Centre Manager, Centre for Materials Science

The Centre Manager provides leadership and
management of the Centre’s core operational
activities, working closely with the Director and
other senior leaders to ensure the efficient and
effective delivery of Centre’s vision and
objectives. Professor Kathryn Fairfull-Smith
and Distinguished Professor Dmitri Golberg are
Co-Directors of the QUT Centre for Materials
Science.

The Centre Manager will lead and have
responsibility for managing the operation of the
Centre, delivery of administrative services,
project delivery support and all operational
matters. The position has operational
responsibility for the Centre’s budget (including

operating and discretionary budgets) and
collaborates with share services staff across
the Faculty and University to execute the
effective operations of the centre.

The Centre Manager is one of a team of
Managers deployed to support Centre
Directors with the management of Faculty’s
research centres.

As the senior administrative lead within the
Centre this position is required to engage on
the Centre’s behalf with Office of Research
Services, Administrative Division, HR and other
areas of the University as required. The
position will participate in cross-functional
project teams.

This position reports to the Centre Director for
supervision, workload management and for
Performance Planning and Review (PPR).

**Key responsibilities include**:

- Lead the Centre’s administrative staff to

ensure that professional services operate
efficiently and effectively in support of the
Centre’s goals and objectives.
- In partnership with other members of the

University, develop a system which
captures, manages and maintains
appropriate information to ensure
recognition of the contribution made by the
Centre and other internal partners in the
development and delivery of strategic
research outputs and outcomes as
articulated in Blueprint and the Centre’s
KPIs.
- Provision of advice and guidance in relation

to compliance with internal and external
codes, policies, and regulations and the
meeting of internal and external reporting
obligations.
- Provide leadership and coordinate Centre

activities in relation to the development and
management of research grant funding,
consultancies and commercial project and
activities.
- Assist with the development of appropriate

agreements, contracts, and the delivery of
obligations in relation to research and
consulting activities.
- Provide positive leadership to ensure

compliance with University governance,
policies, and procedures in the timely
delivery of high quality client services. In
providing this leadership, the position will
manage the implementation and continuous
improvement of systems and processes in
the provision of services, that promote
efficiency and cost-effectiveness and which
meet the strategic direction of the faculty
and university.
- Work collaboratively with other senior

professional staff in providing advice on
centre operations in delivering outcomes
against key performance targets.
- Prepare reports for planning, assessment

and benchmarking of the Centre’s internal
and external performance, and for other
reporting purposes as required.
- Be responsible for effective leadership and

supervision of professional staff, ensuring
staff are appropriately trained, recruited and
on-boarded.
- Research, write and edit correspondence,

presentations, reports and committee
submissions on behalf of and/or in
conjunction with the Centre Director.
- Provide advice on policy and procedure to

the Centre Director in order to facilitate the
Centre Director’s decision making.
- Coordinate communication to Centre

academic staff and students as required.
- Compliance with health and safety policies,

procedures, hazard reporting and safe work
practices.

To ensure job flexibility the successful
- appointee may be required to:
- perform any other duties as nominated by

the University consistent with the relevant
classification descriptors detailed in the
Enterprise Agreement. Staff undertaking
any new duties will receive training;
- participate in job rotation or multiskilling in

consultation with their supervisor;
- work across campuses

**Type of appointment**
This appointment will be offered on a fixed
- term, full-time basis for three (3) years.

**Location**
Gardens Point campus.

Selection Criteria
1. Education, training and/or relevant

experience equivalent to completion of
postgraduate qualifications with extensive
relevant experience. Although not
essential, progress towards a postgraduate
degree in a STEMM discipline, with
extensive relevant experience may be
advantageous.

2. Demonstrated ability to display initiative,
critically evaluate systems and processes,
and contribute new ideas to achieve
ongoing improvements at a strategic and
operational level.

3. Demonstrated ability to build a team
environment and provide positive
leadership to staff, and connect and
collaborate with varied groups across an
organ