• Seeking a Chief Operating Officer – National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health
• Employment Type: Full-time (35 hour week)
• Duration: initial 12 month contract with strong possibility of extension
• Location: Kensington, NSW (Hybrid Flexible Working) – occasional interstate travel required
• Full Australian working rights required for the duration of the contract

The Opportunity

As the Chief Operating Officer (COO), you will be responsible for establishing the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health (the Centre) and managing ongoing operations including ensuring compliance with all aspects of funding rules, reporting and UNSW policies and procedures. You will be responsible for full oversight of UNSW Centre staffing, functions and strategy, high level budgets, monitoring and reporting against KPIs.

The COO also plays an important role in nurturing a positive and inclusive culture of collaboration across a nationally dispersed Centre and will work closely with key leaders and consortium members across the Centre. Accordingly, occasional interstate travel will be required.

You will be dedicated to the delivery of high level strategic and operational advice and support to the Centre Director on the achievement of operational and administrative objectives. You will provide sound expert advice and input into the development of strategy, policy and planning for the Centre Director to position the Centre for success throughout all stages of its lifespan.

The role of Chief Operating Officer reports to the Centre Director and will have 3+ direct reports.

About The Centre:

The National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health (the Centre) is a new major initiative supported by the Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care, commencing in 2023. The Centre is led by UNSW Sydney (Medicine and Health) together with a consortium comprising The New South Wales Council for Intellectual Disability, Down Syndrome Australia, Queenslanders with Disability Network, First Peoples Disability Network (Australia), Centre for Disability Studies, Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service and Mater Misericordiae, University of Melbourne and, Telethon Kids Institute.

A further 20 health and disability sector partners and 36 collaborating organisations are also involved. The Centre’s purpose is to improve the health of people with Intellectual Disability. The National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability (NCoE) will be based at UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney

Establishing the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health is a vital step in improving the health of people with intellectual disability. The national centre will bring together experts, resources, and research on intellectual disability healthcare.

Who You Are:

• Postgraduate qualifications in Tertiary Education Management or Business Administration with extensive work experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience in the Disability, Health, Higher Education or Research sector.
• Experience in working with individuals with disabilities, and a strong commitment to focusing on promoting inclusion, the rights of these individuals and ensuring accessibility.
• Commitment to First Nations peoples being self-determining; respect and support for the cultural values and practices of First Nations peoples; and a demonstrated capacity to work in an intercultural way at an individual and organisational level.
• Previous experience managing a multi-organisational/-institutional programs, including strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting.
• Extensive experience in people leadership, development and management, with the demonstrated skills to motivate inspire, and mobilise teams to create a positive workplace culture and deliver quality outcomes.
• Excellent consultation, influencing, communication, negotiation and networking skills to achieve outcomes, particularly in an environment where services are provided by a service provider or function.
• Extensive operational management skills including planning, priority setting, and managing a high volume, process-driven administrative environment with variable workflows.
• Strong financial management skills with experience in managing large budgets, meeting financial targets and managing for financial sustainability.
• Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills and proven capacity to exercise initiative, flexibility and to be proactive in development of robust solutions to problems.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail for deliverables produced.
• An understanding of issues relating to key internal and external relationships, including participating universities and/or industry partners.
• Proven ability to embed equity, inclusion and diversity strategies, so that they become an integral part of the Centre’s culture. Commitment to responding to and addressing intersectionality, and mulitple forms of discrimination, due to one’s culture, gender, sexuality, socioeconomically disadvantaged background, and people from rural and remote areas.

Pre-employment checks required for this position:

• Verification of qualifications
• NSW Working with Children check
• Australian criminal records check

Benefits and Culture:

You’ll be joining a dynamic team with a fantastic culture where diversity and innovation is openly celebrated. Expect a work environment that is highly collaborative, fast-paced, inclusive and progressive - with no two days the same! You’ll be challenged and supported to achieve personal and business goals with our dedication to lifelong learning.

More information on the great staff benefits and culture can be found here.

How to Apply:

Make each day matter with a meaningful career at UNSW. Submit your application online before the 26th September at 11:55pm. Your application should include a document addressing the Selection Criteria (skills and experience on the position description). A copy of the Position Description can be found on JOBS@UNSW.

Get in Touch (for job related queries only – applications will not be accepted if sent to the contact listed):

Jamie Cutler: Talent Acquisition Consultant

E: [email protected], using the subject line: Chief Operating Officer - National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health enquiry via EthicalJobs.

UNSW is committed to evolving a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can participate fairly, in a safe and respectful environment. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse gender, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.