Are you a detail-oriented professional with a passion for governance and higher education?

Swinburne University of Technology is seeking a dedicated Council Secretary to join our team and play a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the Council, Academic Senate, and Controlled Entity activities.

In this key position, you will report to the Chief of Staff and work closely with the Chancellor to uphold the university’s established governance framework. Your responsibilities will include ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and policies while promoting transparency across all governing bodies.

As a trusted business partner to the Chancellor, you will oversee secretariat services for the Academic Senate and its subcommittees, providing valuable insights that link external issues to the university's strategic needs. You will facilitate the integration of Governance, Strategy, and Risk in a collaborative and timely manner, ensuring that both corporate and academic governance are effectively managed.

Your role will involve coordinating Council and subcommittee activities, acting as the communication liaison between Council members and university stakeholders, and responding to the needs of the Chancellor and Council members. You will also undertake essential administrative tasks to support the efficient operation of these governing bodies. Additionally, you will oversee the provision of secretariat support to Academic Senate and our Controlled entities and serve as a backup secretary t these governing bodies during peak demands or absences.

If you are ready to make a significant impact in the governance landscape of our university, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity! Join us at Swinburne University of Technology and contribute to fostering a transparent and effective governance environment that drives success and innovation.

About You
To be suitable for this role you will need to have experience in the below key accountabilities:

• Previous experience in a similar role within a university or comparable organisation.
• Strong understanding of governance principles, relevant laws, regulations, and compliance requirements pertaining to higher and vocational education.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and influence decision-making, particularly with council and senior leadership.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise discretion, and handle sensitive information with integrity - including the ability to manage conflicts of interest (perceived, potential, and actual).
• Proven leadership experience, including the ability to lead and motivate a team, manage competing priorities, and drive results in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Qualifications
Post Graduate qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant field such as business administration, policy, governance or law.

**This position is open only to applicants who have work rights in Australia

About Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne Horizon 2025 draws upon our understanding of future challenges. With this new strategic plan, we choose to build Swinburne as the prototype of a new and different university – one that is truly of Technology, of Innovation and of Entrepreneurship. We are committed to a differentiated university proposition in education and research, so that:

• Every Swinburne learner gets a work experience
• Every Swinburne graduate gets a job
• Every Swinburne partner gets a tech solution
• Swinburne is the prototype of global best practice

The achievement of our 2025 moon shots depends on our capacity to work collectively, always, as One Swinburne.

To Apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter addressing your suitability for this position.??

To review the Position Description and to apply, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

If you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click ‘apply’ and you will be redirected to Swinburne’s Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page.

Please Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children Check.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application, please contact the Swinburne Talent Acquisition Team on talentacquisition@swin.edu.au.

Applications Close: Wednesday 20th November 2024 at 5pm.

Swinburne offers flexible working options contained in our leave and parenting/carer policies to support work-life balance.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Swinburne University of Technology is dedicated to creating a varied, welcoming, and open learning and work environment that embraces diversity, promotes inclusion, ensures fair access to opportunities, and actively opposes bullying, discrimination, sexual harm, victimisation, and vilification. We appreciate every individual in our community, regardless of ability/disability, age, cultural and ethnic background, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and family and relationship status. For further details on our efforts, please explore our Equity & Diversity website.

Disability and Reasonable Adjustments
Swinburne University of Technology actively supports and encourages individuals with disability to apply. We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process by ensuring that we cater to the access and participation needs of all candidates.

For a confidential conversation about your accessibility needs or to offer feedback on how we can enhance our recruitment processes to accommodate any adjustments you may require, please contact Swinburne’s Disability Confident Recruitment at DCR@swin.edu.au or call +61 3 9214 3550.

Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) at Swinburne
Swinburne is enhancing gender equity and diversity, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM), by participating in the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program.

Swinburne University is actively engaged in improving representation and participation of women in STEMM fields, aiming to address ongoing gender inequity. As an inaugural recipient of the Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award, we have implemented our original SAGE Action Plan (2019-2021) and continue our commitment through the current SAGE Action Plan (2022-2025), focusing on meaningful actions to foster long-lasting change and advance gender equity and diversity in STEMM.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We welcome and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
For any support, please contact talentacquisition@swin.edu.au or for more information on our Indigenous strategies please follow the link to our RAP Reconciliation Action Plan.

Victoria’s Commitment to Action: Improving international student employment outcomes
As a signatory to Victoria’s Commitment to Action, Swinburne seeks to remove barriers to international graduate employment. We welcome and encourage applications from international graduates.

We are a 2023 Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.