Employment Type: Full-time, Continuing
Remuneration: $153k-$163k + 17% superannuation & leave loading
Location: Kensington (on-site role, hybrid working available)
Level: Senior Manager
Why your role matters
At UNSW, we're reimagining how services are delivered to support a complex, dynamic and world-leading university environment. We're looking for an experienced operational manager to help shape the future of our advisory services model. Specialist understanding of health & safety would be beneficial but not required.
The opportunity
Reporting to the Head of Health & Safety Operations, this role oversees 13 Health & Safety Advisors who support our faculties, divisions and operational areas across the University.
As the operational leader of the advisory function, you will initially play a critical role in embedding a new operating model and supporting ongoing organisational change.
Day- to- day, this role ensures the advisory services are effectively resourced and allocated to specialised Health & Safety Partners that ensure their Faculty and Divisional stakeholders receive responsive, high-quality support aligned to their needs and risk profile.
Key responsibilities
- Manage and develop a team of Health & Safey Advisors, driving capability uplift, engagement and performance.
- Support the implementation of agreed change plans across Faculties and Divisions.
- Oversee workforce planning, resource allocation and workload management across multiple stakeholder groups.
- Partner with senior leaders to understand priorities, risks and service requirements, ensuring resources are aligned to business needs.
- Monitor service demand, utilisation, performance metrics and stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement.
- Ensure effective governance, workflow management and reporting through systems and processes.
- Build collaborative relationships across academic, operational and professional services environments.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, service quality and organisational outcomes.
The role reports to Head of Health & Safety Operations, managing a team of Advisors who hold dotted reporting lines to our eight embedded Health & Safety Partners to deliver frontline health and safety support across all Faculties, Divisions, campuses and regional operations
Who you are
A highly capable people leader, operations manager and service delivery professional who thrives in complex organisations, enjoys solving resource and service delivery challenges, and can build strong relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
You bring:
- Significant experience leading operational, advisory, project delivery or professional services teams.
- Proven capability in service provision across complex risk assessment methodology, incident management and investigation, assurance activities, consultation, and the design and implementation of risk mitigation solutions.
- Experience establishing or improving service delivery frameworks, governance structures and operational processes.
- Strong people leadership skills, including coaching, capability development and performance management.
- Experience managing competing priorities, resources and service demand in a complex environment.
- Experience working within matrixed organisations and managing stakeholder engagement, with the ability to build credibility across varied stakeholder groups.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with an ability to use data and insights to inform decisions.
- A continuous improvement mindset and a passion for building high-performing teams.
Desirable
- Leadership experience within complex risk environments, preferably across multiple industries (with relevant tertiary qualification preferred).
- Working knowledge to oversee of workers compensation and injury management to enable front-line triage and response for potential psychological injury.
- Knowledge of psychosocial risk and integration of Health & Wellbeing considerations into operational practice.
The above offers a summary of role and skills & experience, refer to the position description for further details
How to apply: To lead a highly capable team, and help build a modern, responsive service model that supports our diverse and complex University community, please submit your interest through the job portal via CV and cover letter.
Application close Sunday 15 November 2026, 11:55PM
Job Queries: Katherine Molloy, Talent Acquisition Partner, for any recruitment-related enquiries
katherine.molloy@unsw.edu.au
Please apply directly through the website, applications sent to the contact above will not be accepted.
About UNSW
UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.
Benefits and Culture
People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world. Our benefits include:
- Flexible working options
- Career development and leadership opportunities
- 17% flexible superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments
- Additional leave over the Christmas period
- Discounts and entitlements across retail, education, and fitness providers
For further details on the benefits, please visit https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/lifestyle-benefits
Pre-Employment Checks
As part of our recruitment process, candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment screening, including qualification verification, reference checks, right-to-work verification, and criminal history screening where relevant to the role.
UNSW is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disability, members of the LGBTIQ+ community, and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.
