- Employment Type: Full-time
- Duration: Continuing
- Remuneration: Salary determined after interview, commensurate with skills & experience
- 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 Head of Development (Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy) is a highly experienced development professional with an entrepreneurial approach who will take a leadership role in the Development Team to help build UNSW's fundraising program.
This position drives philanthropic partnerships with trusts, foundations and corporations that enable delivery of UNSW’s strategic priorities across all faculties and divisions, ensuring alignment with research, education, and societal impact objectives.
The role is responsible for the design and implementation of strategies to achieve significant philanthropic revenue targets. This includes establishing and maintaining long-term relationships with a portfolio of national and international grant funders and corporate foundation partners with a capacity of $1 million or more. It has line management of three direct reports.
Responsibilities Summary:
- Lead the strategy and activities for the Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy program to achieve ambitious fundraising targets.
- Develop, cultivate and manage relationships with a portfolio of national and international trusts, foundations and corporate partners.
- Secure multi million dollar philanthropic investments for University priorities, programs and initiatives.
- Manage and mentor the Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy team, supporting performance and professional development.
- Provide expert advice to senior stakeholders across UNSW, influencing funding priorities that support research, teaching and community engagement.
- Monitor and report on fundraising performance and impact, preparing reports for senior leadership and key stakeholders.
- Foster a strong philanthropic culture across UNSW through collaboration with internal partners and senior academics.
For more information regarding the responsibilities for this role, please refer to the Position Description at JOBS@UNSW.
Skills and Experience Summary:
- Relevant tertiary qualification with substantial and sustained experience, or equivalent capability gained through a combination of education, training and professional experience.
- Demonstrated success securing significant philanthropic gifts in a target driven environment, including building and managing a strong pipeline of trust, foundation and corporate prospects, with a proven track record of securing $1M+ grants.
- Extensive experience in foundation and corporate giving, supported by a broad knowledge of fundraising principles and relevant tax and regulatory frameworks impacting charitable giving.
- Significant experience in developing and writing complex, high value grant proposals, ideally within a university or research environment (e.g. Medicine, Science, Engineering).
- Proven ability to establish, cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with national and international foundations, donors and influential stakeholders (internal and external), with highly developed influencing and negotiation skills.
- Demonstrated experience in administering major philanthropic grants, including compliance, reporting and stakeholder management requirements.
- Ability to provide expert, strategic and authoritative advice to senior stakeholders within a large and complex organisation.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing high level and confidential proposals, briefings, presentations and reports.
- Demonstrated capability in strategic planning, resource planning and project management across multiple stakeholder groups.
- Proven leadership experience, with the ability to mentor, motivate and develop high performing teams.
- Willingness and flexibility to travel locally, interstate or internationally as required.
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:
- Salary packaging options, including novated leasing.
- Generous leave entitlements, including an additional 3 paid days off over end of year holiday period.
- Access to Fitness Passport, giving you and your family discounted access to hundreds of gyms, pools and fitness facilities.
- Career development opportunities, including access to leadership and professional learning programs.
- Discounts and perks across retail, travel, education and health services.
- A supportive, flexible, and inclusive culture that values wellbeing and diversity.
Find out more about staff benefits at UNSW.
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 position in relation to the selection criteria (listed in the ‘Skills & Experience’ section of the PD) via the application portal.
Applications close: 11:55pm, 23 April, 2026.
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.
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.
