CAPE Operations Lead

• Full time, Fixed Term until 2032, Located at Camperdown Campus

• Play a key leadership role in establishing Australia's newest ARC Centre of Excellence

• Offering a competitive remuneration package including 17% superannuation along with a comprehensive range of employee benefits

About the opportunity

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Advanced Peptide and Protein Engineering (CAPE) is a nationally significant research initiative that will transform the engineering and translation of peptides and proteins, molecules that are fundamental to all life on Earth, for human and planetary benefit.

Working in close partnership with the Centre Director Professor Richard Payne, and Deputy Director Professor Kate Jolliffe, the CAPE Operations Lead will play a critical role in establishing and driving the operational success of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Advanced Peptide and Protein Engineering (CAPE).

As a key member of the Centre's leadership team, you will lead the development and implementation of governance, operational and strategic initiatives that support CAPE's ambitious research and translation agenda. Bringing together world-leading researchers, industry partners and emerging technologies, CAPE will harness Australia's unique scientific strengths to discover and engineer novel molecules, develop innovative "new-to-nature" peptide and protein structures, and pioneer sustainable production technologies. The Operations Lead will work across a national network of stakeholders to support impactful outcomes in agriculture, conservation and biotechnology, while enabling the Centre's outreach, education and engagement activities that will inspire the next generation of scientific innovators.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• lead the operational planning and delivery of CAPE's strategic objectives

• manage Centre governance, reporting and compliance requirements

• coordinate activities across partner institutions and stakeholder groups

• oversee financial, administrative and operational processes

• support the delivery of outreach, engagement and impact initiatives

• provide high-level advice and support to the Centre Director and leadership team

About you

• tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience

• demonstrated experience managing a large research centre

• demonstrated understanding of the Australian research funding landscape, including ARC funding and reporting requirements

• experience supporting governance, financial management, compliance and stakeholder engagement in a complex research environment

• previous experience working within an ARC Centre of Excellence or a similar environment (desirable)

To keep our community safe, please be aware of our COVID safety precautions which form our conditions of entry for all staff, students and visitors coming to campus.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply.

Pre-employment checks and declarations 

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University.  Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement 

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion. 

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.  

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard.  Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Rebecca Astar or Cherie Goodwin, Recruitment Operations by email to [email protected]

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Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Friday 18 September 2026 11:59 PM