Job Description

• Employment Type: full time continuing role
• Starting Salary $148012-157016 plus generous superannuation and leave loading
• Location: Kensington campus in NSW (Hybrid Flexible Working) 2-3 days in the office

About UNSW:

UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. We’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It’s the reason we’re one of the top 50 universities in the world and a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.

The Research Data Systems Capability Lead is responsible for shaping, delivering and continuously improving UNSW’s enterprise research data platforms and services.

This role sits at the intersection of research and technology, ensuring data capabilities align to the research lifecycle while being practical, scalable and fit-for-purpose. It requires strong stakeholder engagement to bring together researchers, IT and governance functions, translating complex needs into implementable outcomes.

A key focus of the role is supporting the in-flight Research Data Experience (RDE) program, including translating researcher needs into solutions, running pilots and proofs-of-concept, and progressing capabilities into scalable, production-ready services.

The role balances innovation and experimentation with secure, sustainable and well-governed technology practices, aligning with UNSW’s strategic focus on enabling research excellence through responsible digital capabilities.

What you’ll focus on

• Lead the design, delivery and continuous improvement of research data platforms and services
• Work across researchers, IT and governance to translate needs into deliverable outcomes
• Drive pilots, proofs-of-concept and iterative delivery as part of the RDE program
• Shape priorities and outcomes, progressing capabilities from early experimentation to scalable services
• Facilitate alignment across stakeholders to navigate complexity and enable decision-making
• Ensure solutions are usable, compliant, and sustainable, leveraging automation and emerging capabilities (including AI) to improve researcher experience and reduce administrative burden

For a full outline of responsibilities and expectations, please refer to the Position Description.

About You

Success in this role comes from your ability to work across research and technology, building trusted relationships and bringing diverse stakeholders together to deliver practical outcomes.

You have strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, a solid understanding of the research lifecycle, and the ability to translate needs into clear, implementable solutions.

You take a delivery-focused approach and apply sound judgement to balance innovation with secure, sustainable and scalable solutions, seeing technology as an enabler of research outcomes, and are comfortable navigating both research and technology environments, aligning different ways of working to deliver outcomes that are safe, compliant and aligned with UNSW’s strategic direction.

Skills and Experience (Essential)

• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing capability, with the ability to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder environments and align competing priorities, perspectives and objectives to achieve outcomes
• Proven ability to bridge research and technology domains, translating researcher needs into implementable solutions and articulating technical concepts back to non-technical stakeholders
• Experience shaping and managing platforms or services, including setting priorities, defining outcomes, and driving delivery through iterative improvement
• Strong understanding of the research lifecycle and how data platforms support data capture, management, analysis, sharing and reuse
• Strong judgement and ability to operate effectively in complex environments, managing ambiguity, competing priorities and driving outcomes

B enefits and Culture

• Flexible Working Options (work from home, flexible hours etc)
• Career development opportunities
• 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments
• Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness)

For further details on the benefits, please visit https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/lifestyle-benefits

How to Apply: please apply through the portal, we would like you to submit a full application including resume and addressing the skills essential section

Applications close: Monday 8th of June at 11.30pm

Pre-Employment Checks
Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.

These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:-

• National and International Criminal history checks
• Entitlement to work and ID checks
• Working With Children Checks
• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
• Verification of relevant qualifications
• Verification of relevant professional membership
• Employment history and reference checks
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks.
• Medical Checks and Assessments

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

Get in Touch:

Jen MacLachlan

j.maclachlan@unsw.edu.au

Talent Acquisition Partner – UNSW IT

Please apply through the application portal and not via the contact above.

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.