- Steward one of ACU's most significant transformation investments
- Drive our Student Management System (SMS) Modernisation Program
- ACU offers 17% employer superannuation, salary packaging and generous leave provisions
- Full time, senior manager role (two years), based at our North Sydney or Melbourne campus
Australian Catholic University is seeking an accomplished senior transformation leader to provide strategic stewardship of one of the university's most significant enterprise-wide change programs: the modernisation of its Student Management System.
Reporting to the Director, Business Programs, the Project Director will act as the accountable program steward, ensuring the SMS Modernisation Program remains strategically aligned, well governed, commercially sound and capable of delivering sustainable value for ACU. This is a high-impact leadership role requiring executive judgement, sophisticated stakeholder influence and the capacity to guide a complex, multi-year transformation through ambiguity, risk and competing institutional priorities.
The successful candidate will work closely with executive sponsors, faculties, directorates, operational leaders, technology partners and external vendors to maintain confidence in program direction, decision-making, investment discipline and benefits realisation. They will provide strategic advice, transparent reporting and timely intervention to protect approved objectives and ensure the program delivers enduring improvements to student lifecycle management, operating model maturity and institutional capability.
About you:
You will bring substantial experience leading, governing or stewarding large-scale organisational transformation programs, ideally within higher education, complex service environments or major technology-enabled change. You will be confident operating at executive level, able to influence across diverse stakeholder groups, and skilled in turning strategic intent into disciplined governance, assurance, commercial oversight and sustainable outcomes.
You will also demonstrate strong financial stewardship, vendor and commercial leadership, strategic risk management, benefits realisation and the capacity to lead through influence, accountability and constructive challenge rather than direct day-to-day delivery control.
Why join ACU?
ACU is a young, dynamic university with a clear mission to transform lives and communities through education, research and service. This role offers the opportunity to shape a major institutional transformation that will strengthen student and staff experiences and support ACU's long-term strategic ambitions.
For a senior leader motivated by enterprise impact, executive engagement and sustainable transformation, this is an opportunity to make a lasting contribution to the future of student management at ACU.
Contact:
General enquiries can be sent to Russell Parker, Chief Information and Digital Officer at: [email protected]
How to Apply:
Step 1: Review the Candidate Information Package and become familiar with Our Mission and the Application process
Step 2: populate your candidate application details, including your:
- Resume.
- Recommended responses to the Selection Criteria and Core Competencies in a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) or in the online Declaration and Criteria application page.
- Brief online responses to any pre-screening employment questions.
Applications close: 13-SEP-2026 at 11:59pm AUS Eastern Standard Time
Preferred candidates will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment declarations and background checks, including those related to gender-based violence and foreign interference, in line with ACU's compliance requirements.
Candidates must hold Australian work rights to apply for this position. For permanent/continuing roles, applicants must have permanent work rights. For further information visit Immigration and Citizenship(homeaffairs.gov.au)
Your Privacy of personal information is maintained in accordance with ACU policy. For more details visit: www.acu.edu.au/careers
ACU is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and enables our people to reach their potential. This is underpinned by our mission and values, grounded in our respect for all people and the advancement of the common good. In line with our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion we welcome candidates from all backgrounds and lived experiences. ACU is recognised as a Veteran Employment Supporter and veterans are encouraged to apply. ACU offers support for candidates that may require adjustments through the recruitment process. Please contact [email protected] to discuss your requirements in confidence.
About ACU:
Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a publicly funded university whose teaching, research and service is shaped by the vision of flourishing lives, thriving communities, and a more ethical future for our world. ACU has more than 2,500 staff and 34,000 students across eight campuses: Ballarat, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, North Sydney, Strathfield, Blacktown and Rome.
ACU draws on the Catholic intellectual tradition which values human reason and welcomes everyone regardless of their faith, cultural tradition or circumstances. ACU invites all staff - both academic and professional - to embrace, and to support in ways meaningful to them, its mission to respect the dignity of every human person, to seek knowledge and to advance the common good.
ACU does not accept candidate applications submitted by external recruitment agencies through the ACU careers website.
