Part time fixed term contract for 2 years
Work with an initiative will empower both students and employers, ensuring successful and positive employment outcomes for graduates of our inclusive university program
Base Salary starting from $ 103,185 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The University of Sydney and CDS aim to create a proven best model of practice for an Employment Transition Program that will serve as the gold standard for people with intellectual disabilities to attend university and transition to work. This initiative will empower both students and employers, ensuring successful and positive employment outcomes for graduates of our inclusive university program. With the benefit of an evidence-based engagement and transition program, the CDS and the University envisage future national engagement from university partners.

This program aims to build on the successes of the existing Uni 2 Beyond (U2B) program by targeting current students with intellectual disability and alumni who have been through the U2B program. A fundamental aspect of the program is to identify employers to act as internship hosts and future employers, building capacity and training amongst these partner organisations and ensuring appropriate matching of internship and supports to ensure success is critical.

The University is seeking to employee a Partnership Manager (HEO 6) to have overall responsibility for the partner organisation (internship host organisations) stream and ensuring multiple, diverse, accessible and appropriate internship opportunities and host organisations are engaged, trained and mentored to support successful hosting of student interns. There will be a focus on continued employment opportunities and provision of support to ensure sustainability of roles from the employer and intern perspective.

Overall, the project aims to:

Co-design an internship module to be delivered to Uni2Beyond alumni and students
Build capacity with lived experience mentor(s) and supporter(s) in co-design and training delivery
Prepare students for internship, support transition to, and through internship and into employment
Engage experts in employment and transition planning to support preparedness for internship through a comprehensive system of learning, goal setting and person-centred supports
Identify/develop appropriate mechanisms to match individual student with work roles.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

Oversee and manage specialised administrative tasks, ensuring efficient support to staff, students, and external partners
Search and contact decision makers of potential business and government partners across industries
Initiate and co-ordinate engagement activities for industry partnerships.
Address enquiries, maintain online content, and ensure effective internal and external communication
Contribute to the planning, promotion, and presentation of internship program, at events, meetings or corporate seminars
Lead in the establishment and maintenance of collaborative partnerships, ensuring timely communication and coordination with internal and external entities
Maintain, analyse, and report data using various record-keeping tools, ensuring alignment with university needs and policies
Confirm interest and suitability of potential internship business partners.
Participate in the design, review, and refinement of processes, always seeking opportunities for enhancement and growth
Take the lead in handling stakeholder communications to gain commitment to internship program outcomes, ensuring that concerns are addressed effectively and timely while fostering a culture of trust and collaboration
Facilitate timely report submission, uphold data integrity according to university systems, and partner with managers to advance compliance initiatives
Coordinate purchasing processes and resolve any discrepancies in payment schedules.
Confirm internship role details, timing, training requirements, manager and mentor details.

About you

Master’s degree in related field in health, Social Science/Disability or equivalent
Experience working in community development, employment and/or inclusion
Minimum 12 months’ experience in working with and supporting people with intellectual disability
Experience with project management and coordination
Hold a current working with Children Check/ NDIS Worker Check
Knowledge of the NDIS, employment and disability sector
Co-design experience with people with intellectual disability
Proven experience in B2B sales, business development, or account management
Strong understanding of corporate sales cycles and decision-making processes
Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills and proven stakeholder engagement
Proven ability to identify and engage with potential corporate clients across target industries and build and maintain strong relationships with decision-makers and stakeholders
Ability to think strategically and analytically
Lived experience—whether personal or through close relationships with individuals with intellectual disabilities—is considered highly desirable.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

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 role-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.

This position is designated as involving child-related work. To undertake or remain in this position, you are required to apply for and obtain a Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

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 Rachel Ann Yazigi, Recruitment Operations by email to rachel.yazigi@sydney.edu.au.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Saturday 13 September 2025 11:59 PM