Senior Contracts and Business Partnering Officer
Job No.: 691913
Location: Melbourne CBD
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: 12 month fixed-term appointment
Remuneration: $110,527 - $121,227 pa HEW Level 7 (plus 17% employer superannuation)
- Amplify your impact at a world top 50 University
- Join our inclusive, collaborative community
- Be surrounded by extraordinary ideas - and the people who discover them
The Opportunity
Are you ready to play a pivotal role in supporting world-leading climate action? Climateworks Centre is seeking a Senior Contracts and Business Partnering Officer (Finance) to own and lead contract management and embed high-impact business partnering across the organisation, while ensuring strong financial oversight and seamless program delivery.
In this influential role, you will coordinate end-to-end contract management as a core accountability, alongside finance processes, partnering closely with the CEO, COO, ELT and project teams as a senior, trusted and proactive business partner to enable meaningful climate impact. You’ll work across diverse portfolios, engage with high-level internal and external stakeholders, and ensure every agreement, budget and report supports Climateworks’ mission of accelerating the transition to a net-zero future.
What you’ll do
- Own and lead end-to-end contract management, including planning, review, negotiation and finalisation of research and commercial agreements, ensuring strong governance, compliance and commercial outcomes.
- Operate as a senior strategic business partner to the CEO, COO, ELT and project teams, proactively advising, influencing and shaping decisions on contracts, funding and program delivery.
- Drive contract strategy and lifecycle management, ensuring consistency, risk mitigation and alignment with organisational priorities.
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships across Monash University units, government agencies, philanthropic funders, businesses and not-for-profits.
- Develop complex program budgets, forecasts and grant proposals, and provide high-quality financial reporting to senior leadership and the Board.
- Analyse contractual and financial performance, providing insights that inform decision-making and organisational strategy.
- Identify risks early and proactively design solutions that protect quality and timelines across contracts, partnerships and programs.
- Champion continuous improvement across contract management frameworks, business partnering practices, finance and operational processes.
- Lead the resolution of complex contract and stakeholder issues, exercising sound judgment and professionalism.
- Promote Climateworks’ values, culture and commitment to excellence.
What you’ll bring
- Qualifications in law, accounting, finance, or significant equivalent experience (CPA/CA highly regarded).
- Extensive, demonstrated expertise in contract management, including negotiating and managing complex agreements, combined with proven senior-level business partnering experience in complex environments.
- Track record of influencing senior stakeholders and embedding effective business partnering models that support program and organisational outcomes.
- Strong financial management and reporting capability, with the ability to integrate financial insight into contract and partnership decisions.
- Strong capability to assess risks, interpret policy and legislation, and communicate financial and legal concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
- High-level analytical, problem-solving and conceptual thinking skills.
- Outstanding organisational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
- A proactive, solutions-focussed mindset and commitment to exceptional customer service and strategic stakeholder engagement.
- Ability to coach and develop colleagues whilst working both independently and collaboratively.
- Advanced computer literacy, including Excel, G-Suite and financial/administration systems.
- A high level of integrity and the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
Why Climateworks?
At Climateworks Centre, you’ll contribute to tangible, system-shaping results, working with leaders in research, policy and industry to help to accelerate climate solutions in Australia, Southeast Asia and globally. Join our supportive, mission-driven team where your **leadership in contract management and business partnering—supported by strong financial capability—**will directly shape partnerships, strengthen delivery, and contribute to creating a thriving, net-zero future
About Monash University
At Monash, work feels different. There’s a sense of belonging, from contributing to something ground breaking – a place where great things happen.
We value difference and diversity, and welcome and celebrate everyone's contributions, lived experience and expertise. That’s why we champion an inclusive and respectful workplace culture where everyone is supported to succeed.
Some 20,000 staff work for Monash around the world. We have 95,000 students, four Australian campuses, and campuses in Malaysia and Indonesia. We also have a major presence in India and China, and a significant centre and research foundation in Italy.
In our short history, we have skyrocketed through global university rankings and established ourselves consistently among the world's best tertiary institutions. We rank in the world’s top-50 universities in rankings including the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Today, we have the momentum to create the future we need for generations to come. Accelerate your change here.
Monash supports flexible and hybrid working arrangements. We have a range of policies in place enabling staff to combine work and personal commitments. This includes supporting parents.
To Apply
Please submit a current copy of your resume along with a cover letter in which you address how you meet the Key Selection Criteria in the Position Description. For instructions on how to apply, please refer to 'How to apply for Monash Jobs'.
Diversity is one of our greatest strengths at Monash. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, and people of all genders, sexualities, and age groups.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process at Monash. If you need any reasonable adjustments, please contact us at hr-recruitment@monash.edu in an email titled 'Reasonable Adjustments Request' for a confidential discussion.
Your employment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of all pre-employment and/or background checks required for the role, as determined by the University.
Enquiries: Jashotha Vasavan, Finance and Contracts Manager, +61 459 296 578 or jashotha.vasavan@climateworkscentre.org
Position Description: Senior Contracts and Business Partnering Officer
Applications Close: Monday 11th May 2026, 11:55pm AEST
Supporting a diverse workforce
