Program Director, Education

The University of Melbourne; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Flexible work arrangements

Academic Women in Leadership

LinkedIn Learning access

Parental & cultural leave

Discounts & benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

The University of Melbourne is seeking a Senior Manager to lead Asialink's flagship school partnership programs, shaping strategy, partnerships and delivery to meet DFAT-funded objectives and deliver measurable educational impact.

You will oversee end-to-end delivery, manage budgets and international teams, engage with government partners, and drive monitoring, evaluation and learning to demonstrate outcomes across Australia and Southeast Asia.

Qualifications

• Hold postgraduate qualifications in a relevant field, or equivalent experience in complex program leadership roles.
• Demonstrate strategic program leadership delivering complex education or capability programs across dynamic, multi-country environments.
• Manage funding agreements, budgets, governance obligations and relationships with government or major funding partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy, design and growth of Asialink's education portfolio, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and DFAT objectives.
• Oversee end-to-end delivery of BRIDGE school partnership programs, ensuring quality learning outcomes, compliance and effective cross-organisational collaboration.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with DFAT, governments and education partners across Australia and Southeast Asia to support program success.
• Manage human and financial resources, including budgeting, forecasting, risk, reporting and supervision of Indonesia-based education staff.
• Lead monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks to evidence impact, improve performance and meet funding partner reporting requirements.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Budgeting & finance

Monitoring & evaluation

Intercultural capability

Communication with senior leaders

Education

Postgraduate qualification

Job description

Role type: Full time, Fixed term for 3 years
Department: Chancellery; Global Culture & Engagement
Salary: Senior Manager 1 salary package including up to 17% super

The University of Melbourne

We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website.

Your next career opportunity

You will lead Asialink's flagship school partnership programs connecting Australian and Southeast Asian educators and students. You will shape strategy, partnerships and delivery to ensure these DFAT-funded programs deliver measurable educational and intercultural impact.

What you will deliver:

• Lead strategy, design and growth of Asialink's education portfolio, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and DFAT objectives.
• Oversee end-to-end delivery of BRIDGE school partnership programs, ensuring quality learning outcomes, compliance and effective cross-organisational collaboration.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with DFAT, governments and education partners across Australia and Southeast Asia to support program success.
• Manage human and financial resources, including budgeting, forecasting, risk, reporting and supervision of Indonesia-based education staff.
• Lead monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks to evidence impact, improve performance and meet funding partner reporting requirements.

You may be a great fit if you:

• Hold postgraduate qualifications in a relevant field, or equivalent experience in complex program leadership roles.
• Demonstrate strategic program leadership delivering complex education or capability programs across dynamic, multi-country environments.
• Manage funding agreements, budgets, governance obligations and relationships with government or major funding partners.
• Bring deep knowledge of Asia-Pacific education systems, international education and intercultural capability, particularly Australia-Asia engagement.
• Apply advanced monitoring, evaluation and analytical approaches using data and digital platforms to drive continuous improvement.
• Communicate credibly with senior stakeholders, building trusted relationships across cultures and representing organisations at high levels.

What we offer you!

• Build future financial security with 17% superannuation
• Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well-being
• Career development opportunities, including access to a range of tailored programs, such as Academic Women in Leadership, and learning platforms including LinkedIn Learning
• Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work-life balance and well-being, including leading parental leave, gender affirmation leave and cultural leave
• Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance, and access to unique cultural and recreational benefits such as discounts for the Melbourne Theatre Company
• Health and well-being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program

Your new team - "Global Culture and Engagement"

Working within Asialink, you will join a purpose-driven team advancing Australia's engagement with Asia through education and partnerships. You will collaborate with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, delivery teams, and colleagues across Australia and Indonesia and broader Asia locations. Together you will deliver high-profile, DFAT-funded programs. The team values intercultural capability, evidence-based practice and impact, strong collaborative instincts, and offers opportunities to lead region-wide initiatives connecting schools.

Be Yourself

The University of Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a child-safe organisation. The diversity of our community enriches us all, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and fair workplace where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Discover more about Diversity and Inclusion at UniMelb. We're committed to a barrier-free recruitment process and ongoing workplace support, providing adjustments throughout. We warmly encourage applications from people with disabilities. Learn more about how we support an accessible recruitment process.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants

We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians. Visit our Indigenous staff page to learn more about our investment and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

Eligibility / Application essentials

• You must have current valid work rights for Australia. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
• A Working with Children Check is required for all positions. If successful, we will guide you through the process and reimburse you.

Bring your passion to help us shape the future. The University of Melbourne is a world-leading research and education institution anchored in deep history and future-focused innovation. We are building a thriving, fair, and diverse community where academic and professional staff work in partnership to solve globally significant problems and put students at the heart of everything we do.

Our work goes beyond the campus, benefiting society through transformative education and world-leading research that builds long-term resilience for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

• Competitive Remuneration
• Work-Life Balance
• Career Development
• Health & Wellbeing Services
• Discounts
• Dedicated Development for Academic Women
• Childcare Facilities
• Discounted Learning