Senior Research Associate, Advanced Materials & Fabrication

UNSW International; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 115,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

UNSW Kensington Campus invites applications for a Senior Admin and Project Officer in the School of Materials Science and Engineering. This full-time permanent hybrid role focuses on high-level project support, reporting, and stakeholder engagement to drive strategic initiatives and process improvements.

The successful candidate will collaborate with the School Manager and Head of School, delivering project plans, communications, and digital infrastructure to enhance operations and performance.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated administrative and project experience with understanding of project life cycle and planning.
• Higher education sector experience is desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with high attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Develop and monitor delivery of School projects and initiatives to meet goals and administrative duties.
• Oversee project plans, schedules and planning processes as required.
• Support operational activities and identify areas for improvement and process transformation.
• Provide proactive project support to the project team and stakeholders such as School Executive Team.
• Develop and manage digital infrastructure and communications to support improvements.
• Monitor, track and report on status of project deliverables to ensure time, cost and quality targets.
• Assess and manage project risks and issues and provide solutions where applicable.
• Develop and manage effective communications with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Tools

MS Office Suite

Excel

SharePoint

Power BI

Power Automate

Adobe Enterprise Management

Copilot

Job description

Senior Admin and Project officer – School of Materials Science & Engineering

• $ -$128,233 depending on experience (level 7) + 17% Superannuation
• Full Time Permanent
• UNSW Kensington Campus (hybrid)

The School of Materials Science and Engineering is one of the top ranked Materials programs in the Asia-Pacific regions and strongly positioned in every facet of materials science and engineering. It offers undergraduate programs in Materials Science and Engineering (Honours), as well as a number of combined degree programs with Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Commerce.

About the role

A Senior Admin and Project Officer plays a key role within the School in providing high level practical and efficient project support for strategic and operational School Projects.

The role entails generally administrative support and project management, reporting and analytical support, developing communications, building key internal and external relationships, and developing/ consulting on key programs and projects. The role work closely with the School Manager and Head of School to support operational activities and identify areas for improvements and process transformation.

The position reports to the School Manager and has no direct reports. Accountabilities include:

• Develop and monitor the delivery of School projects and initiatives to achieve operational and strategic goals and overall administrative duties
• Oversee the development of project plans and schedules and participate in planning processes as required
• Support operational activities and identify areas for improvement and process transformation
• Provide a high level of proactive project support to project team and stakeholders such as School Executive Team
• Develop and manage digital infrastructure and communications to support process improvements and strategic initiatives within the School
• Monitor, track and report on the status of project deliverables to ensure time, cost and quality metrics are in line with approved project plans for assigned projects
• Assess and manage project risks and issues and provide solutions where applicable
• Develop and manage effective communications with key stakeholders, both internal and external to the project

About you

To be successful in this role, you will be a strong team player and come with:

• Demonstrated administrative and project experience, with an understanding of the project life cycle and development of project plans, objectives and documentation
• Previous experience in a higher education sector is highly desirable
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail for deliverables produced
• Demonstrated success building effective working relationships through delivering outcomes and collaboration with diverse stakeholders across an organisation
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with a range of stakeholders, including high profile industry members
• Experience working with a range of computer systems and applications, including MS Office Suite of applications including Excel, Copilot, Sharepoint, PowerBI, Power Automate, Adobe Enterprise Management
• Excellent time management skills, with a demonstrated ability to respond to changing priorities, manage multiple tasks and meet competing deadlines by using judgement and initiative
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and productively within a team, but also to take initiative and work independently while managing competing demands

This is a permanent, full-time hybrid role, with a flexible start date in either December 2026 or late January 2027.

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

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.

As part of our recruitment process candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment screening, which may include reference checks, qualification verification, right-to-work verification, and criminal history screening where relevant to the role.