Lead, Business Continuity

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• Flexible location based at Melbourne, Burwood or Geelong Campus + hybrid work arrangements
• Full-time and ongoing – commencement from 6 October 2025

About the role

The Lead, Business Continuity will provide strategic coordination, expert advice, and operational leadership for the University's Business Continuity Policy, frameworks and operations to ensure organisational resilience and the continuity of critical services during adverse events. The role is accountable for developing and maintaining risk-based business continuity plans, and supporting the Critical Incident Management Team, Emergency Management Committee, emergency response groups, and security operations teams across all campuses and satellite facilities. The position exercises considerable independence and judgement in managing complex issues, ensuring alignment with legislative requirements, industry standards, and best practice.

The Lead, Business Continuity will build and maintain effective relationships with senior stakeholders across academic and professional portfolios, providing authoritative guidance to ensure local plans and responses are fit for purpose and aligned with institutional frameworks. The role also involves leading consultation and collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups to embed a culture of preparedness and promote shared responsibility for continuity planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the University's Business Continuity Management Program, including refining program scope, strategic objectives, communication strategies, training frameworks, and performance metrics, in alignment with Deakin's Business Continuity Policy and relevant standards (e.g. ISO 22301, AS 3745).
• Provide high-level coordination and strategic support to the Crisis Incident Management Team during critical incidents and emergencies impacting the welfare of staff, students, or core business operations, ensuring alignment with the University's Crisis Management, Business Continuity, and Disaster Recovery Plans.
• Oversee the review, validation, and testing of University and local area Business Continuity Plans, partnering with business unit leaders to ensure continuity plans are current, operationally relevant, and responsive to identified risks.
• Conduct enterprise-wide BIAs to assess key functions, identify interdependencies, and improve Business Continuity Plans and resilience strategies. Analyse challenges and create solutions that convert strategic risks into actionable plans, aligning with Deakin's priorities and regulations.
• Collaborate with Infrastructure and Digital teams and other technology stakeholders to maintain, review, and test Disaster Recovery Plans (DRPs) for core infrastructure, ensuring technological resilience supports business continuity objectives, including engaging with stakeholders across academic and professional portfolios to tailor services based on business needs and feedback to enhance service excellence and continuity preparedness.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualifications and proven experience in leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of enterprise-wide business continuity frameworks, aligned with recognised standards (e.g. ISO 22301), within a complex and highly regulated organisation.
• Demonstrated capability to lead institutional responses to crises and high-risk incidents, including the coordination of Crisis Management Teams and the integration of Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans to ensure organisational resilience.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to conduct business impact assessments, translate complex risk data into actionable insights, and develop practical solutions that support continuity planning and risk mitigation.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with a track record of building trusted relationships across academic and professional groups to embed a culture of preparedness and align continuity planning with business needs.
• High-level written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing reports, briefings, and policy documents for executive leadership and governance bodies, and the ability to influence organisational change through consultation and collaboration.

How to apply

Here's how to apply:

Only people with the right to work in Australia may apply for this position.

Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience by clicking the 'Apply' button.

For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Briony Lewis (Executive Director, Assurance) on briony.lewis@deakin.edu.au

For a copy of the position description, please see below:

Lead Business Continuity_HEW 9.pdf

Application deadline

Applications close on Thursday, 11 September 2025 at 11:55pm.

Benefits

Benefits for working with us: Deakin offers a lifestyle with on-site facilities, flexible working arrangements, generous leave entitlements including extended parental leave, and staff discounts. Health and wellbeing services, ongoing professional development opportunities, and an inclusive culture support career growth, whether on campus or remotely.

About Deakin

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact, committed to excellence in education, research and innovation, and positive community contributions.

We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientations, and genders.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management, Finance, and Legal

Industries

• Higher Education

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