Fixed Term, Full Time Appointment | Contract until June 2029
Senior Executive Contract | Competitive annual salary + benefits
Darwin, Northern Territory | Larrakia Country
About the Position
The General Manager will provide strategic, operational, and cultural leadership to the TAFE Centre of Excellence in Regional and Remote Essential Care (CoE RREC). This role is instrumental in addressing the complex workforce and service delivery challenges across the Northern Territory’s regional and remote communities—particularly within First Nations communities—through innovative education, health care training, and community engagement initiatives.
Reporting to the Executive Oversight Committee, made up of Northern Territory Government (NTG) Charles Darwin University (CDU) & Batchelor Institute (BI), the General Manager will ensure the CoE RREC delivers high-quality, culturally responsive, and sustainable outcomes. The role will lead the development and implementation of all CoE RRECS and TurboCharge project plans, maintain a strong Industry Advisory Group to ensure alignment between education delivery, workforce priorities, and community needs.
What you’ll do:
* Strategic and Operational Leadership | Lead delivery of the Centre’s agreed initiatives to ensure they achieve intended outcomes and remain aligned with Commonwealth and Northern Territory Government objectives, funding requirements, approved project plans and milestone commitments.
* Governance and Oversight | Support effective governance across the Centre by reporting to and working closely with the NTG, CDU, and BI, ensuring alignment with shared strategic priorities and partnership objectives.
* Community and Stakeholder Engagement | Build and sustain trusted relationships with First Nations organisations, health and education industry partners, government agencies, and community leaders across regional and remote areas.
* Leadership and Financial Management | Provide strategic leadership to build a high-performing, collaborative, and values-driven team culture as well as oversee financial planning, budgeting, and resource allocation to ensure all projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to agreed quality and compliance standards.
* Innovation and Impact | Identify and progress practical opportunities to strengthen workforce development outcomes through innovative delivery models, strategic partnerships, applied research and enabling technologies.
What we are looking for:
* Proven experience in a senior leadership position within health, education, Indigenous engagement, or community service delivery.
* Strong understanding of the social, cultural, and logistical complexities of working in remote and First Nations contexts.
* Knowledge of the training and workforce needs of the Northern Territory’s First Nation’s populations, and experience in developing two-way or both-way knowledge and learning strategies for high-impact delivery.
* Demonstrated ability to manage complex operations including staff, budgets, infrastructure, and contracts.
* High-level stakeholder management and communication skills, with excellent written skills suitable for drafting plans and business cases, and the ability to strongly influence senior stakeholders through outstanding internal and external relationship management.
* High-level business planning skills including the ability to manage high impact programs of work, ensuring critical deadlines are met, and that risks, issues and resources are effectively managed.
* A positive attitude to challenges and the ability to drive change across distributed teams in complex organisations, demonstrating initiative, creativity and innovation in work processes, driven by a commitment to outstanding customer experiences.
* Commitment to the University’s values.
Desirable
* Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field (e.g., health, education, management, Indigenous studies, public administration).
* High level of understanding of RTOs or higher education operations, including delivery in remote areas.
* Proven ability to make significant contributions to business strategy, including assessing threats and opportunities in the external environment and analysing internal strengths and weaknesses.
Appointment is contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory National Criminal History check and a valid NT Working with Children clearance
First Nations Priority Recruitment Measures
While this vacancy is open to all applicants, First Nations applicants are strongly encouraged to apply & will be granted priority consideration for this vacancy, in accordance with s57 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (NT) 1992. More information on First Nations Priority Recruitment at CDU and how to apply, available here
Access Full Position Description
To view the full position description, please click the Apply link which will direct you to our CDU job site, then select Job Attachments.
What’s in it for you?
* An enviable lifestyle in the spectacular Northern Territory | Opportunities for travel to regional and remote locations
* Generous benefits in addition to standard leave provisions
* Recognition of prior service with another Australian university / NT Government for Long Service Leave (eligibility criteria apply)
* Free on-campus parking in designated areas
* Employee Assistance Program
* An employer who values your contribution to building a bigger, better and stronger University
* Work with a University committed to changing people’s lives for the better through training, education, and research
* Opportunities for professional development with access to multiple courses and training facilities
How to Apply
All applications must be received online via the ‘apply’ button and should include your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role, relevant skills and experience, and response addressing the selection criteria of the role.
For a confidential discussion about the position please contact Robert Schwerdt, Pro-Vice Chancellor and CEO TAFE on 08 8946 79***or email ***************@cdu.edu.au
Do you need support?
CDU endeavours to establish and maintain effective systems and processes that support a flexible and inclusive workplace culture. Adjustments can be made to support you throughout the application and selection process, as well as during employment, in line with the University’s Workplace Adjustment Policy and Procedure
For confidential discussions, reasonable adjustment requests, or further information on workplace inclusion and policies, please contact People Services on 08 8946 62***or **************@cdu.edu.au.
Diversity and Inclusion
At CDU, we actively celebrate our diversity and believe that our differences will make CDU the most connected University in Australia. We are committed to maintaining a culture where every member of our University community feels respected, safe, encouraged to speak up and supported in achieving their professional goals, and that they truly belong.
Work Health and Safety
Charles Darwin University is guided by our core values of Courage, Kindness, Openness, Innovation, and Leadership, which shape our daily actions and decisions. CDU is committed to being a safe and inclusive organisation for everyone.
As part of the Charles Darwin University’s commitment to providing a safe, respectful and rewarding workplace, and to meeting our legal obligations, we ask candidates to declare whether they have ever been investigated for an allegation of Gender Based Violence or found to have engaged in conduct that constitutes Gender Based Violence, in any previous employment or through any legal process.
This information assists us to comply with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender Based Violence and will be considered when assessing a candidate’s suitability for employment, to help ensure the safety of our University community.
You make CDU. And we want you to be exactly who you are.
Applications Close: Sunday 10th May 2026