Full-time (100%), permanent position with a high-performing professional team
Base salary will be in the range $135,300.48 - $143,081.86 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 9)
Based at our vibrant and picturesque St Lucia Campus
The Senior Manager, Student Transition and Success will play a critical role in operationalising UQ's transition framework within the BEL Faculty. In this position, you will work closely with stakeholders within the faculty and across the university to develop and implement programs and initiatives that promote a sense of belonging and enable student success at all stages of their learning journey.
As part of the senior management team within the BEL Faculty, you will develop and lead strategic initiatives aimed at improving student engagement and success. You will have a desire to promote a positive student-centred culture, whilst also demonstrating excellent data analysis, reporting, project coordination, and planning skills. You will also possess strong interpersonal and communication skills required to effectively lead a team of professional staff, and to enable collaboration with the broader student experience community at UQ, and across functional areas within BEL.
Key responsibilities will include:
Strategic Leadership and Collaborative Engagement
Strategic leadership and coordination of initiatives that support student transition, retention, and success within the BEL Faculty. This involves leading implementation of the UQ Transition Framework at the faculty level, supporting transition activities within BEL schools and programs, and building and maintaining effective internal and external partnerships.
Working in collaboration with the Associate Dean (Academic) and other BEL Senior Managers (e.g., education, marketing, international services, alumni services) to promote an outstanding BEL student experience at all stages of the learning journey: inside and outside the curriculum; before, during, and after their studies at UQ.
Data-Informed Direction and Impact
Adopt a data-informed approach, using accurate performance indicators to inform the delivery and evolution of student transition services within BEL, promoting a continuous improvement culture.
Conduct research and data collection to evaluate initiatives and service performance, or where required, to meet internal and external reporting requirements.
Effectively present impact data and insights to stakeholders and translate those findings into clear, actionable strategies.
Expert Knowledge and Proactive Advice
Maintain expert knowledge of the portfolio area through engagement with the scholarly literature and informed by evidence-based national and international best practices. This ensures you can provide proactive, relevant advice to senior staff and identify new initiatives to enhance the student experience.
Team and Resource Management
Lead a high performing and dedicated team, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment that supports professional growth. This includes managing, planning, and coordinating staffing levels.
Preparing the annual budget and tracking expenditures within your areas of responsibility.
Manages projects, including planning and development; coordinating internal resources as required for project; implementation; and defining project scope and objectives, in line with corresponding stakeholders and technical feasibility.
As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.
Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.
Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:
Up to 26 weeks paid parental leave/paid primary care leave
17% superannuation contributions + 17.5% annual leave loading
Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options, flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight
Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family
Career development opportunities –access to exclusive internal-only vacancies and our Study for Staff program
On campus childcare options
Affordable parking (from just $6.40 a day)
Salary packaging options
Postgraduate qualifications combined with a minimum of five years’ relevant professional experience in higher education or a related sector.
Demonstrated expert knowledge of student transition and success strategies, including sense of belonging, retention, and widening participation, within national and international higher education contexts. A strong understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion principles is essential.
Demonstrated ability to lead the development and implementation of strategic, student-focused initiatives; and an ability to implement strategic change initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and service delivery within a large and complex environment.
Extensive experience in applying evaluation frameworks and data analysis methodologies to inform strategic planning, monitor outcomes, and produce high-quality reports with actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
Demonstrated success in leading high-performing teams to deliver student-centred services that align with internal priorities.
Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional networks, negotiate effectively, and engage a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
Proven ability to prioritise workloads in a high-pressure environment, work independently and proactively, meet deadlines, and provide expert advice to senior leaders, with a commitment to professional integrity and service excellence.
Experience navigating institutional structures and driving continuous improvement is highly valued.
Understanding of BEL faculty disciplines and student cohorts (including international and professional learners), or evidence of your ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge.
The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: right to work in Australia, criminal check, education check etc.
You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Tyler Okimoto, Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Business, Economics, and Law: t.okimoto@uq.edu.au.
For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.
We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:
Resume
A cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the 'About You' section
Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact talent@uq.edu.au.
UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.
Applications close Friday, 9 January 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-57450). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for January 2026.