Senior Manager, Equity, Engagement & Partnerships

UNSW; Sydney; On-site; AUD 153,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% Superannuation

Annual leave loading

Full-time (35h/wk)

Job summary

UNSW in Sydney seeks a Senior Manager for Equity, Engagement & Partnerships within the Faculty of Science EE&P portfolio. You will translate priorities into programs, lead cross‑functional delivery, advise senior leaders, and build productive relationships across the university.

This continuing, full‑time role requires strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and strong governance across complex initiatives.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant field with extensive management expertise.
• Substantial experience in strategic planning and leading cross-functional projects.
• Proven ability to advise senior leaders and exercise judgement.
• Experience leading staff and fostering a high-performing team culture.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Understanding of UNSW's aims and health and safety responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Drive integration and delivery of the EE&P portfolio across teams.
• Lead planning, development and delivery of complex cross-functional projects.
• Provide high-level advice to Portfolio Leadership Team and Faculty leadership.
• Plan and lead development of programs and practices at Faculty level.
• Prepare presentations and briefing papers for leadership.
• Build relationships across Faculty, University and external networks.
• Establish planning and delivery arrangements for EE&P priorities.
• Lead initiatives to strengthen engagement with staff, students and external partners.
• Lead and manage direct reports in EE&P.
• Align with UNSW Code of Conduct and values.
• Identify hazards and manage health and safety risks.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Risk management

People management

Education

Degree in a relevant field

Job description

• One of Australia’s leading research & teaching universities
• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best

• One of Australia’s leading research & teaching universities
• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best

This Job is based in Australia

At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work.

The Senior Manager, Equity, Engagement & Partnerships provides senior professional leadership across the Faculty of Science’s Equity, Engagement and Partnerships (EE&P) portfolio. Working in partnership with the portfolio’s academic and strategic leadership, including the Deputy Dean, Equity, Engagement & Partnerships, and the Associate Deans, the Senior Manager translates agreed strategic priorities into an integrated program of work and leads the planning, development and delivery of complex, cross-functional projects, programs and initiatives within the Faculty.

The Senior Manager drives the integration and delivery of work across the EE&P portfolio, bringing together work led by specialist managers and project leads. The role builds effective relationships across the Faculty and University, influences stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes, and works closely with the External Engagements Business Partner and their team to align Faculty and divisional engagement priorities. It identifies and resolves barriers to delivery and provides high-level advice and recommendations to the Portfolio Leadership Team. The role ensures that priorities are connected, delivered effectively and evaluated for impact.

About The Role

• $153k - $163k plus 17% Superannuation and annual leave loading
• Continuing
• Full-time (35 hours per week)

Specific Responsibilities For This Role Include

• Drive the integration and delivery of the EE&P portfolio, bringing together workstreams, priorities and dependencies across specialist managers, project leads and relevant Faculty and University teams.
• Lead the planning, development and delivery of complex, cross-functional projects and initiatives that translate agreed EE&P priorities into operational plans and outcomes.
• Provide high-level professional advice and recommendations to the Portfolio Leadership Team and Faculty leadership on opportunities, risks, emerging issues and matters requiring action or decision.
• Plan and take a leading role in liaising, consulting and negotiating the development, modification and implementation of programs and practices at Faculty level, as relevant to the EE&P portfolio.
• Prepare high-quality presentations, briefing materials and decision papers to support the Portfolio Leadership Team in progressing EE&P priorities.
• Build and maintain effective relationships across the Faculty, University and relevant external networks, including working closely with the Senior External Engagement Manager and their team to align Faculty and divisional engagement priorities.
• Establish clear planning, decision-making and delivery arrangements for EE&P priorities, ensuring actions are progressed, issues are escalated and outcomes are monitored and evaluated.
• Lead the design and delivery of initiatives that strengthen engagement with staff, students and external partners in support of the Faculty’s EE&P priorities.
• Lead and manage direct reports within the EE&P portfolio, supporting clear priorities, high performance, professional development and continuous improvement.
• Align with and actively demonstrate the Code of Conduct and Values.
• Ensure hazards and risks, psychosocial and physical, are identified and controlled for tasks, projects and activities that pose a health and safety risk within the area of responsibility.

About The Successful Applicant

(Selection criteria)

To Be Successful In This Role You Will Have

• A degree in a relevant field combined with extensive management expertise and supporting experience within a complex organisation or an equivalent level of knowledge gained through any other combination of education, training and/or experience.
• Substantial experience and subject matter expertise in one or more relevant fields, such as engagement, communications, partnerships, or equity, diversity and inclusion. Experience across several of these areas, preferably in higher education or another complex organisation, would be desirable.
• Significant experience in strategic planning and leading the delivery of complex, cross-functional projects, programs or portfolios, with a demonstrated ability to translate priorities into practical outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to provide high-level advice and recommendations to senior leaders, exercise sound judgement and support effective decision-making.
• Proven experience leading and developing staff, including direct reports, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, consultation, influencing and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders and successfully lead through influence across organisational boundaries.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and a proven capacity to identify opportunities, be proactive in development of robust solutions to problems, manage risks and dependencies, and respond effectively to emerging issues.
• High-level organisational and time management skills, with a demonstrated ability to respond to competing and changing priorities, manage multiple tasks, work independently and deliver high-quality outcomes within competing deadlines by using judgement and initiative.
• Demonstrated success working collaboratively across a complex, matrixed organisation and building effective relationships with a range of internal and external partners and stakeholders at different levels within an organisation.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail for deliverables produced and a demonstrated ability to prepare clear and persuasive advice for senior audiences.
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

You should systematically address the selection criteria listed within the position description in your application.

Applications close: November 18th, 2026

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