Director, Performance and Assurance

• Full time, 5-year fixed term senior leadership appointment within University Infrastructure

• Lead the governance, performance and assurance functions that enable delivery of the University's infrastructure ambitions while building capability and operational excellence

• Competitive remuneration package including 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The University of Sydney is seeking an accomplished executive leader to join the University Infrastructure division as Director, Performance and Assurance. Reporting to the Chief University Infrastructure Officer (CUIO), this role leads the operating backbone of University Infrastructure, ensuring the function is safe, compliant, commercially sound and operationally disciplined to enable performance across the team.

The Director leads the enterprise operating system for University Infrastructure, providing accountability for policy, governance, risk and assurance, commercial frameworks, workforce operations, and data and reporting. The role ensures the frameworks, controls and systems that underpin infrastructure management are effective, practical and aligned to University requirements.

Focused on operational integrity, assurance and continuous improvement, the Director translates University policy and governance settings into deliverable operating frameworks that enable effective estate lifecycle management and sustainable performance.

The role drives strong governance, commercial discipline, workforce capability and data-informed decision-making across the division, fostering a culture of accountability, service excellence and continuous improvement.

About the role (skills, capabilities and experience)

The Director, Performance and Assurance provides operational leadership across a multidisciplinary division responsible for governance, compliance, commercial management, workforce operations, reporting, data management and enterprise performance.

As a trusted adviser to the CUIO, the Director establishes and oversees the frameworks, controls, systems and operating disciplines that support infrastructure delivery and asset management across the University. The role provides expert leadership in governance, compliance, performance, policy, risk management and continuous improvement, ensuring operational integrity and organisational maturity across the portfolio.

Leading a team of specialist professionals, the Director is accountable for:

• Enterprise Program Management Office: Leading enterprise governance frameworks, standards and controls across the asset lifecycle including project controls, performance reporting, stage-gate reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Compliance, Risk and Assurance: Leading the compliance, risk and assurance framework, including regulatory, WHS and environmental obligations, risk-based assurance, compliance reviews and corrective actions.

• Commercial and Contract Management: Leading commercial and procurement governance, strategic sourcing, supplier and contract management, ensuring probity, ethical practice, compliance and value for money.

• Business Intelligence: Leading the University Infrastructure data service to deliver trusted data, executive reporting and business intelligence capabilities, enabling data-driven decision making through Power BI, M365, AI and automation.

• Space Data Management: Managing enterprise-wide spatial data as a governed digital asset, supporting teaching, research and workplace decision-making, and enabling emerging capabilities including digital twin and predictive analytics.

• Workforce Operations: Overseeing workforce planning and people operations, ensuring effective recruitment, onboarding, compliance and reporting processes while fostering a safe, efficient and high-performing workforce culture.

The role is responsible for the property and infrastructure-related policies, standards and frameworks, leading the full policy lifecycle from development and consultation through governance, implementation and continuous improvement. It translates University settings into practical requirements, controls and procedures that are deliverable in practice, aligned to risk appetite, and are cost-aware and operationally feasible.

Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Director balances risk, compliance, cost, deliverability and operational requirements across complex, high-value and high-risk infrastructure environments. The position is focused on strengthening operational capability, assurance and operational excellence to facilitate performance and service outcomes.

The role acts as the primary interface with Central Operations Services and works closely with the University Infrastructure Executive Leadership Team, Finance, Procurement, HR, Legal, Risk and ICT, as well as external consultants, contractors, auditors and regulators.

About You

You will bring tertiary qualifications in project management, commercial management, procurement, quantity surveying or an MBA, or an equivalent combination of training and experience, together with senior experience in infrastructure, operations, governance, risk or commercial fields within large and complex organisations.

Applicants must have:

• a strong track record leading complex operational environments and multidisciplinary teams

• proven experience leading policy development and governance frameworks, including end-to-end lifecycle ownership

• a deep understanding of assurance, compliance and control environments in complex organisations

• sound commercial acumen spanning contract governance, procurement and supplier management

• experience establishing or overseeing enterprise reporting, data and systems environments

• experience leading operational improvement initiatives and establishing frameworks, services and processes that enhance organisational performance and operational effectiveness 

• strong executive communication and advisory capability

A strong working understanding of infrastructure, construction, capital works or similarly complex operational environments will be highly regarded.

Key benefits 

• a University contribution of 17% of your base salary to your superannuation fund 

• tax-efficient salary packaging options for cars, laptops, and additional contributions to your superannuation fund 

• generous relocation allowance if moving from interstate or overseas 

• access to fitness passport, as well as discounted rates on university sports and fitness centers 

• gain the recognition of working in a leading University. 

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Term and remuneration

The successful candidate will be offered a 5-year fixed term position on a full-time basis, with the possibility for renewal subject to performance and funding agreement. The appointment is subject to completion of a satisfactory probation period for new appointees.

Pre-employment checks

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.

Other

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

To apply, please submit a cover letter and CV by Friday 28th August to [email protected] or call Clive Brown (0424 177 331) or Fiona Ralph (0412 350 843) for a confidential discussion.

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.

© The University of Sydney

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

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Applications Close

Friday 28 August 2026 11:59 PM