Academic Director and Principal (UniSC Sydney)

About

Primary objectives of the position

1. Strategic leadership and alignment: Inspire leadership aligning with UniSC's vision, collaborate on performance indicators, optimise resources, and increase student enrolments. 
2. Academic leadership and collaboration: Diplomatically implement the education partnership strategy in collaboration with ECA, ensure excellence in teaching, foster collaboration, and promote a diverse and inclusive culture. 
3. Operational management: Effectively manage Sydney academic operations, monitor partnership performance in collaboration with ECA, ensure regulatory compliance, and identify opportunities for process improvement. 
4. Learning and teaching academic management: Contribute to the development of comprehensive course plans, oversight of internal and external stakeholder relationships, leadership of quality assurance initiatives, and continuous improvement in campus operations. 

Key Accountabilities

Specific accountabilities for this role include:

1. Strategic leadership and alignment

   ·      Provide inspirational academic leadership for the UniSC Sydney campus, aligning with UniSC strategic plan, values, and policies. 

   ·      Work closely with the National Centre Director position appointed by ECA to provide overall executive leadership of UniSC Sydney. 

   ·      Collaborate with key stakeholders to set, monitor, and report on performance indicators. 

   ·      Develop a diverse range of program offerings to increase student enrolments and ensure a distinctive and positive UniSC student learning experience. 

   ·      Ensure adherence to accreditation requirements and maintain alignment with UniSC's strategic goals. 

   ·      Understand the commercial context of the university and take every opportunity to use resources efficiently and generate new academic activities to provide further resources. 

2. Academic leadership and collaboration

   ·      Collaborate with relevant UniSC stakeholders to implement the University's education partnership strategy in Sydney. 

   ·      Provide high-level academic leadership to ensure excellence in teaching and learning at UniSC Sydney. 

   ·      Champion collaboration between academic and professional services staff across UniSC campuses. 

   ·      Lead a culture that reflects the University's values, demonstrating commitment to diversity and inclusion, and health, safety, and wellbeing. 

   ·      Implement the education partnership strategy, ensure excellence in teaching, foster collaboration, promote a diverse and inclusive culture, and enhance WIL experiences for students. 

3. Operational management

   ·      Effectively manage UniSC's Sydney academic operations across the student lifecycle in accordance with UniSC's processes. 

   ·      Monitor and report to the Joint Management Committee on academic aspects of the UniSC Sydney performance and to UniSC partnership management groups on all matters. 

   ·      Ensure UniSC Sydney delivers accredited courses in accordance with regulatory requirements. 

   ·      Identify opportunities to improve processes and opportunities to problem solve to deliver outcomes, including negotiating and influencing internal service providers to do the same. 

4. Learning and teaching academic management – UniSC Sydney

   ·      Develop, implement, and operationalise comprehensive course delivery and learning plans for UniSC Sydney. 

   ·      Manage relationships between UniSC Sydney and other UniSC academic and teaching staff. 

   ·      Oversee relationships between UniSC and ECA for seamless day-to-day operations of UniSC Sydney. 

5. Academic quality assurance and improvement

   ·      Collaborate with the Director International, School Deans, and Centre for Support and Advancement of Learning and Teaching for academic quality assurance and improvement initiatives. 

   ·      Lead recruitment and management processes for academic/ teaching staff at the Sydney campus. 

   ·      Monitor and report on academic quality and student experience issues, presenting recommendations for continuous improvement. 

6. Stakeholder engagement

   ·      Represent UniSC in the Sydney community, building positive relationships with key stakeholders, school principals, and healthcare providers. 

   ·      Develop, foster, and maintain relationships with UniSC's education partner, local and state government, industry, and the local community. 

7. Active participation and engagement

   ·      Attend UniSC Sydney campus meetings and other forums, actively contributing to discussions and decision-making processes for academic advancement. 

   ·      Promote, uphold, and model UniSC values and code of conduct. 

   ·      Assist in the resolution process of complaints and grievances. 

8. Duties commensurate with an Academic Level E 

   ·      Participate in duties associated with this classification, including those associated with an evolving academic environment, as required. 

Selection Criteria

Applicants need to demonstrate they meet the following knowledge, skills and experience:

1. A relevant postgraduate qualification with extensive experience in academic leadership, strategic planning and resource management. 
2. Demonstrated experience in commercial acumen and the ability to identify and develop new programs and course opportunities. 
3. Extensive experience working with international students in the higher education sector. 
4. Extensive experience in learning and teaching, curriculum development, curriculum management and quality assurance processes. 
5. Proven ability to manage teams including building team capacity, culture and managing conflict. 
6. Proven ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships externally and internally including understanding students’ and partners’ needs and ability to address these in a reasonable and efficient manner. 
7. Knowledge of the Australian higher education sector, including a strong understanding of the regulatory environment for international education, current and emerging trends in higher education, and how these influence tertiary education providers. 
8. Demonstrates critical thinking to plan and conduct teaching and/or research, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate data sources, digital tools and resources. 
9. Proven ability to make high-level decisions and engage in problem solving. 
10. Demonstrated effective communication and interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability and commitment to work in a collegial manner and contribute to the positive culture and aspirations of the Campus and the wider-University, including collaborating with other staff, participating on committees and School activities, and liaison with industry partners. 
11. Demonstrated ability to continue to make contributions to the teaching effort in their discipline area, and undertake scholarship, research and/or professional activities in accordance with their substantive academic appointment. 

The position will be based at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Sydney campus. The appointee must be willing to travel between Sydney and the Sunshine Coast as needed. 

Recruitment process

How to apply

Your application should include:

• Resume
• A cover letter not to exceed one page. This statement should outline your skills, knowledge and qualities that will make you a success at UniSC.
• A response to key selection criteria

Closing date 

Applications close: Sunday 24 August 2025

Contact 

If you have any questions about the position or for a confidential discussion, please contact:

Kristie Husk, Talent Acquisition Manager or Professor Michael Wilmore, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)

Candidates may be requested to undergo psychometric testing and give permission for verification of their tertiary qualifications.

Prospective candidates interested in applying for this position must demonstrate eligibility to work full-time in Australia.