablement function with the capability, resources and partnerships required to support enterprise delivery.
• Transition proven AI solutions into enduring University services and establish benefits, adoption and maturity measures that demonstrate institutional outcomes, return on investment, delivery performance and risk.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification, or an equivalent combination of senior executive experience and professional expertise in AI, technology, data, business or organisational transformation.
• Substantial senior leadership experience delivering enterprise AI or technology-enabled transformation within a large, complex, federated or highly autonomous organisation.
• Proven success establishing enterprise strategy, governance and investment priorities, and taking AI or enterprise generative AI platforms from experimentation through to scaled implementation and sustainable operations.
• Strong knowledge of AI, machine learning and generative AI, including their capabilities, limitations and implications for privacy, cyber security, ethics, accessibility, information governance and model risk.
• Demonstrated ability to advise executives and governing bodies, influence academic and professional leaders, and lead institution-wide change within higher education or another complex, regulated or knowledge-intensive environment.

We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Alongside a rewarding career, we offer a range of benefits designed to support your financial, personal and family wellbeing.

• Financial benefits: Access to staff-only products and offers with selected banking partners, salary sacrifice options for onsite parking, and novated motor vehicle leasing.
• Health and wellbeing support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP), complimentary annual flu vaccination, eligibility for Fitness Passport membership, and access to discounted private health cover.
• Onsite childcare: Long day care and early learning services operate at our Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta, and Penrith campuses. Staff may be eligible for discounted fees and salary packaging, with places subject to centre capacity.
• Closing Date: 11:59pm, Sunday 4 October 2026.
• Working Rights: You must provide evidence of your fulltime working rights in Australia for the full term of the appointment at time of application.

As part of your online application, you will also be asked to respond to screening questions addressing the key qualifications, experiences and skills required for this position.

We are committed to substantive equality as outlined in our Equal Opportunity Policy . We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, candidates of all gender identities and expressions, people of all abilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

About Western

This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. By joining Western Sydney University, you become a valued member of our community. As our region changes, so too does our university. Western is boldly different, energetic, global, diverse, dynamic, and youthful.

Our mission is to deliver student success, impactful research, and stronger communities. As part of our team, you will have a stake in shaping the future of education, broadening horizons, and changing lives. Making a difference starts at Western.