Executive Officer

• Full time, fixed term or secondment position until end of 2026. Located on the Darlington Campus at the Faculty of Engineering

• Exciting opportunity for an Executive Officer to provide strategic support, expert advice, and drive communications and governance in a fast-paced executive environment.

• Base Salary, (HEO7) $112,628- $122,702 p.a + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Faculty of Engineering is seeking an enthusiastic and proactive Executive Officer to provide administrative support, guide staff, and collaborate on complex matters under broad supervision. You will be supporting major faculty research initiatives, including the Rio Tinto Sydney Innovation Hub (RTSIH) and assisting with development of new initiatives.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• support the day-to-day operations of RTSIH, coordinating administrative tasks and aligning hub-wide activities

• prepare high-level briefings, agendas, minutes, action items, and communications, coordinate workshops and visits between the University and industry partners

• establish and maintain administrative processes to ensure governance and reporting compliance.

• track projects and their KPIs, ensure timely execution, delivery of outcomes, submission of reports, updates, and internal deadlines

• coordinate and track action items and follow-ups from discussions and meetings

• develop and maintain resource repositories (SharePoint, Teams, Confluence)

• assist with grant development processes, strategies and whitepapers by structuring content, editing copy, and preparing budgets, coordinating

• capture and consolidate expert input from researchers and stakeholders to inform documents, slide decks, and reports

• prepare clear, engaging slide decks and communication materials for both internal and public-facing purposes

• collate and analyse data and evidence for planning and performance tracking, and liaise with data analysts

• manage email accounts and calendar and meetings prioritising

• liaise with Research Support Team, External Engagement Support Team, other admin teams and academics for the collaborative tasks above

• act as a liaison between the Associate Dean Research and internal/external stakeholders

About you

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for an Executive Officer who is:

• a strong communicator who can adapt writing and visual styles across grants, reports, social media, and internal updates

• skilled in preparing polished presentations and communications, with attention to aesthetics and clear messaging

• experienced in project management, with an eye for detail and the ability to track processes and timelines proactively

• familiar with the research or higher education environment; no technical expertise required, but a working understanding helps

• familiar with industry and confidential work processes

• comfortable liaising with researchers, summarising complex ideas for non-technical audiences, and ensuring consistency

• confident working independently and collaboratively, with strong organisational and coordination skills

• knowledge of Australian grant structures and reporting expectations is advantageous.

Work rights

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all roles required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement 

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion. 

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. 

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard.  Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Shubhi Dhaka, Recruitment Operations by email to recruitment.sea@sydney.edu.au.

© The University of Sydney

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

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Thursday 24 July 2025 11:59 PM