Senior Lead, Decision Modelling and Advisory

UNSW

Sydney

Hybrid

AUD 139,000 - 169,000

Full time

26 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working Options (work from **

Career development opportunities

Up to 50% discount on UNSW courses

Flexible 17% Superannuation"

Additional leave loading payments and

Discounts and entitlements (retail,教育,

Job summary

UNSW Planning and Performance (UPP) is seeking a Senior Lead, Decision Modelling and Advisory to design and govern institutional models, forecast performance, and support strategic planning across the university. You will translate complex data into executive insights and partner with senior leaders to drive evidence-based decisions.

The role blends advanced analytics with business partnering and requires strong stakeholder management to improve processes and benchmarking across the institution.

Qualifications

Substantial experience designing, developing and governing complex institutional models and forecasting frameworks.
Strong analytical, problem‑solving and critical thinking skills with ability to structure data into actionable insights.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management with ability to influence senior leaders.
Advanced data analysis and modelling using Databricks, Excel, Power Pivot and Power BI; knowledge of SQL, Python or DAX.
Tertiary qualifications in analytics, business, economics or related discipline.

Responsibilities

Lead design, development and continuous improvement of institutional models, forecasting and scenario planning.
Oversee University-wide resource allocation and performance frameworks with clear methodologies, measures and targets.
Monitor and refine University KPIs and performance metrics using benchmarking to evaluate progress and risks.
Provide evidence-based advisory support to senior leaders on competitive positioning, trade‑offs and growth opportunities.
Translate complex quantitative and qualitative data into clear executive insights and decision‑support materials.
Build trusted partnerships with academic and professional stakeholders to support adoption of models and analytics.
Establish governance and quality assurance to ensure model integrity and upskill teams.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Stakeholder management

Business partnering

Advisory skills

Education

Tertiary qualifications in analytics or related discipline

Tools

Databricks

Excel

Power Pivot

Power BI

SQL

Python

DAX

Job description

Employment Type: Continuing, Full-time, 35 hours per week opportunity
Remuneration: Level 9 – from $153,933 plus 17% superannuation and leave loading
Location: Kensington, NSW (Hybrid working conditions)

This Job is based in Australia

About UNSW

At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work. We aspire to be Australia’s global university, improving and transforming lives through excellence in research, outstanding education and a commitment to advancing a just society.

Why your role matters

UNSW Planning and Performance (UPP) builds capability in business intelligence, student load forecasting, and data-driven performance as a trusted strategic partner to university leaders. Moving beyond traditional KPI reporting, the Senior Lead, Decision Modelling and Advisory drives the design, governance, and evolution of institutional performance frameworks and end-to-end modelling capabilities. This role brings together multi-system quantitative and qualitative data, transposing it into well-structured decision-support tools and practical, action-oriented insights to inform strategic planning and operational trade-offs across the institution. Working closely with executive, academic, and professional stakeholders, the position combines strong technical modelling with an advisory focus to influence executive decision-making. Reporting to the Head, Planning and Performance (with 0–2 direct reports), the ideal candidate combines expertise in quantitative methods (finance, analytics, consultancy) with a business partnering background and an innovative mindset, challenging established ways of working to continuously improve processes, benchmarking, and the university's overall strategic performance.

About The Role

The successful applicant will be required to undertake and have experience in the following areas of expertise:

Lead the design, development and continuous improvement of institutional models, including product viability, forecasting, statistical analysis and scenario planning.
Oversee University-wide resource allocation and performance frameworks, establishing clear methodologies, measures, targets and decision‑making principles.
Monitor and refine University KPIs and performance metrics, leveraging strategic priorities, sector trends and benchmarking to evaluate progress and risks.
Provide evidence-based advisory support to senior leaders on competitive positioning, trade‑offs and growth opportunities to drive institutional performance.
Translate complex quantitative and qualitative data into clear executive insights, reporting and practical decision‑support materials.
Build trusted partnerships with academic and professional stakeholders to support the effective adoption of models, frameworks and analytical practices.
Establish quality assurance standards and governance processes to ensure the integrity of models, while upskilling team and university‑wide decision‑support capabilities.

About You

Substantial experience designing, developing and governing complex institutional models, forecasting frameworks and resource allocation methodologies within large, complex organisations.
Highly developed analytical, problem‑solving and critical thinking skills, with a proven ability to structure ambiguous qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable executive insights.
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management capabilities, with demonstrated success in influencing senior leaders, driving strategic outcomes and building analytical capability across teams.
Advanced technical expertise in data analysis and modelling using tools such as Databricks, Excel, Power Pivot and Power BI, alongside working knowledge of SQL, Python or DAX.
Proven project management experience managing concurrent initiatives, re‑engineering complex systems and processes, backed by relevant tertiary qualifications in analytics, business, economics or a related discipline.

For further information on the role & responsibilities, please refer to the Position Description

Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role, valid Australian working rights are required on application.

UNSW Benefits and Culture:

People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world.

Flexible Working Options (work from home, flexible hours etc)
Additional 3 days leave during December festive period.
Career development opportunities
Up to 50% discount on UNSW courses
Flexible 17% Superannuation contributions, additional leave-loading payments and salary sacrifice.
Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness passport)

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.

Pre-Employment Checks

Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre‑employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.

These pre‑employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks: