University Partnerships and Engagement Coordinator (Identified) 1 Year Contract
Aurora Education Foundation
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Job summary
Aurora Education Foundation is seeking a University Partnerships and Engagement Coordinator for a 12-month contract. The role aims to strengthen university relationships and coordinate engagement activities across Australian universities and select international partners.
You will support strategic priorities, create culturally safe engagement opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and work in a hybrid setup with some travel to events as required.
Qualifications
- Experience building and maintaining partnerships with universities or higher education partners.
- Ability to coordinate engagement activities and programs with multiple stakeholders.
- Strong communication skills and cultural responsiveness in Indigenous contexts.
Responsibilities
- Support the University Partnerships and Strategy Manager to deliver Aurora’s University Partnership Strategy.
- Build and maintain relationships with Australian and international universities and Indigenous student support teams.
- Identify opportunities for university partners to support Aurora’s programs and pathways.
- Coordinate engagement activities, materials, and follow-up actions.
- Represent Aurora at university events and stakeholder engagements in Australia.
- Plan and coordinate face-to-face and virtual engagement activities promoting Aurora’s programs.
Skills
Tools
Job description
University Partnerships and Engagement Coordinator (Identified Role) 12 Month Contract at Aurora Education Foundation
“Empower Indigenous young people to connect with culture, support and resources they need to achieve their educational goals”
Work Type: Hybrid, 2 days in the office (Wednesday & Thursday) and 3 days Work From Home
Location: Office is in Waterloo
Employment type: Full-time - 12 Month Contract
Salary: $87,500-$97,500 + Superannuation + Not For Profit salary packaging
Work alongside a culturally safe, driven and welcoming team
Aurora’s vision is a society in which Australia’s First Peoples determine their aspirations through education and life‑long learning, shaping a new future for our country.
Our mission is to inspire First Peoples in their education journey and connect them with educational and career opportunities that enable them to realise their potential.
At Aurora, we're on an exciting growth trajectory, intensifying our impact and expanding our horizons. To fulfil our mission, we're broadening our team with individuals eager to contribute to our vision, strategy and purpose‑driven culture. Below is the outline of one such opportunity awaiting your expertise. However, we encourage you to explore all newly created job positions to find the one that best aligns with your career aspirations, capabilities, and passions.
Aurora is an Indigenous organisation registered in Supply Nation, won the Australian Employer of Choice Award and Great Place to Work certification.
This is an Identified position and only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge the unique knowledge, skills, and perspectives that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples bring to our organisation and programs and we are committed to fostering a culturally safe and inclusive workplace. This position is designated under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).
Your role reports to the University Partnerships and Strategy Manager and contributes to Aurora’s Pathways and Partnerships priorities by coordinating and strengthening strategic university relationships with Australian and selected international universities.
You will identify partnerships and engagement opportunities, coordinate university engagement activities, and provide timely insights that help inform Aurora’s partnership approach. Through purposeful face‑to‑face and virtual engagement, you will help build strong, mutually beneficial relationships that enable university partners to contribute to Aurora’s vision, strategic priorities and programs.
A key focus of the role is creating and coordinating culturally safe and meaningful opportunities that strengthen pathways to university for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and support their participation and success in higher education.
Relationships with Australian and selected international universities are established, maintained and strengthened in ways that advance Aurora’s vision, strategy and programs.
Strong, positive and purposeful partnerships are built with university stakeholders, including Indigenous student support teams, faculties, student services, careers, scholarships and placement teams.
The University Partnerships and Strategy Manager is effectively supported through timely coordination, reliable follow‑up, accurate information and insight that enables strategic decision‑making.
Face‑to‑face and virtual university engagement activities increase awareness of Aurora’s scholarships, internships, postgraduate pathways and other programs.
Positive feedback is received from university partners, students, internal teams and other stakeholders.
The role contributes positively to a collaborative, culturally safe and outcomes‑focused team culture that supports Aurora’s strategy.
This role may require interstate travel and occasional out‑of‑hours attendance at university events, conferences or stakeholder activities.
University Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
Support the University Partnerships and Strategy Manager to deliver Aurora’s University Partnership Strategy.
Build and maintain relationships with Australian and selected international universities, including Indigenous student support teams, faculties, student services, scholarships and other relevant stakeholders.
Identify and develop opportunities for university partners to support Aurora’s programs, postgraduate pathways, strategic priorities and culturally safe student engagement.
Coordinate partnership activities, including agreements, engagement plans, stakeholder engagement records, briefing materials and follow‑up actions.
Represent Aurora professionally at relevant universities and stakeholder engagements in Australia.
Program Promotion and Engagement Activities
Plan and coordinate face‑to‑face and virtual university engagement activities that promote Aurora’s programs and opportunities.
Coordinate student and faculty information sessions, career and employment fairs, Indigenous student events, conferences, webinars and virtual program promotion activities.
Support universities to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with Aurora’s programs, scholarships, internships and pathways.
Work with internal program teams to ensure consistent messaging, Coordinated engagement and accurate program information.
Coordinate engagement logistics, communications, materials, attendance information and follow‑up.
Use feedback and engagement data to identify opportunities to strengthen university engagement and increase program reach.
Information, Reporting and Systems
Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date records of university partners, stakeholder contacts, engagement activity, partnership opportunities and follow‑up actions across Aurora’s agreed systems.
Use Aurora’s systems consistently, including SharePoint, Microsoft 365 and Dynamics
Support reporting on university engagement, partnership progress, stakeholder feedback, risks, opportunities and outcomes.
Contribute to board papers, reports, funding proposals, communications and briefing materials by preparing accurate data and clear summaries, as required.
Work with the Pathways team to maintain relevant program, participant, scholar and alumni information.
Leadership and Collaboration
Foster a collaborative, culturally safe and outcomes‑focused approach to university partnerships and engagements that reflects Aurora’s values.
Contribute to team planning and share insights, risks and opportunities that strengthen university engagement and support strategic decision‑making.
Support university partners to strengthen culturally safe and respectful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Undertake other duties within the scope of this role, as required.
Cultural Safety
Comply with cultural safety principles about overcoming the cultural power imbalances of places, people and policies to contribute to improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. This includes:
Child Safety / Working with Vulnerable People
Maintain the National Child Safety, Code of Conduct and Procedure.
Purpose and values
To align with our vision that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to realise their full education and employment potential.
To uphold our core values of respect, collaboration, accountability, and impact.
To promote cultural, psychological, and child safety, and encourage an inclusive and supportive environment.
To be a leader who priorities purpose and people, and is dedicated to achieving excellence, promoting well‑being, and fostering personal and professional growth.
Demonstrated understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, organisations and the issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.
Ability to communicate effectively, respectfully and confidently with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, university staff, Indigenous sector stakeholders and internal teams.
Experience cultivating stakeholder relationships, preferably with Australian or international universities, higher education partners, community organisations, student pathways programs or the Indigenous sector.
Experience coordinating face‑to‑face and virtual stakeholder engagement activities, events, meetings, presentations, webinars or program promotion activities across multiple stakeholders.
Strong verbal, interpersonal, written communication and influencing skills, including the ability to prepare clear emails, briefing notes, meeting records, reports and other written materials.
Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records, track actions, follow up commitments and deliver tasks efficiently.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines and stakeholders in a calm, organised and professional manner while exercising appropriate initiative and judgement.
Demonstrated knowledge of the Australian tertiary education system, including student support services, scholarships, pathways, placements and careers services, is highly desirable; familiarity with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Dynamics or comparable systems is desirable.
Relationship building, stakeholder engagement and influencing.
Partnership coordination and follow-through.
Clear written and verbal communication.
Planning, organisation and attention to detail.
Data accuracy, record keeping and reporting support.
Cultural responsiveness and respectful engagement.
To be inspired by our purpose, leaders, and team members, with 93 % of our team members recommending Aurora as an excellent place to work.
To experience a culture of psychological and cultural safety, with 96 % of team members viewing Aurora as an inclusive organisation.
To have a healthy work‑life balance, with a hybrid work model, "No Meetings Fridays," an Employee Assistance Program, and access to Headspace. We also offer policies that support employees personal and professional goals, such as study leave, cultural leave and maternity leave.
To have opportunities for personal and professional growth with multiple training sessions, yarns with Elders and mentors, and internal development programs.
We offer a competitive salary. Your salary would be between $87,500 – $97,500 depending on your experience + super (12%) + Not For Profit Salary package (https://eziway.net.au/).
*All employees must have a working with children check (WWCC), police check, and references. Aurora will inform candidates/ employees when checks are conducted. Aurora will cover these expenses.
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