Senior Manager, HDR Experience

Graduate School

Full-Time, Permanent Position

Base salary will be in the range $135,300 - $143,081 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 9) 

Based at our St. Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity

Step into a senior leadership role at the heart of UQ’s research training ecosystem. As Senior Manager, HDR Experience, you will shape and deliver a forward-thinking strategy that transforms the experience of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates across the University.

This role offers the opportunity to lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary team and collaborate across faculties, institutes, and industry partners to enhance career development, industry placements, and overall candidate engagement. You will champion innovative, inclusive, and scalable initiatives that strengthen research training, promote wellbeing, and elevate graduate outcomes, positioning UQ as a leader in HDR experience.

If leading high-impact initiatives that transform the student experience is your passion, this is the role to make it happen!

Key Responsibilities Will Include:

• Lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive HDR experience strategy, integrating career development, industry placements, and candidate engagement initiatives.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership to a multidisciplinary team, overseeing HDR programs, training, and community-building activities.
• Foster strong partnerships across faculties, institutes, and external stakeholders to ensure coordinated delivery and alignment with institutional priorities.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation, using data, feedback, and sector benchmarking to enhance HDR programs and candidate outcomes.

About Uq

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 
• Affordable parking (from just $6.15 a day) 

• Salary Packaging Options

About You

• Extensive experience in research training, student development, or stakeholder engagement, supported by postgraduate qualifications or equivalent senior-level experience.
• Proven ability to lead high-performing, multidisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration, inclusivity, and staff development.
• Demonstrated expertise in HDR candidate experience, researcher development, advisor training, or industry engagement and placements.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence outcomes and engage confidently with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in program evaluation and continuous improvement, using data, feedback, and benchmarking to inform planning and enhance impact.
• Knowledge of the Australian higher education sector and an understanding of the culture and strategic ambitions of a global research-intensive university.

The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including right to work in Australia and a criminal check.

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.  

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Helen Hume, h.hume@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.  
 

Want To Apply?

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. 

Other Information

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 Sunday 19 October 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-56575).