Partnership and External Engagement Manager

EURAXESS Ireland; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 152,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Sydney is inviting applications for the Partnerships and External Engagement Manager role within Microscopy Australia. You will lead the Technician Commitment Australia partnerships and external engagement strategy, building relationships with universities, government, funders and industry to expand signatories and impact.

Reporting to the Program Lead, you will engage senior leaders and policymakers, develop engagement materials, and represent the initiative at national forums

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.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Partnerships and external engagement

Stakeholder engagement

Policy understanding

Communication and negotiation

Business development

Strategic influence

Job description

Organisation/Company UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Research Field Educational sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Application Deadline 30 Sep 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country Australia Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

• Full time, fixed term for 2 years
• 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.

• 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 forAustralia

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

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.

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.