Program Officer, Emerge

University of the Sunshine Coast; City of Moreton Bay; On-site; AUD 83,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packing options + 17% Super

EAP

Fitness passport

Discounted private health

Flexible work arrangements

Generous leave options

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

UniSC is seeking a passionate Program Officer, Emerge to coordinate and deliver workshops, programs and activities that encourage high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to consider further study and explore pathways to university.

You will engage directly with secondary school students across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and Fraser Coast regions, delivering presentations, workshops and aspiration-raising activities both in schools and on UniSC campuses.

Qualifications

• A relevant degree, or an equivalent combination of relevant work experience and education/training.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and liaison skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• High-level public speaking and written communication skills, with confidence presenting to secondary school students and other audiences.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including experience coordinating programs, activities or events.
• The ability to exercise sound judgement and engage confidently with people from diverse backgrounds, including disadvantaged communities.
• Experience delivering engagement or marketing communications to prospective students and/or working with secondary schools will be highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and assist in delivering engaging workshops, presentations and activities focused on career development, skill development and tertiary pathways.
• Build positive relationships with schools, students, internal teams and external stakeholders to support widening participation initiatives.
• Provide accessible and informed advice to students about pathways to university and opportunities available at UniSC.

Skills

Public speaking

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant degree

Job description

University of the Sunshine Coast – Moreton Bay QLD

1d ago , from University of the Sunshine Coast

• Marketing and Communications | UniSC Moreton Bay, Petrie
• Level 5, $82,843 - $93,358 p.a., plus up to 17% employer superannuation
• Full-time (36.25 hours per week), fixed-term appointment until March 2028

The Opportunity

UniSC is seeking a passionate and engaging Program Officer, Emerge to coordinate and deliver workshops, programs and activities that encourage high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to consider further study and explore pathways to university.

Working within the Widening Participation team, you will engage directly with secondary school students across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and Fraser Coast regions, delivering presentations, workshops and aspiration-raising activities both in schools and on UniSC campuses. You will also provide clear and supportive advice about university pathways and opportunities, while working closely with Regional Engagement Coordinators and other stakeholders to deliver impactful programs.

You will

• coordinate and assist in delivering engaging workshops, presentations and activities focused on career development, skill development and tertiary pathways;
• build positive relationships with schools, students, internal teams and external stakeholders to support effective widening participation initiatives; and
• provide accessible and informed advice to students from disadvantaged backgrounds about pathways to university and opportunities available at UniSC.

About you

You are a confident and engaging communicator who enjoys working with young people and building meaningful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. You will bring strong organisational skills, sound judgement and the ability to confidently deliver presentations and workshops in a range of settings. You will be comfortable working in a market-facing role that involves regular travel, school visits, events and flexible working hours.

You will possess:

• A relevant degree, or an equivalent combination of relevant work experience and education/training.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and liaison skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• High-level public speaking and written communication skills, with confidence presenting to secondary school students and other audiences.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including experience coordinating programs, activities or events.
• The ability to exercise sound judgement and engage confidently and sensitively with people from a wide range of backgrounds, including disadvantaged communities.
• Experience delivering engagement or marketing communications to prospective students and/or working with secondary schools will be highly regarded.

Don't meet every requirement? At UniSC, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you’re excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our position description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

UniSC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, women in STEM, First Nations Peoples, and individuals of diverse cultures, genders, abilities, and experiences. We value achievement relative to opportunity and encourage your commentary on your achievements in this context. For additional support during the application process, please contact us at **************@usc.edu.au or call [phone].

Discover UniSC

We’re all about doing work that matters, connecting with great people, and being part of an incredible journey. While we’re not the largest university, we are one of the fastest growing in Australia, now with over 2,000 staff across five campuses in South East Queensland and an expanding presence in major capital cities, and we’re making a big impact every day through ground-breaking research, a strong commitment to sustainability, high-performance sport, and award-winning alumni.

We are committed to delivering high-quality research and teaching that address major global and regional challenges, with established and emerging strengths in sustainability, environmental systems, biodiversity, aquaculture, preventative health and regional resilience. Our research excellence is internationally recognised through strong performance in global benchmarking, including leading rankings in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for “Zero Hunger,” “Climate Action” and “Life on Land.” UniSC is also recognised for its teaching excellence, with a strong emphasis on student success, innovative and engaging learning experiences, and strong graduate outcomes that equip learners to make meaningful contributions in their chosen fields. As the only university operating within three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, UniSC is uniquely positioned to leverage its natural environment to advance impactful research, teaching and partnerships that support sustainable futures, with sustainability embedded across all aspects of our teaching, research and operations.

We foster a collaborative and supportive environment that encourages continuous professional development and provides the tools and resources to grow your career. We value the contributions of every team member and the role they play in our culture and success. We’re not afraid to do things differently, and we’re looking for people who share our values and want to be part of a team working together to make a meaningful difference to local and global challenges.

• Our collaborative, passionate and welcoming culture is what really sets us apart.
• Modern teaching & research facilities.
• Professional development and career pathway opportunities.
• We are a proud recipient of the prestigious Athena SWAN Bronze Award, granted as part of theScience in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE)initiative.
• Flexible work arrangements & generous leave options.
• Salary packing options + 17% Super.
• EAP, fitness passport & discounted private health.