Senior Manager, Research Platforms

Deakin University; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site facilities

Flexible working

Extended parental leave

Staff discounts

Job summary

Deakin University in Melbourne invites applications for the role of Senior Manager, Research Platforms. You will lead and grow a small team, shaping the university's research technology landscape across campuses and external partners to deliver integrated platforms supporting the entire research lifecycle.

You will translate insights into strategy, drive end-to-end transformation, and strengthen governance, risk and performance across the technology environment.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualifications supported by extensive relevant professional experience.
• Senior leadership experience managing major functions, portfolios and strategic initiatives.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making with the ability to navigate complex environments.
• Executive-level influence and stakeholder engagement, with a proven ability to shape organisational outcomes.
• Expertise in governance, risk and performance management, with a strong understanding of policy and organisational context.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across research platforms, enterprise applications and technology capabilities.
• Drive innovation and transformation across the end-to-end research lifecycle.
• Influence executive decision-making by translating insights into clear strategies.
• Lead cross-University collaboration and capability uplift.
• Strengthen governance, risk and performance by ensuring compliant, maintained environments.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategic thinking

Executive stakeholder engagement

Governance & risk management

Education

Postgraduate qualifications

Job description

• Based at our Melbourne, Burwood Campus + hybrid work arrangements
• Full-time and continuing

Benefits for working with us!

At Deakin, we offer more than just a job - we offer a lifestyle. Across our campuses in Geelong, Melbourne, and regional Victoria, you’ll find everything you need to thrive: on-site childcare, gyms, medical centres, cafes, accessible public transport, and convenient parking. Enjoy flexible working arrangements that support your work-life balance, generous leave entitlements including extended parental leave and the option to purchase additional time off, plus a wide range of staff discounts on travel and more. Our health and wellbeing services, ongoing professional development opportunities, and inclusive, supportive culture make Deakin a place where you can grow - whether you're working remotely or immersed in the vibrant energy of campus life.

About the role

This is an opportunity to shape the future of research technology at Deakin. Working across research, digital and external partners, you’ll take a holistic, accountable approach to a complex and highly fragmented environment—bringing together diverse platforms, enabling critical business functions and creating greater cohesion across the research lifecycle.

Comfortable navigating ambiguity, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the journey rather than simply follow a roadmap. Your experience in research and/or higher education, combined with exposure to complex technology ecosystems, will be key to success. You’ll lead and grow a team of three, building capability and delivering meaningful change across the organisation.

As the Senior Manager, Research Platforms, you will:

• Provide strategic leadershipacross research platforms, enterprise applications and technology capabilities to deliver the University’s research priorities and objectives.
• Drive innovation and transformationacross the end-to-end research lifecycle, enhancing operational effectiveness and the experience of researchers and support staff.
• Influence executive decision-makingby translating organisational insights into clear strategies, priorities and actions that deliver measurable outcomes.
• Lead cross-University collaboration and capability uplift, aligning priorities, removing delivery barriers and fostering high-performing teams and strategic partnerships.
• Strengthen governance, risk and performanceby ensuring technology environments are effectively supported, maintained, compliant and continuously improved.

To be successful, you’ll have:

• Postgraduate qualificationssupported by extensive relevant professional experience.
• Senior leadership experiencemanaging major functions, portfolios and strategic initiatives.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-makingwith the ability to navigate complex environments.
• Executive-level influence and stakeholder engagement, with a proven ability to shape organisational outcomes.
• Expertise in governance, risk and performance management, with a strong understanding of policy and organisational context.

Applications for this position close on Thursday 3rd September, 2026

Are You Ready?

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community.

We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success.

We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.

Pre-employment safety and suitability checks:

In accordance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence, appointment to this role is subject to successful completion of relevant pre-employment checks, including Working With Children Checks and candidate gender-based violence declarations.

Candidates may be asked to declare whether they have been investigated for an allegation of Gender‑based Violence, or determined to have engaged in conduct that constitutes Gender‑based Violence during the course of their previous employment, or otherwise in a legal process. A declaration is not required from individuals who have experienced gender‑based violence. A ‘Yes’ response does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment, and any information provided will be treated confidentially and considered only for relevance to the role and the University’s safety obligations.