Executive Director, Research Services

University of Sydney; Sydney; On-site; AUD 200,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Relocation allowance

Fitness passport

University benefits

Job summary

The University of Sydney invites applications for an Executive Director, Research Services, a senior leadership role within the Research Portfolio. You will lead five key areas of research support, charting a strategic transformation to a more integrated, end-to-end service model that reduces administrative burden for researchers.

This role reports to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and drives service excellence.

Qualifications

• Senior executive leadership experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Deep knowledge of the research lifecycle and research services.
• Proven track record in service transformation and reducing administrative burden for researchers.
• Ability to translate strategy into effective operational delivery with clear accountability.
• Excellent stakeholder leadership, influencing senior academics and external partners.
• Strong judgement, risk management and governance experience.
• Sharp financial acumen and capacity to manage large budgets and resources.

Responsibilities

• Lead five key areas of Research Services: pre-award, post-award, clinical trials, ethics and governance, and service improvement.
• Drive a more integrated, researcher-centred end-to-end service model.
• Transform research services to reduce burden, simplify processes and strengthen compliance.
• Provide trusted advice to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and senior leaders.
• Foster excellent relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners to enable seamless service delivery.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Change management

Operating model redesign

Regulatory & governance knowledge

Financial stewardship

Executive advisory

Job description

Full time, 5 year fixed term position

Contribute to the University of Sydney's research ambitions by delivering innovative, scalable and researcher-centered services that enable world‑class research outcomes.

Offering a competitive remuneration package including 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The University of Sydney is seeking an accomplished and strategic senior leader to join the Research Portfolio as Executive Director, Research Services, with responsibility for leading and transforming the services that enable research across the University.

Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), the Executive Director provides senior executive leadership for the University's researcher-facing services. The role leads five key areas: Research Pipeline and Pre-Award; Post-Award Research Services; Clinical Trials; Research Ethics, Governance and Assurance; and Research Services and Improvement, bringing these functions together through an integrated, end-to-end service model.

The Executive Director will lead the continued transformation of research services, creating a more integrated, consistent and researcher-centred approach that reduces administrative burden, simplifies processes, strengthens accountability and compliance, and makes it easier for researchers to navigate the University's research environment. The portfolio encompasses research funding and development, pre- and post-award administration, research contracts, clinical trials, ethics and governance, research integrity administration, research data governance, research security, research systems and service improvement.

Working in close partnership with DVCR Executive team faculty and academic leaders, multidisciplinary initiatives, and professional service units, the Executive Director will ensure research services effectively support the University's strategic ambitions and the delivery of world‑class research. The role will provide trusted advice to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), drive service and operational excellence across the Research Portfolio, and champion continuous improvement and innovation in how researchers are supported.

The role will engage with and maintain exceptional relationships with internal stakeholders including academic leaders and university central portfolios to enable the development and implementation of seamless 'end-to-end' processes and systems that support service delivery, as well as with key external stakeholders to influence policies, processes and systems that impact on the research activities of the portfolio and university.

About you (skills, capabilities and experience)

• Significant senior executive leadership experience, with a demonstrated ability to lead large, multidisciplinary professional teams and develop high-performing senior leaders.
• Deep knowledge and understanding of the research lifecycle and research services environment.
• A strong track record of leading complex service transformation and organisational change, including redesigning operating models, simplifying processes, improving systems and reducing administrative burden for researchers.
• Demonstrated capacity to translate strategy into effective operational delivery, establishing clear accountabilities, service standards and performance measures and delivering measurable improvements in service quality and researcher experience.
• Excellent stakeholder leadership and influencing skills, with the credibility to build trusted relationships with senior academic and professional leaders, researchers, government and funding bodies, regulators, affiliated institutions and external partners.
• Highly developed judgement and risk management capability, with experience navigating complex regulatory, governance, compliance, reputational and operational issues.
• Strong financial and organisational acumen, including experience managing significant budgets and resources, workforce planning and making strategic investment and prioritisation decision.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and executive advisory capability, with the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity, resolve competing priorities and provide clear, trusted advice on sensitive and high-impact matters.
• Demonstrated resilience, composure and sound judgement under pressure, with the ability to remain calm and solutions-focused when managing competing priorities, sensitive issues, tight deadlines and complex or high-risk situations.

Key benefits

• a University contribution of 17% of your base salary to your superannuation fund
• tax‑efficient salary packaging options for cars, laptops, and additional contributions to your superannuation fund
• generous relocation allowance if moving from interstate or overseas
• access to fitness passport, as well as discounted rates on university sports and fitness centres
• gain the recognition that working in a leading University.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the dur