The University of Notre Dame Australia Careers

Description

Head of Digital Product and Design, IT
Sydney (Broadway) or Fremantle (WA) Campus
Fixed Term contract (12 months – parental leave to April 2027), Full-time

• Friendly and collaborative environment
• Rewarding opportunity
• Level 10 + 14.5% superannuation

About the university

We believe in the power of education to transform lives, strengthen communities and help people become the best version of themselves. The University of Notre Dame Australia is a modern, national Catholic university that serves more than 12,000 students across its campuses in Fremantle, Broome and Sydney.

With a community of over 1,000 academic and professional staff, Notre Dame is recognised for its personalised learning environment, strong graduate outcomes and holistic educational philosophy rooted in critical thinking, ethics and the Catholic intellectual tradition.

About the office

The Information Technology Office plays an integral role in the success of the University, ensuring the national provision of technology solutions that enable Learning & Teaching, Research, and Administration across our University.
 
About the role

The Head of Digital Product and Design leads the university’s digital transformation by shaping strategy for web and portal platforms and delivering innovative, user‑centred experiences. The role drives engagement through strong UX/CX design, user research, data‑driven insights, and collaborative cross‑functional leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute the digital experience strategy in alignment with university priorities.
• Serve as the primary advisor on UX/UI best practices, defining KPIs and reporting on UX impact.
• Develop and implement research and data strategies to guide UX decisions, using analytics and user insights to drive continuous improvement.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team to translate requirements into effective digital solutions and foster a collaborative, innovative culture.
• Partner with the Digital Transformation team to embed UX within transformation initiatives and support organisational change.
• Deliver user‑centred, accessible digital experiences that meet strategic, business, and technical requirements.
• Manage external vendor relationships to ensure high‑quality digital solution delivery.
• Oversee monitoring and proactive management of digital platform performance, availability, and reliability.
• Identify opportunities for innovation through monitoring digital trends and emerging technologies.
• Ensure digital compliance with accessibility, privacy, and security standards.
• Establish agile, iterative processes for prototyping, testing, and validation.
• Lead user research, usability testing, and data analysis to inform design and development.
• Embed audience‑led design through research and analytics to enhance engagement and usability.
• Manage the digital product and design budget to ensure effective and cost‑efficient operations.
• Act as a key stakeholder during unforeseen technical or UX issues, leading troubleshooting efforts and risk mitigation to minimise disruption.

Qualifications, skills & experience

• Bachelor’s degree in digital technologies, interaction design, UX, service design or similar.
• Significant experience leading UX teams across diverse digital projects, including guiding teams through change.
• Proven ability to manage multidisciplinary teams (researchers, analysts, designers, developers, product owners) in complex environments such as higher education.
• Strong track record delivering data‑driven, user‑centred digital solutions.
• Experience with Agile, service design methodologies, and modern digital product development.
• Demonstrated application of accessibility and inclusive design principles (WCAG compliance).
• Expertise in UX strategy, processes, DesignOps and/or ResearchOps.
• Experience managing digital product/design budgets and resources.
• Skilled in crisis management and resolving technical issues under pressure.
• Working knowledge of front‑ and back‑end languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
• Deep understanding of human‑centred design, usability testing, and accessibility standards.
• Ability to measure UX impact using KPIs and success metrics that support organisational goals.
• Experience embedding UX practices within digital transformation initiatives.
• Proficiency in wireframing, prototyping, UI design, journey mapping, persona development, and user research/testing.
• Skilled in using digital analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Hotjar) to inform design decisions.
• Strong troubleshooting, contingency planning, and issue‑resolution abilities.
• Familiarity with modern digital tools, platforms and analytics software.

How to apply

Please apply online with a resume and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

Applications closing date: 7 April 2026

For further information on how to apply, please visit: How to apply | Notre Dame

Applicants are expected to have current and valid work rights in Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.     

The University is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive working and learning environment.

The successful candidate will be required to complete a self-declaration regarding Gender-Based Violence (as required by the National Code) as part of the pre-employment process. For more information on this please refer to our website.

The University of Notre Dame Australia seeks to increase the diversity of our workforce to better meet the different needs of the University and its stakeholders and to improve equal opportunity outcomes for our staff.

Contact us

Please direct your queries regarding this role to Janette Tam, [email protected]

Unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies will not be entertained.