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Lead the Team Supporting Tomorrow’s Researchers.
UC Level 8, Salary Range $113,289 pa - $126,361 pa plus 17% Super
Full Time, Fixed Term Opportunity – 14 months
About us:
University of Canberra’s vision is that “Together we work to empower, connect and share knowledge with our people, cultures and places.” UC is engrained in the local community and we aim to challenge the status quo through the pursuit of excellence in teaching, learning and research. The University of Canberra is ranked in the top five universities globally for reducing inequalities (THE Impact Rankings, 2023).
About the role:
HDR Services team is seeking a dynamic Team Leader to cover staff leave which will play a vital role in shaping the success of our Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates.
Reporting to the Manager, Graduate Research School, you will lead the delivery of comprehensive administrative support across the HDR lifecycle — from admissions and enrolments through to thesis examination. You’ll oversee a dedicated team, guide business improvements, and serve as a key advisor on complex candidature matters. Your work will directly impact the experience and success of HDR candidates and the research community across the university. This is a great opportunity for a passionate student administration professional looking to step up and/or for an experience manager with an eye for process improvement and operational excellence.
Key responsibilities:
Lead, mentor and manage the HDR Services team.
Oversee HDR admissions, enrolment, candidature changes, milestone tracking, progress reporting, and scholarship administration.
Responsible for overseeing and directly managing candidature cases, including student leave, milestone tracking, and initiatives to support student retention.
Review and refine processes to improve efficiency.
Provide expert advice on complex HDR cases, policies, grievances, and appeals.
Engage and collaborate with various stakeholders to deliver consistent and timely support.
Support candidate wellbeing and refer students to appropriate services, fostering a culture of respect and inclusion.
Contribute to Graduate Research School leadership and strategic planning initiatives.
About you:
You’re an experienced higher education professional with a solutions mindset, and a deep understanding of student processes. You thrive in fast-paced environments and are motivated by making tangible improvements to student outcomes and service delivery.
You will bring:
Demonstrated experience in managing teams in a university or complex environment.
High-level knowledge of administration, policies, and academic processes.
Proven ability to resolve complex issues and provide sound advice to stakeholders.
Excellent organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
A proactive approach to process improvement and a commitment to continuous development.
Offerings/ Benefits/ Culture:
The University offers excellent conditions and benefits such as flexible, family-friendly policies, on site gym, on site medical services, a supermarket and childcare facilities.
University of Canberra is a values based organisation and sets a goal to be the national sector leader in equity, diversity, inclusion and access via Connected – A Decadal Strategy 2023-2032 . UC encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Eligibility:
Applicants who wish to apply for this position should have valid working rights at the time of submission.
The University of Canberra is committed to the safety of vulnerable and young people. As such, successful applicants will be required to have a current ACT working with vulnerable people registration. For further details on how to apply please click https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au
How to apply:
Please apply with you CV/Resume only, no other documentation is required at this stage. Please ensure you take the time to align your CV/Resume with the Position Description
If you are initially shortlisted, you may be asked to complete an online one-way video interview. There will be a list of pre-set questions that will need to be answered within a stipulated time.
For job specific information: Please contact Sasha Peakall - Manager, Graduate Research - Sasha.Peakall@canberra.edu.au – 6206 8740
For recruitment and application questions: please contact the Talent Solutions team on 02 6206 3867 or email uctalent@canberra.edu.au . If you would like to request a reasonable adjustment to the selection process, please feel free to contact us.
Closing date: 11.55pm, Sunday, 13 July 2025
