Partnership Officer

**Job no**: 534058

**Work type**: Full-time

**Location**: Geelong - City, Geelong - Waurn Ponds

**Categories**: Human / People Services, Student Services
- Based at our Geelong, Waterfront Campus
- Full-time and Fixed-term 31 December 2023
- HEW 7 $94,173 - $103,694 + 17% Superannuation

Founded in 1974, Deakin is a public university in Victoria with 61,000 students across five campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, and the online Campus. We are a progressive and open-minded university, with the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and consistently ranked in the top 1% of the world’s universities.

The Deakin Engagement and Access Program (DEAP) team believes that university should be an opportunity available to everyone. DEAP works with students to build aspiration and instil confidence to support them in decision-making about their future. DEAP works with schools and communities who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education, through the Federal Government’s Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) funding.

The primary purpose of the Partnership Officer position is to implement the Deakin Engagement and Access Program (DEAP) in collaboration with the University, partner schools and community organisations. DEAP's outreach activities break down common barriers to accessing education and encourages students to have a positive outlook on their future. All DEAP’s activities and workshops aim to support the development of students' self-confidence and self-efficacy, leaving them with a strong belief that they have control over their future.

The Partnership Officer provides support and advice to the Manager, Student Equity on matters relating to student equity, particularly with respect to school partners and local networks. The Partnership Officer will manage a portfolio of partnership schools across Melbourne’s western suburbs, with primary program delivery located at these schools and the Geelong campuses.

**Your key responsibilities will include**:

- Developing and delivering partnership activities for the purpose of encouraging the aspirations and building the capacity of students from low socioeconomic status (SES), regional, rural backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to access higher education in the communities that Deakin serves.
- Drawing on a diverse range of people, groups, and resources to identify new or improved opportunities, processes and ways of doing things to enhance the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy
- Distilling the core issues from complex information, drawing accurate conclusions and condensing complex information and next steps into simple concise terms that others can understand
- Establishing and demonstrating a high level of learning, energy and commitment and maintaining personal integrity and making decisions consistent with University values.
- Planning and prioritising work and critical activities appropriately and recognising barriers to achieving outcomes, finds effective ways to deal with them and evaluates progress
- Developing and implementing practical, accessible solutions based on student needs
- Building new and productive relationships with a diverse range of students and improving stakeholder knowledge of opportunities for collaboration and coordination to support access and participation in tertiary education for people from equity backgrounds.
- Communicating with confidence using examples and the most appropriate influencing technique for a given situation to increase understanding and support

**To be successful, you’ll have**:

- A Degree with subsequent relevant experience; or
- Extensive experience and specialist knowledge or broad knowledge in technical or administrative fields; or
- An equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training
- Experience in and understanding of school communities or other educational environments
- Project management expertise and a track record of delivering projects within specified timelines and budget.

**Applications for this position close on Sunday 19 February 2023.**
- Successful applicants will need to comply with vaccination mandates imposed by the relevant state/territory government. Applicants who attend third-party sites to undertake University activities will also be required to comply with any other directions or requirements in place at the third-party location._

**SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS**
- This position manages a portfolio of partnership schools across Victoria, therefore, requires regular travel within Victoria. This may occasionally include overnight stays.
- Drivers Licence
- Working with Children Check (refer to Recruitment Procedure)
- National Police Record Check (refer to Recruitment Procedure)

**Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience for this role.**

**Are You Ready?**

Deakin is a Victorian univ