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• Employment Type: 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract, Full-Time
• Generous Salary Commensurate with Skills and Experience
• Location: UNSW Kensington Campus (Hybrid Working)

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 Academic Calendar Project, led by the Provost’s Office, is responsible for developing and implementing the future academic calendar for UNSW.

The role of the Senior Engagement Manager is a strategic role that works with a wide range of stakeholders across UNSW to support and drive the objectives of the calendar project. This role is responsible for developing and delivering a strategic engagement and communications strategy that considers ‘community building’ activities and mobilises stakeholders to action implementation of UNSW’s future calendar. It will also involve executing plans to reach specific audiences (Faculty Staff, Divisional Staff, Unions, Industry Partners, Students) both internal and external.

The Senior Engagement Manager is also responsible for the effective implementation and embedding of the change plan and its objectives. This role is required to solve complex people issues, develop a deep understanding of the impacted audiences and to build strong working relationships with UNSW stakeholders and the project team. This role will work with the project team to ensure business areas are sufficiently prepared for the impact of the change ahead of “go-live” events, and that there is sufficient support for the new way of working in order to smoothly transition to a stable business as usual state.

This role reports to the Academic Calendar Lead and may have 1-2 direct reports.

Responsibilities Summary:

• Develop and lead the strategic direction for the project’s internal and external engagement and communication priorities in close collaboration with the Academic Calendar Lead.
• Direct and ensure effective implementation of engagement and communication strategies, to achieve the project’s strategic objectives in collaboration with broader UNSW engagement team.
• Build and maintain highly effective working relationships with senior divisional and faculty Project partners, and with the centrally managed functions of News & Content, Alumni Engagement,
• Events & Communications, and External Engagement teams ensuring support is provided to meet project needs as and when required.
• Provide vision, effective leadership and build a supportive culture to create a knowledge base that positions the project to effectively address stakeholder concerns and support the stakeholder journey in acceptance and transition to UNSW’s future calendar.
• Provide strategic issues management and ensure appropriate solutions are implemented, escalating to Academic Calendar Lead when required.
• Ensure all Engagement plans are consistent with strategies and practices agreed by Project
• Governance, the Senior Leadership Team and the University’s branding policy.

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 or equivalent competence gained through a combination of education, training, and experience, with extensive experience in delivering effective engagement and change in large-scale projects.
• Proven ability to effectively engage with senior management and executives in a large, complex organization, influencing stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes.
• Demonstrated capacity to develop and execute internal and external engagement plans to meet the priorities identified by the organisation.
• Expertise in navigating crisis management scenarios, building trust, and enhancing reputation through strategic communication, stakeholder collaboration, and proactive issue resolution.
• Capacity to plan and achieve priority outcomes for complex projects and respond flexibly to changing and, at times, ambiguous environments; ability to work systematically to resolve problems, identify causes, anticipate implications, and make informed decisions.
• Experience in designing and applying fit-for-purpose change and engagement approaches and deliverables.
• Ability to think strategically and to work in a highly adaptable, highly collaborative, consultative manner to deliver the best outcomes.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create planning and project documents, develop communications and content, present materials, contribute to meetings, prepare project charters, and display data in an engaging manner.
• An understanding of the context and culture within the higher education sector (preferred but not essential).

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 along with a cover letter that addresses your suitability for the role in relation to the requirements listed in the ‘skills & experience’ section above via the application portal before February 13th at 11:30pm.

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 Consultant, UNSW: l.gerondis@unsw.edu.au

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

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.