Faculty Centre Manager

• Employment Type: Full-Time (35 hours per week)
• Duration: Continuing
• Remuneration: Level 8: $132,445 - $149,228 + 17% super + Leave Loading
• Location: UNSW Kensington Campus

About UNSW:
UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community, a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.

Why Your Role Matters:
The Faculty Centre Manager is responsible for the operational planning, research administration and overall management of three of the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture’s Research Centres: City Futures Research Centre, iCinema and the Big Anxiety Research Centre. The role supports effective governance, financial sustainability, research quality, compliance, stakeholder engagement and partnership development across the Centres.

Working closely with each Centre’s Director and leadership team, you will support the achievement of research, operational and strategic objectives while fostering a high-performing, customer-focused culture.

The role sits within the Research Innovation Portfolio, reports to the Research Innovation Manager and has two direct reports.

Responsibilities Summary:

• Provide operational leadership across the Faculty’s Tier 2 Research Centres, fostering a professional and customer-focused culture.
• Provide high-level advice on business planning, operational priorities and implementation activities.
• Manage day-to-day Centre operations and oversee governance arrangements, including Advisory Boards, committees and other governance frameworks.
• Oversee income, expenditure and research budgets, including budget planning, resource allocation and performance monitoring against agreed targets and KPIs.
• Deliver high-quality research support, including grant development, funding submissions, project budgets and plans, research agreements and contracts, and performance reporting.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislative, regulatory, University, Faculty and funding body requirements.
• Manage complex financial, governance, research performance and workforce reporting across multiple Centres.
• Oversee Centre engagement and communications strategies to strengthen profile, partnerships and opportunities for research growth and impact.
• Build and strengthen relationships with research collaborators, industry partners, sponsors and other stakeholders, identifying opportunities to grow partnerships, secure new business and support research sustainability.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and implement effective solutions.

For more information regarding the responsibilities for this role, please refer to the Position Description at JOBS@UNSW.

Skills and Experience Summary:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications with subsequent relevant management experience in a research setting or similar, or equivalent competency gained through education, training and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in complex financial management, reporting and budgeting, with the ability to interpret financial data and provide strategic business advice.
• Proven experience in operational planning and implementation, including managing resources, people and projects.
• Demonstrated understanding of complex compliance and governance requirements, with experience establishing frameworks to successfully manage these.
• High-level organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Proven ability to operate autonomously, demonstrate initiative, drive process improvement and resolve complex problems.
• Excellent consultation, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to negotiate, build and maintain effective research partnerships across government, industry and community sectors.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail.

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.  Our benefits include: 

• Career development opportunities 
• 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments 
• Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period 
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness)

How to Apply:
Make each day matter with a meaningful career at UNSW. Submit your CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the position in relation to each of the selection criteria (listed under ‘Skills & Experience’ on the PD) via the application portal before 11:30pm on 20 September.

A copy of the Position Description can be found on JOBS@UNSW.

Get in Touch: 
For queries regarding the recruitment process, contact Lucy Gerondis, Talent Acquisition Partner, UNSW: l.gerondis@unsw.edu.au

Applications sent via email will not be accepted, please apply via the application portal.

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:- 

• National and International Criminal history checks
• Entitlement to work and ID checks
• Working With Children Checks
• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
• Verification of relevant qualifications
• Verification of relevant professional membership
• Employment history and reference checks
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks.
• Medical Checks and Assessments

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

UNSW is committed to evolving a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can participate fairly, in a safe and respectful environment. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse gender, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities. 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.