• Marketing and Communications | UniSC Moreton Bay, Petrie
• Level 5, $82,843 - $93,358 p.a., plus up to 17% employer superannuation
• Full-time (36.25 hours per week), fixed-term appointment until March 2028

The Opportunity

UniSC is seeking a passionate and engaging Program Officer, Emerge to coordinate and deliver workshops, programs and activities that encourage high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to consider further study and explore pathways to university.

Working within the Widening Participation team, you will engage directly with secondary school students across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and Fraser Coast regions, delivering presentations, workshops and aspiration-raising activities both in schools and on UniSC campuses. You will also provide clear and supportive advice about university pathways and opportunities, while working closely with Regional Engagement Coordinators and other stakeholders to deliver impactful programs.

You will

• coordinate and assist in delivering engaging workshops, presentations and activities focused on career development, skill development and tertiary pathways;
• build positive relationships with schools, students, internal teams and external stakeholders to support effective widening participation initiatives; and
• provide accessible and informed advice to students from disadvantaged backgrounds about pathways to university and opportunities available at UniSC.

About you

You are a confident and engaging communicator who enjoys working with young people and building meaningful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. You will bring strong organisational skills, sound judgement and the ability to confidently deliver presentations and workshops in a range of settings. You will be comfortable working in a market-facing role that involves regular travel, school visits, events and flexible working hours.

You will possess:

• A relevant degree, or an equivalent combination of relevant work experience and education/training.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and liaison skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• High-level public speaking and written communication skills, with confidence presenting to secondary school students and other audiences.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including experience coordinating programs, activities or events.
• The ability to exercise sound judgement and engage confidently and sensitively with people from a wide range of backgrounds, including disadvantaged communities.
• Experience delivering engagement or marketing communications to prospective students and/or working with secondary schools will be highly regarded.

Don't meet every requirement? At UniSC, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you're excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our position description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

UniSC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, women in STEM, First Nations Peoples, and individuals of diverse cultures, genders, abilities, and experiences. We value achievement relative to opportunity and encourage your commentary on your achievements in this context. For additional support during the application process, please contact us at unisc-careers@usc.edu.au or call +61 7 5430 2830.

How to apply

All applications must be lodged through our website. To apply please visit our website at: Careers at UniSC

Applications for this position close midnight, Wednesday 14 October 2026.

Position Description:  494853_Program Officer, Emerge.pdf

Your completed application must include:

• a resume and a statement of suitability (not to exceed two pages), which will be reviewed in alignment to the specified selection criteria as outlined within the position description.

Further information regarding how to prepare your application is available on our website: Join our team.

Have questions or want to know more? For a confidential discussion, please contact:

Peter Lavercombe
Manager, Widening Participation Engagement – Marketing and Communications
Telephone: 07 5459 5668
Email: plavercombe@usc.edu.au

We would love the opportunity to get to know you better, but we know it works both ways. To get to know a little more about us, visit us at: Welcome to UniSC and LinkedIn Life

UniSC values a diverse and talented workforce and invites applications from candidates who already have legal work rights in Australia.

UniSC does not accept unsolicited applications. For agency inquiries, contact unisc-careers@usc.edu.au

Discover UniSC

We’re all about doing work that matters, connecting with great people, and being part of an incredible journey. While we’re not the largest university, we are one of the fastest growing in Australia, now with over 2,000 staff across five campuses in South East Queensland and an expanding presence in major capital cities, and we’re making a big impact every day through ground-breaking research, a strong commitment to sustainability, high-performance sport, and award-winning alumni.

We are committed to delivering high-quality research and teaching that address major global and regional challenges, with established and emerging strengths in sustainability, environmental systems, biodiversity, aquaculture, preventative health and regional resilience. Our research excellence is internationally recognised through strong performance in global benchmarking, including leading rankings in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for “Zero Hunger,” “Climate Action” and “Life on Land.” UniSC is also recognised for its teaching excellence, with a strong emphasis on student success, innovative and engaging learning experiences, and strong graduate outcomes that equip learners to make meaningful contributions in their chosen fields. As the only university operating within three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, UniSC is uniquely positioned to leverage its natural environment to advance impactful research, teaching and partnerships that support sustainable futures, with sustainability embedded across all aspects of our teaching, research and operations.

We foster a collaborative and supportive environment that encourages continuous professional development and provides the tools and resources to grow your career. We value the contributions of every team member and the role they play in our culture and success. We’re not afraid to do things differently, and we’re looking for people who share our values and want to be part of a team working together to make a meaningful difference to local and global challenges.

Our Culture & Benefits:

• Our collaborative, passionate and welcoming culture is what really sets us apart.
• Modern teaching & research facilities.
• Professional development and career pathway opportunities.
• We are a proud recipient of the prestigious Athena SWAN Bronze Award, granted as part of the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) initiative.
• Flexible work arrangements & generous leave options.
• Salary packing options + 17% Super.
• EAP, fitness passport & discounted private health.