This is a full time continuing position with salary in the range $138,006 - $145,943 (HEW 9), plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%.
Empower UQ's world class research community by leading a high performing post award team through peak submission cycles, balancing long term strategic transformation with the daily operational excellence needed to streamline complex grant frameworks and hit high stakes deadlines.
Bring your resilience and project management expertise to a dynamic, rapid response setting, driving operational excellence and continuous improvement to deliver customer focused service solutions across the research lifecycle.
Based at our conveniently located St Lucia Campus
The Senior Manager (Awards) provides leadership to multiple teams, ensuring the delivery of high quality post-award research management services to the UQ research community. This role oversees all aspects of the post-award lifecycle of research projects, including the preparation, review, and execution of grant agreements, ensuring compliance with institutional and funding provider policies.
Reporting to the Associate Director (Awards), you will promote a culture of continuous improvement, develop robust stakeholder networks, and collaborate across the R&I portfolio to ensure the delivery of timely, customer-focused services.
Key responsibilities will include:
Team Leadership & Development
Lead, mentor, and coach skilled teams of Awards staff, setting direction and ensuring appropriate professional development opportunities.
Complex Case & Contract Management
Manage complex, large scale post-award matters and provide authoritative advice on intricate research grant contractual arrangements.
Continuous Operational Improvement
Foster a culture of continuous improvement by regularly reviewing business practices and processes to enhance service delivery and resource allocation.
Strategic Stakeholder Engagement
Build and sustain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, providing high level strategic advice to senior executives.
You possess the unique ability to differentiate between day to day management and the open minded, strategic leadership necessary to empower a high performing team within an intense, world class institution. You will view pressure as an opportunity for excellence-driving the quality and compliance of the Research Office while seamlessly sharing knowledge and communicating with experts across diverse academic fields to help solve complex problems.
Postgraduate qualifications, or equivalent extensive experience, in research administration, preferably within a large and complex higher education setting.
Senior level expertise in post-award research grant management, contract execution, and compliance frameworks, with a proven track record managing major health and medical funding streams (e.g., NHMRC, MRFF, and clinical trials).
Experience in the health, medical, or clinical research sector, with an understanding of the regulatory and compliance environment in which health and medical research operates.
Proven ability as a strategic thinker with the capacity to quickly analyse complex concepts, exercise sound judgment, and deliver practical solutions under pressure with concurrent deadlines.
Demonstrated experience managing and developing teams within a customer focused service delivery environment, with a track record of driving continuous improvement.
Exceptional interpersonal skills with the evidenced ability to formulate policy, deliver strategic advice to senior executives, and maintain effective relationships across diverse functional areas.
Pre-employment checks may include verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications and criminal history checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.
You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.
As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, working together to create a better world. Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available.
Enjoy up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary care leave, 17% super, 17.5% leave loading, flexible and hybrid working options, health and wellbeing programs, a heavily discounted Study for Staff program, on‑campus childcare, affordable parking, and salary packaging.
All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section
Resume
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Kirsten at k.lawrie@uq.edu.au For application queries, please contact talent@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.
Applications close Thursday 25 June 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-65034).
*Please note shortlisting and interviews may be held prior to the date above and UQ reserves the right to close the recruitment process early. You are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible
We are dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ, and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criterion but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We are also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623.
