Senior Manager Cyber Security Operations
Technology & Digital Services
Continuing, full-time
$137,495 per annum, HEO 10
17% Employer Superannuation
Salary packaging options are available
20 days family and domestic violence leave available per annum,
10 days gender affirmation leave per annum,
10 days Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and ceremonial leave per annul
(Professional Staff) 5 weeks annual leave plus Christmas week shutdown, per annum,
Armidale/ Sydney/ Tamworth based role. Flexible or hybrid work arrangements available
Relocation assistance provided
For continuing and fixed term positions: Applicants must have appropriate Australian work rights for the duration of this position (UNE will not provide sponsorship for this position)
Acknowledgement of Country
The University of New England (UNE) is a regionally based, globally networked university renowned for the quality of its student experience and the excellence of its research specialisations. In addition, UNE pioneered teaching to external students making it the most experienced provider of distance and innovative online education. UNE emphasises its people, staff and students' growth and development. We aspire to be a leader in innovation and change and a centre for the Armidale and the North-West communities. Equity, diversity and inclusion are central to the core values of UNE and we are committed to engaging, supporting and growing a richly diverse workforce. From the Oorala Aboriginal Centre at the heart of our campus, to the inclusive organisations such as the UNE Ally Network, the UNE Women's Society, and the many international cultural groups - all will feel valued and respected at UNE. You will embody the UNE values and strive to be Kind, Bold, Connected and Accountable, you will be committed to achieving the goals embedded in the Future Fit Strategic Plan
About the role
Reporting directly to the Deputy CISO, you will hold the keys to UNE's "Detect, Respond, and Recover" capabilities. You will transition the organisation from reactive alerting to proactive threat hunting, leveraging MITRE D3FEND tactics and advanced SIEM automation.
Your mandate is clear:
Command Control: Act as the primary Incident Commander during cyber events, holding delegated authority to execute containment protocols and direct technical response teams.
Active Defence: Lead the tuning of our defensive stack (Defender, MDR, EDR)) to cut through the noise. You will design and deploy deception technologies (honeypots, canary tokens) to detect lateral movement.
AI Guardrails: Design specific monitoring use-cases to detect "Shadow AI" risks and protect data sovereignty in a rapidly evolving environment.
Operational Governance: Enforce the technical implementation of policies (Access Control, Logging & Monitoring) and ensure our posture is audit-ready every day, not just during reporting cycles.
Vendor Management: Own the operational relationships with our MSSP and tooling vendors, holding them accountable to strict SLAs and KPIs.
About you
You are a technical leader who can speak the language of the executive and the engineer. You have "been there, done that" when it comes to major incident response and you remain calm under pressure.
Experience: proven track record in managing a SOC or Security Operations function in a complex, hybrid enterprise environment.
Framework Fluency: Deep practical knowledge of NIST CSF v2.0, MITRE ATT&CK/D3FEND, and the ACSC Essential 8. You know how to map these frameworks to actual technical controls.
Technical Authority: While you may not be hands-on-keyboard every day, you possess the technical depth to challenge analysts, validate SIEM logic, and oversee vulnerability management strategies.
Strategic Mindset: You understand that security acts as a guardrail for innovation, not a roadblock. You can articulate risk in business terms.
The Opportunity
Influence: You will play a central role in a high-profile digital transformation, directly shaping how a major university defends its intellectual property.
Autonomy: This is a leadership role with significant scope to build and shape the operational team and tooling strategy.
Lifestyle: Join a forward-thinking technology division rooted in the unique lifestyle benefits of the New England region, with flexible working arrangements supporting a healthy work-life balance.
About the Faculty/Group
Technology and Digital Services provide information and digital systems and services to the whole of UNE to support all IT activities within UNE. It provides knowledge and leadership to support the academic, research and service activities of the University by deploying technology services, either centrally or dispersed, across the University. The Directorate works closely with the university community to understand and support their needs in meeting the university's strategic objectives. Further information can be found on the UNE website:
About Armidale
Armidale is an attractive and vibrant city that combines all the features of a bustling regional town centre with the tranquility of rural living. It boasts gourmet restaurants and cafes, boutique shopping, quality schools and sporting facilities. Surrounded by mountain gorges, waterfalls and national parks, Armidale's natural beauty and distinct seasons make it an ideal place to live and thrive. To find out more, visit
Enquiries and additional information
To discuss this role please contact Dan Dooner, Deputy CISO, phone:, email:
Closing Date: Midnight, Sunday 22 February 2026
Reference No: 225192
Please visit for further information about this position and other career opportunities at UNE.
To Apply
Submit your application through and refer to vacancy ref
Your application should be comprised of:
Covering letter.
Responses to selection criteria (Hiring Manager to consider whether applicant addresses all selection criteria or addresses only a select number of key criteria);
Current CV.
Commitment to Inclusion and Diversity
UNE is committed to building a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, mature age workers and LGBTQIA+ people.
About Our Process
At UNE, we are committed to employing individuals who meet the requirements of this role and align with our values. All applicants will be contacted and advised of an outcome. The successful candidate will be required to undertake pre-employment checks prior to commencing in this role as indicated in the position statement. Please visit our Privacy Statement to understand how your information is collected, stored, accessed and used.
National Police Check
If you are the successful candidate for this role you will be required to provide UNE with a National Police Check prior to your commencement. Please note that people with criminal records are NOT automatically barred from applying for this position (unless there is a particular requirement under law).