The University of Notre Dame Australia Careers

Manager, Programs and Engagement, (Institute for Ethics & Society)

Sydney Campus
Full-time opportunity, Continuing contract

• Shape the public profile and strategic direction of a growing humanities institute,
• A high-trust role with broad responsibility across programs, partnerships, communications and advancement.
• Be part of a welcoming community of academics, students, and professional staff.
• Level 9 from $151,902 pa + 15% 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 Institute

The Institute for Ethics & Society (IES) is a national research institute of the University of Notre Dame Australia. We are philosophers, theologians, historians and social scientists, drawing on deep intellectual traditions to grapple with the questions that define our age: how to live well, how to live together, how to inherit the past in a changing world.

The Institute works closely with partners across industry, civil society and faith communities. It is home to two centres — the Centre for the History of Philosophy and the Centre for Technology and Human Futures — and has wider research strengths across moral philosophy, religion and culture, and Catholic studies.

About the role

The Manager, Programs and Engagement oversees the Institute's programs, partnerships, public engagement and operations. The role carries broad responsibility and combines strategic planning with end-to-end delivery: managing the Institute's academic and public programs, developing partnerships across civic, philanthropic and faith sectors, overseeing communications, supporting advancement, and maintaining the systems on which a growing institute depends. The role includes engagement with senior external stakeholders, including civic and religious leaders, and calls for judgement and discretion. The Co-Directors will rely on this person to take initiative, solve problems as they arise, and carry work through with minimal direction.

We expect strong candidates from a range of backgrounds: academic and professional roles in universities, and communications, engagement or operations roles in not-for-profit, church or civil society organisations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead academic and public programs, including lectures, seminars, short courses and visiting scholars.
• Manage strategic partnerships with academic, industry, civic, philanthropic and faith-based organisations.
• Oversee major projects and Institute operations from planning through to delivery.
• Manages communications, publications, website content and the Institute’s external profile.
• Support philanthropy, funding opportunities, and advancement activities.
• Maintain activity records and prepare reports, briefings and planning materials.
• Develop new programs, funding initiatives, research partnerships and public engagement opportunities.

Qualifications, skills & experience

• Postgraduate qualification, or an equivalent combination of experience, education and training.
• Substantial experience in program management, partnerships, events or communications, including leading complex initiatives from concept to delivery.
• Experience producing briefing notes, reports and public-facing content in a setting where mission and reputation matter.
• Strong relationship-building skills, and the credibility to represent the Institute with senior external stakeholders, including civic and religious leaders.
• Excellent organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to build systems and workflows others can rely on.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including translating complex academic work for diverse audiences.
• Sound judgement and discretion in handling sensitive matters and high-trust relationships.
• Understanding of the Australian higher education sector and UNDA's distinctive profile.

How to apply

Please apply online with a resume and cover letter (of no more than three pages) outlining your suitability for the role against the qualifications, skills and experience listed above.

Applications closing date: Monday 31 August

For further information on how to apply, please visit: https://www.notredame.edu.au/about-us/jobs-at-unda/employment-opportunities/how-to-apply

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

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.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply..     

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 Marcia Rodrigues, [email protected]

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Associate Professor Nathan Lyons, Co-Director, Institute for Ethics & Society, at [email protected]

Unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies will not be entertained.