Join UniSQ at an exciting time as Manager (Research Performance and Strategy) and play a pivotal role in shaping the University's research success and reputation. In this strategic leadership position, you'll drive the analysis, insight and reporting that underpin national and international research performance, working closely with senior executives, researchers and academic leaders to inform decision making and strengthen research quality and impact. You'll lead critical statutory reporting activities, harness sector intelligence and transform complex data into meaningful strategies—directly influencing how UniSQ grows its research profile and delivers real-world benefit to our communities.
Who you are
You are a strategic and analytical professional with extensive experience in research data management, reporting, and performance analysis. You thrive in at the intersection of data, policy and research impact. You bring a curious mindset, a sharp eye for detail and the ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling insights that influence decision making at the highest levels. You're a natural collaborator who builds credibility through expertise and relationships, and you enjoy working with researchers, executives and sector partners to solve problems. Motivated by purpose, you're excited by the chance to shape research performance on a whole-of-institution scale and to play a key role in strengthening UniSQ's reputation, rankings and contribution to society.
What you'll do
In this role you'll be at the centre of how UniSQ understands, measures and strengthens its research performance. Every day you'll work with senior leaders, researchers and professional teams to turn complex data into strategic insight, ensuring the University meets critical reporting obligations while driving continuous improvement in research quality, impact and rankings. Your work will directly inform institutional priorities, investment decisions and the way UniSQ tells its research story to government, industry and the global higher education sector.
In your first 6–12 months you will:
* Coordinate and deliver statutory research reporting (HERDC, ABS, rankings) with accuracy and timeliness
* Enhance research performance dashboards and analytics for executive decision‐making
* Shape strategic decisions that drive research growth and reputation
* Strengthen data quality and reporting processes across Schools and Research Institutes/Centres
* Provide advice on research metrics, data integrity and emerging sector and legislative reporting requirements
Your work will directly shape the University's research direction and reputation. By strengthening the integrity and accessibility of institutional data, you'll enable confident, evidence‐based decisions that drive research growth, quality and impact. Through clear analysis, benchmarking and strategic insight, you'll help elevate UniSQ's national and international research profile and ensure the University is well positioned to respond to emerging opportunities and sector expectations.
What will help you succeed
To thrive in this role, you'll bring a blend of analytical expertise, strategic thinking and a genuine interest in how data can shape research excellence. You'll be comfortable navigating complex information environments, collaborating with diverse stakeholders and translating technical data into insights that inform senior decision‐making.
You'll be supported by:
* Experience in research performance, planning, analytics or statutory reporting within higher education or a comparable complex environment
* Strong capability in data analysis tools such as Excel and Power BI, with a commitment to data quality and integrity
* Knowledge of the Australian research landscape, including HERDC, rankings and research metrics
* Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
* Excellent communication skills to present complex information clearly to a range of audiences
* Experience building collaborative working relationships
Relevant post‐graduate qualifications, or an equivalent combination of experience and training in information management and reporting, will also help you make an immediate impact in this pivotal role.
For further information about this role, please contact Dr Samantha Rose via +61 7 4631 2866 or Director.OoR@unisq.edu.au.
Building on its strengths as Australia's leading regional university, UniSQ partners closely with its communities to drive innovation and create opportunity through education and research. Guided by our values of respect, integrity, and excellence, UniSQ's Strategic Plan 2026–2030 sets a clear ambition: to be Australia's most transformative university by embracing our regional identity, fostering inclusive learning and research environments, and delivering globally relevant outcomes with strong local impact.
The University offers a range of different ways of working and connecting across our physical and virtual spaces to meet the needs of our students, partners and community. We value diversity and strive to foster an inclusive environment that is underpinned by our values and champions, embraces and respects differences.
We support and encourage applications from all diversity groups. With an increasingly diverse workforce, we understand that careers may be placed on hold or limited throughout many life circumstances.
Find out more about UniSQ at www.unisq.edu.au.
To be considered for this position, you will need to have the right to work in Australia.
Reference Number:
0189_12/25
Location:
Toowoomba or Springfield
Term
Full‐time continuing appointment (36 hours/week)
Salary
Total remuneration range $133,806 to $153,649 pa (includes salary range of $112,845 to $129,580 pa, employer super contributions of 17% and annual leave loading)
Closes
Sunday, 1 March 2026 at 11:30 pm (AEST) (two weeks from job go live)
At UniSQ we are united by our core values of Respect, Integrity and Excellence, which guide our daily actions and decision‐making. UniSQ is a child safe organisation.
As part of the University of Southern Queensland's commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and rewarding work environment and in compliance with our legal obligations, we require candidates to declare whether they have been investigated for an allegation of Gender Based Violence, or determined to have engaged in conduct that constitutes Gender Based Violence, during the course of their previous employment or in any legal process.
This information helps us meet our legal obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender Based Violence, and will be considered when determining a candidate's suitability for employment, so that we can keep our University community safe.
If you know that this role is right for you, please submit your current resume together with a two‐page (maximum) statement, outlining your skills and experience relative to 'Who we're looking for' in the position description.
For more information on our selection process please refer to your recruitment journey available on our website.
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