Head of Public Interest Disclosures

University of New South Wales; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Career development

Competitive superannuation

Additional leave loading payments

Christmas leave period leave

Staff discounts

Job summary

University of New South Wales in Sydney seeks a senior leader to head Public Interest Disclosures, overseeing investigations on serious wrongdoing and governance. You will lead a specialist team, apply the NSW PID Act, and advise executive leadership to strengthen ethical culture.

The role reports to the Director, Conduct & Integrity and is hybrid on-site at Kensington, NSW. Sponsorship is not available; extensive experience in investigations and governance is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience leading high‑risk investigations in large organisations.
• In-depth knowledge of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 (NSW).
• Strong judgement with the ability to advise senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead a specialist investigations team on serious integrity matters.
• Oversee all investigation stages: assessment, evidence, interviews, reporting.
• Interpret legislation and governance policies to ensure compliance.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leaders on risk and corrective actions.
• Prepare confidential reports for committees and regulators.
• Maintain and strengthen the university's wrongdoing prevention framework.

Skills

Investigation leadership

Regulatory compliance

Governance

Policy advisory

Stakeholder management

Education

Certificate IV in Government Investigations

Tertiary qualifications

Job description

University of New South Wales – Kensington NSW

• Employment Type: Full time (35 hours per week)
• Duration: Continuing
• Location: Kensington, NSW (on-campus role, hybrid work arrangement)

About UNSW

UNSW isn't like other places you've worked. Yes, we're a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter.

Why your role matters

The Head of Public Interest Disclosures plays a critical leadership role in ensuring that people can speak up about serious wrongdoing and trust their concerns will be heard and acted on appropriately.

Leading a small dedicated specialist investigations team, you will oversee and advise on some of the most serious integrity matters including alleged corrupt conduct (including fraud), maladministration, serious waste of funds. At its heart, you will act as the University's subject matter expert on the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 (NSW), oversee high-profile investigations, drive continuous improvement, and help strengthen a culture of ethical decision-making across the University.

The role reports to the Director, Conduct & Integrity to oversee our investigative approach and address systemic risks and integrity concerns.

Responsibilities

• Leading a specialist team responsible for conducting complex and sensitive investigations.
• Overseeing all stages of investigations, including complaint assessment, evidence gathering, forensic analysis, witness interviews, risk management, and report preparation.
• Interpreting and applying complex legislation, policies, and regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance with legal and governance obligations.
• Providing strategic and evidence-based advice to senior leaders on complex matters, including risk mitigation and corrective action.
• Preparing and overseeing confidential reports, briefings, and recommendations for senior University committees, executive leadership, and external regulatory bodies.
• Maintaining the University's Serious Wrongdoing Prevention Framework, Public Interest Disclosures (Whistleblowing) Policy and related governance frameworks.

Skills and Experience

As an experienced investigations and integrity leader, you'll bring extensive expertise in managing high-risk matters. You'll combine technical excellence in investigations with strong leadership capability, exceptional judgement and the ability to influence and advise at the most senior levels to ensure a people-focused approach to conduct and integrity matters.

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and substantial experience gained through investigation, integrity, compliance, audit, regulatory, legal, or similar functions.
• Certificate IV in Government Investigations; training in trauma-informed investigations will be highly regarded.
• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing specialist investigation teams.
• Extensive experience managing and investigating public interest disclosures, whistleblower matters, serious misconduct, gendered violence matters, or other complex investigations in large and complex organisations.
• Substantial expertise in planning and conducting investigations and making findings based on fair and objective assessment of evidence.
• Expert knowledge of procedural fairness and relevant legislative frameworks, including the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 (NSW), ICAC Act, Ombudsman Act, and associated governance principles.

Further details of the responsibilities and skills and experience can be found in the Position Description available on JOBS@UNSW.

Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role; valid Australian working rights are required on application.

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:

• Flexible working options
• Career development and leadership opportunities
• 17% flexible superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments
• Additional leave over the Christmas period
• Discounts and entitlements across retail, education, and fitness providers

For further details on the benefits, please visit https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/lifestyle-benefits

Pre-Employment Checks

As part of our recruitment process, candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment screening, including qualification verification, reference checks, right-to-work verification, and criminal history screening where relevant to the role.

UNSW is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disability, 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.