Director, Forecasting and Performance

University of Adelaide; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Job summary

University of Adelaide is seeking a Senior Leader to oversee forecasting and performance across the university, reporting to the Chief Data and Analytics Officer. The role leads a team of analysts to deliver insightful, evidence-based decision support for senior leadership across portfolios.

The position is full-time, based in the Adelaide CBD, on a five-year contract with competitive remuneration plus 17% superannuation.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar leadership role within higher education or complex environment.
• Track record of strategic leadership across forecasting and performance reporting in a large organisation.
• Ability to translate technical information for non-technical audiences.
• Knowledge of higher education trends and student, research and operational demands.
• Experience in financial stewardship, budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills for diverse audiences.
• Commitment to integrity, respect and discovery aligned with university values.

Responsibilities

• Lead forecasting and performance functions across the university.
• Drive adoption of contemporary sector-leading methodologies and systems.
• Manage a diverse team of experienced analysts.
• Partner with stakeholders across portfolios to deliver evidentiary insights.
• Ensure governance and data quality to support decision making.
• Foster a high-performing, customer-focused culture and continuous improvement.

Skills

Senior leadership

Forecasting

Performance analytics

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Job description

• Senior Leadership role reporting to the Chief Data and Analytics Officer
• Provide high-level strategy and operational oversight across broad institutional segments
• Full-time, 5-year contract based in the Adelaide CBD
• Competitive remuneration plus 17% superannuation

At Adelaide University, we create the opportunities you need to achieve your ambitions – because when you thrive, we thrive.

We are transforming education for contemporary learners and global citizens. Building on a proud legacy and shaped by bold ambition, it’s a place of excellence and equity, where our vibrant community of staff are united by our purpose to inspire Australia’s future change-makers and create a better tomorrow.

Work that matters

Leading the University’s forecasting, and performance monitoring functions, this role drives the adoption of contemporary sector-leading methodologies and systems to support the delivery of innovative and accessible education and research. The role leads a diverse team of experienced analysts to provide an evidentiary basis for strategic and operational decision making across the University. Through a business partnering model the team supports analytical needs in every major portfolio across the institution. Maintaining student load modelling, key performance indicator frameworks and rankings strategies the work of this role will be highly visible to the senior executive of the University. The role also fosters a high-performing, collaborative and customer-focused culture, championing continuous improvement, professional growth and alignment with the University’s values and strategic objectives.

Curious to learn more? Explore the full role description to discover more about this opportunity.

The team

This role forms part of the Forecasting and Performance team within the Performance, Data and Insight Function and is aligned to the Corporate Portfolio within the University.

Performance Data and Insights (PDI) leads the University’s Business Intelligence, Forecasting and Performance, and Information Governance services, enabling evidence-based decision-making and organisational insight. The team maximises the value of the University’s information through robust governance, curated data and analytics solutions, self-service capabilities, responsive support services and embedded partnerships.

Visit the AU website to learn more about the Corporate Portfolio.

Our people

Our people are guided by purpose, curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning. We embrace authenticity, innovation and collaboration, and harness diverse thinking in our pursuit of excellence.

Learn more about our people, what we stand for and what we offer at Careers at AU.

Experience

To join our community and thrive in this role, you will likely have the following skills and experience:

• Experience in a similar role within higher education or comparably complex environment
• A significant and successful track record of strategic leadership and senior management across a performance reporting and forecasting function within a large and complex organisation
• Proven ability to deliver client focused services using a continuous improvement approach, translating technical and complex information in a credible and clear manner relevant for the tertiary sector
• An extensive knowledge of higher education wider issues and trends with demonstrated delivery of innovative solutions, possibilities and creative alternatives that met student experience, research and operational demands
• Proven general management capabilities in planning, financial stewardship, financial modelling, budget creation, resource allocation, people management, risk management, analytics and related decision-making
• Highly developed analytic and problem-solving skills with the capacity to think creatively, act strategically, be flexible, establish priorities and work to competing deadlines
• Demonstrated extensive experience in managing internal and external stakeholder relationships including working across organisational boundaries to achieve agreed objectives
• Demonstrated outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, including high level written and presentation skills appropriate to a range of audiences, and the ability to clearly articulate and present complex information in a meaningful and useable form
• Demonstrated ability to promote the organisational values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery, and a commitment to positively comply with the associated behaviour expectations

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion where diversity is celebrated and everyone feels respected and valued. Adelaide University, Tirkangkaku is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and equitable workplace where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and people of all ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements and providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Applications welcomed from Australian or NZ citizens, Australian permanent residents and those who have the legal right to work in Australia for the term of appointment.

Submit your application by 11:30pm Sunday 8 November 2026

For further information about this opportunity, please contact (quoting reference number 493582):

Alexandra Koszegi

Lead, Senior Staff Recruitment

[phone] | [e-mail]