Partnership and External Engagement Manager

University of Sydney; Sydney; On-site; AUD 152,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Microscopy Australia is seeking a senior partnerships and engagement professional to lead the Technician Commitment Australia strategy, engaging senior leaders across universities, government, funders and industry to grow signatories and strengthen national partnerships.

You will report to the Program Lead, collaborate with the Steering Board and UK partners to maximise reach, influence policy, and advance workforce development for technical professionals across Australia.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in partnerships, stakeholder engagement, business development, policy or external relations within higher education, research, government or a comparable sector.
• Strong understanding of the Australian higher education and research landscape, including policy and funding issues relating to workforce development, technical skills and research capability.
• Proven success building strategic partnerships and influencing senior stakeholders across organisational, sector and government environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the Technician Commitment Australia partnerships and external engagement strategy, supporting growth and national influence.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with senior leaders across universities, research organisations, government, funders, industry and professional bodies.
• Secure and support new signatories, supporters and partners, developing compelling engagement approaches to strengthen participation and impact.
• Identify and coordinate opportunities to influence policy, funding and sector priorities relating to technical skills and workforce capability.
• Provide strategic advice, stakeholder intelligence and high-quality engagement materials to support programme development and decision-making.
• Represent the Technician Commitment at national forums, conferences and stakeholder meetings with Australian and UK partners.

Skills

Partnerships

Stakeholder engagement

Policy

External relations

Job description

• Unique opportunity to deliver the newly-established Technician Commitment in Australia
• HEO 9 Base Salary $152,045 - $160,430 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

Microscopy Australia is the national collaborative research infrastructure providing researchers with access to world class microscopy, imaging and characterisation capabilities. Through a network of leading facilities hosted by the University of Sydney and partner universities and research organisations across Australia, Microscopy Australia supports cutting edge research, innovation and industry engagement across fields ranging from health and medicine to materials science and environmental research.

The Technician Commitment is an internationally recognised initiative driving systemic and cultural change for technical and scientific professionals across higher education, research and innovation. Supported by a major Australian Government investment, this team will support the establishment and delivery of the Technician Commitment in Australia in partnership with Microscopy Australia, the Academy for Collaborative Research Infrastructure (ACRI), and the UK Technician Commitment team.

The Partnerships and External Engagement Manager will play a central role in building the reach, profile and influence of the Technician Commitment in Australia. Working across the higher education, research and innovation sectors, you will develop and deliver engagement strategies that attract new signatories and supporters, strengthen strategic partnerships, and enhance the visibility and impact of the initiative nationally.

Reporting to the Program Lead and working closely with the Steering Board and the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy, you will engage with senior leaders, government representatives, policymakers, funders and sector bodies to advance the Technician Commitment and support positive outcomes for Australia's technical workforce.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• lead the development and delivery of the Technician Commitment Australia partnerships and external engagement strategy, supporting the growth and influence of the initiative nationally
• build and maintain strategic relationships with senior leaders across universities, research organisations, government, funders, industry, professional bodies and other key stakeholders
• secure and support new and existing signatories, supporters and strategic partners, developing compelling engagement approaches that strengthen participation and impact
• identify and coordinate opportunities to influence policy, funding and sector priorities relating to technical skills, workforce capability and technical careers
• provide strategic advice, stakeholder intelligence and high-quality engagement materials to support programme development, decision-making and external representation
• represent the Technician Commitment at national forums, conferences and stakeholder meetings, working closely with Australian and UK partners to maximise reach and impact

About you

You will be an experienced and credible partnerships and engagement professional with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior stakeholders across Australia's higher education, research and policy communities.

Requirements

• significant experience in partnerships, stakeholder engagement, business development, policy or external relations within higher education, research, government or a comparable sector
• strong understanding of the Australian higher education and research landscape, including policy and funding issues relating to workforce development, technical skills and research capability
• demonstrated success building strategic partnerships and influencing senior stakeholders across organisational, sector and government environments
• experience attracting organisations to participate in initiatives, networks, programmes or collaborative partnerships and translating strategic objectives into effective engagement approaches
• exceptional communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to represent the programme at senior national forums and sector events
• strong strategic judgement, organisational capability and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, with knowledge of technical professionals and technical services being highly desirable

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University's obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.