Executive Officer

University of New South Wales; Sydney; On-site; AUD 113,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% Superannuation

Leave loading

Discounts and entitlements

Flexible work options

Job summary

UNSW is seeking an Executive Officer to support the Business Optimisation Strategy Program. You will provide governance-aligned, high-level operational support to the Program Director and leadership team, delivering strategic advice and ensuring compliance with university standards.

Under guidance of the Senior PMO Lead, you will drive governance, reporting and dashboard consolidation, while building cross-functional partnerships and managing resources, calendars and vendor procurement to enable

Qualifications

• Experience handling executive calendars and meeting schedules.
• Coordinate governance activities including action registers, agendas and minutes.
• Provide risk management and compliance guidance for initiatives.
• Manage vendor procurement and resource forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-level operational support and strategic advice to the Program Director and leadership team to drive key objectives.
• Conduct research, analysis and business case development to inform strategic planning and decision-making.
• Exercise judgement in managing sensitive stakeholder matters and competing priorities.
• Establish governance structures and compliance frameworks aligned with university standards.
• Oversee program-wide reporting, executive documentation and dashboard consolidation for decision-makers.
• Build and maintain partnerships across internal and external networks.
• Manage program resources, calendar scheduling, administrative operations and vendor procurement.

Skills

Executive calendars

Governance activities

Risk management

Compliance enforcement

Resource forecasts

Vendor procurement

Reporting & dashboards

Job description

At UNSW, we take pride in the broad range and high quality of our teaching programs. Our teaching gains strength and currency from our research activities, strong industry links and our international nature; UNSW has strong regional and...

• Employment Type: Full Time, 2-year Fixed Term role
• Remuneration: Level 8: from $132,445 + 17% superannuation + leave loading
• Location: Kensington with transition to newly renovated office at our Randwick campus, anticipated for October 2026

About UNSW

At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work. We aspire to be Australia’s global university, improving and transforming lives through excellence in research, outstanding education and a commitment to advancing a just society.

Why your role matters

The Executive Officer provides core project-level support for the Business Optimisation Strategy Program by directly contributing to the execution and delivery of key strategic and operational projects.

Working under the guidance of the Senior PMO Lead, the role guides project workflows by recommending appropriate governance frameworks for effective decision-making while ensuring all project activities align with UNSW compliance standards and overarching program goals.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-level operational support and strategic advice to the Program Director and leadership team to drive key objectives.
• Conduct research, analysis and business case development to inform strategic planning, resource allocation and decision-making.
• Exercise judgement and discretion in managing sensitive stakeholder matters, emerging issues and competing executive priorities.
• Establish, monitor and continually improve robust governance structures and compliance frameworks aligned with university standards.
• Oversee program-wide reporting, executive documentation and dashboard consolidation to provide clear visibility for decision-makers.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships across internal and external networks to align diverse stakeholder interests.
• Manage program resources, calendar scheduling, administrative operations and vendor procurement in compliance with policy.

Skills and Experience

• Handle executive calendar management, meeting schedules and key commitments to effectively balance competing priorities.
• Coordinate governance activities including action registers, agendas, minutes and board paper preparation with timely follow-up.
• Lead benefits realisation and lessons learned reviews to optimize ongoing program delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Provide authoritative advice on risk management, compliance enforcement and optimal resource utilisation across the initiative.
• Analyse workforce requirements and resource forecasts to highlight operational gaps and guide strategic decisions.
• Maintain program records, documentation systems and vendor procurement processes in strict accordance with university guidelines.

For further details on role responsibilities and skills & experience required, refer to the position description found under the position listing on Jobs@UNSW

Benefits and Culture

People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world.

Our benefits include:

• 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments.
• Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period.
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness).

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.

Sponsorship is not available for this role, full Australian working rights are required on application.

Pre-Employment Checks

Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.

These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:-

• National and International Criminal history checks
• Entitlement to work and ID checks
• Working With Children Checks
• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
• Verification of relevant qualifications
• Verification of relevant professional membership
• Employment history and reference checks
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks.
• Medical Checks and Assessments

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.