Director of Professional Development

• Employment Type: full time, 35 hours per week (0.8 FTE considered for a suitable candidate)
• Duration: 2-year fixed term
• Remuneration: Competitive Remuneration Package
• Location: Kensington, NSW (Hybrid Flexible 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. It’s the reason we’re one of the top 20 universities in the world (QS top 20) and a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight. 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 National Office of the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) is seeking a National Director of Professional Development (PD) responsible for the effective delivery and strategic growth of CSI’s world-class professional development courses. This role oversees the delivery and growth of our programs, ensuring their impact and quality standards, driving business development, and working with experts and sector leaders to lead the design of future courses that build knowledge, networks, and capability across the social purpose sectors.

Currently CSI has three core professional development programs run by the National Office, as well as bespoke programs designed and delivered to specific social impact sector organisations:

• Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA)
• Governance for Social Impact (GSI)
• The Giving Academy (TGA)

As the Director of PD, you will work closely with clients, faculty, participants, and CSI staff to ensure continuous improvement in program delivery, meeting participant learning outcomes while scaling the impact of CSI National Office’s professional educational offerings. You will also play a sector leadership role in lifting the national conversation on social impact governance, philanthropic sector capability and not-for-profit leadership.

As a key contributor to the strategic growth of CSI National’s impact and sustainability, the Director of PD collaborates with the CSI CEO, Industry Director, Communications Director, and other staff and networks to develop and implement growth and development strategies, influencing national conversations on leadership and capability across the social purpose sector.

The CSI National Office is administered by UNSW Sydney. The Director of PD reports to the CEO and has a team of three and one direct report.

Who You Are:

• Proven success in leading complex programs, demonstrating expertise in strategic planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement
• Proven experience in overseeing and ideally designing and delivering professional development programs. Understanding of adult learning principles, instructional design methodologies, and learning technologies in virtual, blended and in-person formats.
• Proven leadership capability to manage and mentor a team, set priorities, influence and drive outcomes in complex environments, and build a high-performance, collaborative team culture across organisational boundaries.
• Strong knowledge of current trends and best practices in continuing education, executive education and professional development.
• Demonstrated experience in the social purpose sectors, with a strong understanding of sector specific challenges and the ability to navigate diverse stakeholder groups while aligning initiatives with broader organisational objectives.
• Relevant degree or equivalent competence in professional development or a related field, combined with substantial experience gained through a combination of education, training, and/or experience.
• Experience in B2B growth and development, particularly with the philanthropic sector, including creating and executing strategies, building a robust prospect pipeline, nurturing client relationships, and identifying new opportunities to drive program growth and engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective and highly collaborative relationships, partnerships and secure resources from a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing large program budgets, aligning financial oversight with program goals to ensure fiscal responsibility, track financial performance, and maximise impact.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning and execution with extensive experience in managing complex objectives and competing priorities. Strong portfolio management skills.
• Extensive experience in project management systems and tools, including Microsoft Suite, with the ability to design streamlined workflows and leverage data-driven insights (e.g., PowerBI, Monday.com, Excel) to enhance program delivery and impact.

Please refer to the Position Description for the full list of accountabilities and selection criteria.

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 application including your CV and a succinct cover letter online before Wednesday 11^th February 2026 at 11:55pm. A copy of the Position Description can be found on jobs@UNSW.   

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.

Get in Touch:

For questions regarding the position - Please contact Arminé Nalbandian, Chief Executive Officer, CSI National. E: armine.nalbandian@unsw.edu.au

For questions regarding the recruitment process - Please contact Anabel Wason,

Talent Acquisition Partner. E: a.wason@unsw.edu.au

Please apply through the application portal and not via the contact above.

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. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

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