Business Development Advisor

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated and strategic Business Development Advisor (BDA) to join our Business Growth Services (BGS) team within the Innovation and Enterprise division. The BDA plays a key role in driving collaboration across research, development, and enterprise activities, with a focus on creating real-world impact and commercial outcomes. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Operations, BGS, and working closely with academic Schools and allied research entities, this role supports strategic growth through effective engagement with industry, government, and community partners.

Key responsibilities include providing market and sector insights, supporting the development of account strategies, and delivering targeted engagement activities. The BDA also co-designs marketing plans to promote the University's capabilities and leads initiatives such as workshops and briefings to align efforts with industry needs. Additionally, the BDA helps identify and pursue research funding and partnership opportunities, supporting deal closure and managing key aspects of the sales cycle, including pipeline tracking and reporting. This is a dynamic role suited to someone with strong communication skills, a strategic mindset, and the ability to work across teams to deliver results. 

The BGS team are looking for two Business Development Advisors to work across different internal stakeholders. 

One role will work with the School of Engineering (SoE) and School of Science, Computing and Emerging Technology (SoSCET). 

The second role will work with the School of Health Sciences (SoHS) and School of Design and Architecture (SODA).

Based on your experience please outline in your application which Schools, you feel your experience would be better suited for. 

About You

To be suitable for this role you will need to have experience in the below key accountabilities:

• Demonstrated experience and understanding of business development within a university or research-intensive environment, particularly in School-based disciplines.
• Strong knowledge of current trends, challenges, and opportunities in higher education and research innovation, nationally and preferably internationally.
• Demonstrated project management capabilities, including CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) for customer engagement planning, execution, and reporting.
• Advanced critical thinking and active listening skills to identify and address issues, influence stakeholders, and support opportunity development.

Further information about this role can be found in the attached position description.

Qualifications

An equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training

About Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne's strategy draws upon our understanding of future challenges. We choose to build Swinburne as the prototype of a new and different university – one that is truly of Technology, of Innovation and of Entrepreneurship. We are committed to a differentiated university proposition in education and research.

What We Offer You

• Work your way with flexible working arrangements, including hybrid options and generous parental leave to support a balanced lifestyle.
• Exclusive staff discounts, including discounted Medibank health insurance, 50% off Swinburne courses and other partner offers.
• Swinburne offers 17% super and salary packaging options, including car leasing and extra super contributions.

Want to learn more? Head over to our benefits page

To Apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter addressing your suitability for this position.  

To review the Position Description and to apply, please scroll down to the bottom of the page. 

If you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click 'apply' and you will be redirected to Swinburne's Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page.

Please Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children Check.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application, please contact the Swinburne Talent Acquisition Team on .

Applications Close: Wednesday 29th October 2025, 11pm AEST

Swinburne offers flexible working options contained in our leave and parenting/carer policies to support work-life balance.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Swinburne has become a world-class university, driving social and economic impacts through science, technology, and innovation. As a dual-sector university, our vision is for people and technology working together to build a better world.

Central to our vision is our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer focused on attracting, retaining, and developing great talent. We work to remove barriers related to gender identity, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.

We strongly encourage applicants from diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our Moondani Toombadool Centre leads our Indigenous education and culture at Swinburne, guided by community wisdom and leadership.

We support applicants with disabilities. Adjustments can be requested at any time during the recruitment process. For Reasonable Adjustment requests, including accessible formats for the PD, application form or any other document, please contact at or call

Please note the above number and DCR email address are for disability or reasonable adjustments queries only. General enquires about the role can be sent to (general enquires will not be answered by phone).

Victoria's Commitment to Action: Improving international student employment outcomes.

As a signatory to Victoria's Commitment to Action, Swinburne seeks to remove barriers to international graduate employment. We welcome and encourage applications from international graduates.  

As a Circle Back Initiative Employer, we commit to responding to every applicant.