The University of Tasmania acknowledges the palawa/pakana and Gadigal/Wangal people as the traditional custodians of the land, sea and waters of the areas upon which we live and work. We recognise their valuable contributions and deep connection to country and pay respect to Elders past and present.
- Maintain oversight of priorities, risks, and opportunities to support informed decisions
- Enable delivery of key programs and effective ways of working
- Lead initiatives that improve effectiveness and delivery capability
About the Opportunity
The Director Enablement will act as a strategic and operational partner to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Services and Operations, ensuring strong performance, clear direction, and high-impact decision-making across the division. In this role, you will maintain a real-time view of priorities, risks, and opportunities, equipping leaders with the insights needed to lead with confidence.
You will translate strategy into action, aligning people, resources, and initiatives to deliver measurable outcomes. Leading a specialist enablement team, you will drive continuous improvement, coordinated program delivery, and people-centred transformation across the University.
Operating at the centre of the division, you will influence at pace, strengthen capability, and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and sustained performance. You will shape how Student Services and Operations deliver impact across the institution. This is a rare opportunity to influence how a critical division operates and drives meaningful impact for the University, its people, and the students it serves.
About the University
The University of Tasmania is a mission-driven institution dedicated to making a difference for Lutruwita/Tasmania and a distinctive contribution from Tasmania to the world. As the sole university on the island, the University is deeply embedded in the social, economic, and environmental fabric of Tasmania, working in close partnership with communities, industry, and government to address key challenges in education, health, productivity, and climate action. The University takes pride in its place-based identity, leveraging Tasmania’s unique geography, culture, and resources to offer world-leading research and education.
What’s Required
- Demonstrated experience operating as a trusted adviser or chief of staff to a senior executive in a large, complex organisation, with the ability to manage sensitive information and exercise sound judgement.
- Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, managing competing priorities and progressing complex work with minimal direction while maintaining alignment to broader organisational goals.
- Strong financial acumen, including experience contributing to divisional budget planning, workforce planning, and resource management.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear executive briefings, reports, and presentations for senior governance audiences.
- Experience building credibility and collaborative relationships across a matrixed organisation, influencing without direct authority across diverse teams and senior stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain performance frameworks, governance structures, and reporting mechanisms that drive accountability and continuous improvement.
- Proven ability to lead and deliver continuous improvement, service design, or program enablement functions, with experience applying structured methodologies (e.g. Lean, human-centred design, agile) in a professional services context.
- Experience in higher education or a similarly complex public sector environment, with an understanding of the governance, regulatory, and cultural context in which universities operate (desirable).
Qualifications and Licenses
- Completion of a degree level qualification and/or an equivalent combination of skills, training and experience in executive support in a large complex organisation preferably in higher education.
What’s on Offer?
As we look toward 2050, we remain committed to fostering excellence, collaboration, and transformative education, preparing graduates to navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world. While remaining true to our Tasmanian roots, this career defining role will see you significantly contribute to our dedication to making a difference for Tasmania and to the world. In return for your experience, you’ll have access to an array of staff benefits and discounts including:
- 26 Weeks paid parental leave for primary care givers
- 17% Superannuation contribution
- Health and fitness membership options
- Accommodation and Car Hire discounts
- Health Insurance and Banking
- Novated Leasing
How to Apply?
If this role is of interest, we look forward to hearing from you.
Please provide your up-to-date resume and:
- A 1-page cover letter outlining your motivation for the role and the University of Tasmania.
- A separate addressal of the selection criteria outlining how your skills and experience align with the role specific skills, knowledge and experience in the Position Description.
Position Description - Director Enablement May 2026.pdf
- Applications close 11.55pm AEST Sunday the 21st of June 2026.
- Interviews with shortlisted candidates are scheduled for the week commencing Monday the 6th of July 2026.
- For further information about this position, please contact: TalentTeam@utas.edu.au
To be eligible for this position, you are required to have Australian citizenship, permanent residence or a current valid visa that allows you to fulfill the requirements of this role.
As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive workplace, employment history and police background checks may be conducted as part of the selection process.
