Centre And Operations Manager, UQ Centre For Enterprise AI

Centre Manager For Enterprise Ai

We are seeking a dynamic senior leader to drive strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and operational excellence at the forefront of AI innovation. As Centre Manager, you will support the Director, lead Centre operations, and manage key relationships across industry, government, and research partners locally and globally.

Play a pivotal role in major funding bids, co-design workshops, and high-impact events like the Enterprise AI Symposium. Oversee core services including HR, finance, communications, and more.

This position will support the establishment and operations of the Centre from September 2025 and is a 0.4FTE fixed-term position and may be increased to 0.6FTE. You will report to the EECS, School Manager and takes direction for Centre Director, Centre for Enterprise AI.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Oversee all operational functions of the Centre, ensuring organizational and financial effectiveness in support of the Centre Director and Leadership team.
• Provide strategic advice to the Centre Director and Leadership team on Centre development, policy implementation, and compliance with University-wide procedures.
• Lead risk management efforts by advising on the identification, mitigation, and management of operational and strategic risks.
• Coordinate professional services, physical resources, and HR management, promoting a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture.
• Manage financial operations including annual budgets, forecasts, long-term planning, and budget strategy in partnership with the Faculty finance team.
• Direct and contribute to research initiatives by liaising with internal and external stakeholders, including the Research and Innovation division.
• Oversee internal and external communications, including marketing strategies, event planning, and stakeholder engagement.
• Undertake high-level projects for the Centre Director, often with complex or urgent requirements.

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
• On campus childcare options
• Affordable parking (from just $6.15 a day)
• Salary packaging options

Postgraduate qualifications with extensive relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education and training.

Project Management experience in a research environment with demonstrated leadership and management capability within complex operations including budget planning, risk management and compliance.

Demonstrated strategic and operational leadership and planning skills including budget development and the ability to interpret financial data at strategic and operational levels and produce reports for external partners and funding agencies.

Broad experience in relationship management, preferably in the management of an industry linked research project or other similar intricate project.

High-level organizational skills including the ability to operate independently within established frameworks and guidelines while prioritizing competing work demands and meeting deadlines, demonstrating the ability to prioritize and manage multiple project objectives concurrently.

Demonstrated high level interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills and emotional intelligence to minimize disruption to the momentum of the project objectives and to build relationships and work collaboratively as part of a team.

Demonstrated research administration leadership skills, with the ability to identify relevant research linkages and facilitate communication among diverse groups of research stakeholders including industry partners and government agencies.

Experience working in a University environment including using relevant administrative tools and possessing a knowledge of university policies and procedures.

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

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.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Mrs Erin Keogh via e.keogh@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.

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 summarizing how your background aligns with the 'About You' section

Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We are dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We are 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.

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognizes that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who do not 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 on Thursday, 18 September 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-55707).