School General Manager

University of Sydney; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Job summary

The University of Sydney's Sydney Conservatorium of Music seeks an exceptional School General Manager to co-lead the School with the Head of School and Dean. You will shape academic and operational directions, partnering with senior leaders to deliver strategic goals and tangible outcomes.

You will oversee professional services, budgeting, and cross-University collaborations, ensuring service excellence across music and performing arts programs, events, and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in operations, business management, or professional services leadership, ideally in higher education or arts.
• Experience administering music/performing arts programs in a complex environment is highly regarded.
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams and foster a high-performing, service-oriented culture.
• Strong financial planning, budgeting, and resource allocation capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning and translate vision into operational priorities.
• Oversee delivery of music and performing arts programs, events and related activities.
• Drive workforce planning, recruitment, and professional development for staff.
• Manage the School budget and financial performance in alignment with university targets.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational leadership

People management

Financial management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Education

Relevant tertiary qualifications

Senior leadership experience

Job description

Full-time continuing leadership opportunity as School General Manager Play a key leadership role in shaping the future of one of Australia's leading music institutions through collaboration and partnership Senior Professional Staff position offering a competitive remuneration package, including 17% superannuation

About the opportunity One of Australia's oldest and most prestigious music institutions, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music has been part of the University of Sydney since 1990, providing world class music education, performance opportunities, and research. For more than a century, it has been at the heart of Australia's musical and cultural life, playing a pivotal role in shaping the nation's musical landscape. This is an exciting time to join the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, which continues to gain national and international recognition for excellence in music education, performance, and research. Adding to this momentum, the Conservatorium has announced the first expansion in its 110 year history, extending its world class programs and industry partnerships to Western Sydney through a new Parramatta campus. The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is seeking an exceptional School General Manager to join its leadership team. This influential role offers the opportunity to help shape the Conservatorium's academic and operational direction, partnering with senior leaders to deliver on its strategic vision and goals.

• Strategic leadership and planning: Partner with the Head of School and Dean to translate the School's strategic vision into operational priorities, driving planning, decision-making, and cross-University collaboration to achieve key objectives.
• Operational leadership and management: Lead the implementation of University-wide operational initiatives and service improvements within the School, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and successful adoption across all areas. Oversee the operational planning and delivery of music and performing arts programs, performances, events, and related activities to support the School's academic and artistic objectives.
• People leadership and management: Provide strategic leadership of the School's professional services function, driving workforce planning, recruitment, talent development, succession planning, and the implementation of University people policies to foster a high-performing and future-focused team.
• Financial management and oversight: Partner with the Head of School and Dean and the Finance team to develop, manage, and monitor the School's budget, ensuring alignment with financial strategy and performance objectives.

About you

• relevant tertiary qualifications, or an equivalent combination of experience and training significant senior leadership experience in operations, business management, or professional services leadership, ideally gained within higher education, the creative arts, research-intensive institutions, or similarly complex environments experience in the administration and operational management of music and/or performing arts programs, productions, performances, and related activities within a higher education, arts, or cultural institution would be highly regarded proven experience leading and developing diverse teams, fostering an inclusive, high-performing, and service-oriented culture strong financial management, planning, budgeting, and resource allocation capability demonstrated success in delivering strategic initiatives, operational improvement programs, and organisational change exceptional communication, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across a broad range of stakeholders strong analytical and problem-solving capability, using data and insights to inform decision-making and drive organisational outcomes.

Work Rights

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 completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. 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. This position is designated as involving child-related work. To undertake or remain in this position, you are required to apply for and obtain a Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this commitment through 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.

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

Applications Close Sunday 11 October 2026 11:59 PM

Want to know more about working at the University of Sydney? https://www.sydney.edu.au/about-us.html