Chief Operating Officer

• Full-time, 5-Year Fixed Term position (Project Appointment)

• Salary HEW 10A ($152,131 p.a.) + 17% Superannuation and Flexible Working Arrangements

• Based at the Melbourne CBD campus, but may be required to work and/or be based at other campuses of the University

Join RMIT's IC-SensE Hub and help shape the future of intelligent environmental technologies.

About the Role

We are seeking an exceptional and experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the operational and strategic management of the ARC Research Hub for Intelligent Contaminant-Sensing in Complex Environments (IC-SensE), a world-class collaborative research initiative driving the next generation of intelligent environmental monitoring.

As the most senior operations and business manager within the Hub, the COO will play a pivotal role in achieving the Hub's ambitious objectives. Working closely with the Hub Director, Executive Committee, and Board, you will oversee operations, strategy, planning, finance, partnerships, and governance to ensure seamless delivery of the Hub's research and translational outcomes.

This role is ideal for a strategic, and collaborative leader who thrives at the intersection of research, innovation, and industry engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across all Hub activities.

• Drive planning, business development, and strategic initiatives to advance the Hub's national and international reputation.

• Liaise with industry and university stakeholders, ensuring effective management of agreements, project deliverables, reporting, and compliance.

• Lead continuous improvement in business operations, finance, governance, and resource management.

• Support research excellence by coordinating key activities such as workshops, translation initiatives, and large-scale grant applications.

• Build and sustain strong stakeholder relationships with government, academia, and industry partners.

• Contribute to the Hub's positioning as a global leader in intelligent sensing technologies for real-time contaminant detection and environmental protection.

To succeed in this role, you will bring a blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and leadership acumen. You will have:

• Extensive experience in a tertiary research or large-scale research management environment.

• Strong track record in strategic and operational management, including finance, contracts, governance, and risk management.

• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-institutional programs and deliver outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups.

• Exceptional project management and leadership skills, with the ability to manage teams, budgets, and deliverables in a fast-paced environment.

• Highly developed relationship and stakeholder management skills, with the capacity to influence at senior levels across academia, government, and industry.

• Demonstrated experience in business development, event management, and facilitating large research grants.

• An understanding of intellectual property, research translation, and the technology innovation landscape.

• Commitment to RMIT's values of Inclusion, Imagination, Integrity, Courage, Passion, and Impact.

Qualifications:

A postgraduate qualification and/or extensive experience in senior operational management in a large, complex organisation.

Please refer to the Position Description for further key selection criteria.

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

About the RMIT STEM College

STEM College holds a leading position and expertise in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and health (STEM) fields. We are uniquely positioned to influence and partner with industries.

STEM College is a community of exceptional STEM researchers, teachers, inventors, designers and game-changers, supported by talented professional staff. We offer higher education programs across all STEM disciplines at the Bachelor, Master and PhD levels, and ensure our students experience an education that is work-aligned and life-changing.

The College is renowned for its exemplary research in many STEM areas including advanced manufacturing and design; computing technologies; health innovation and translational medicine; nano materials and devices; and sustainable systems. Our brilliant researchers attract funding from government and industry sources.

Industry is at the heart of what we do. It ensures our research has real world impact and our students are truly work-ready. Under the leadership of DVC STEM College & Vice President, Digital Innovation, we have established new hubs of industry-connected digital innovation and endeavour and are engaging with global STEM organisations at scale.

Our diversity and shared values empower our work, and we are proud of the College's inclusive, caring culture. We offer a safe, dynamic work environment, and support every member of our community of achieve their potential. The College appointed Victoria's first ever Dean of STEM, Diversity & Inclusion in 2020, and this role drives gender equity, diversity and inclusion strategies across the College.

STEM College employs 1,000 staff who deliver onshore and offshore programs to approximately 20,000 students.

We are here to positively impact the world and create the next generation of STEM leaders.

ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub - IC-SensE

ARC Research Hub for Intelligent Contaminant-Sensing in complex Environments (IC-SensE Hub). The Hub aims to transform Australia's environmental monitoring into a user-responsive industry spanning key users in agriculture, water and built environments. The Hub will achieve this transformation by delivering end-user centric, miniaturised sensing technologies integrated with AI for real-time assessment of chemical/biological contaminants in air, water and soil while predicting potential hazards before they occur. Expected outcomes include new autonomous sensing and forecasting capabilities allowing industries to monitor, analyse and respond to contaminants. This should provide a dramatic increase in industrial productivity, lower emissions and enhanced environmental public health opening new markets and building a skilled workforce.

To Apply 

Please submit your CV and covering letter addressing your suitability for this position by clicking on the 'Apply' link at the top of this page.

For further information about this position, please see the Position Description hyperlinked below or contact Professor Sumeet Walia via email

For further information regarding recruitment processes, please contact Jennifer Pham, Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor via email at Please do not share your application to this email address.   

Position Description – Chief Operating Officer – ARC Research Hub (IC-SensE)

Please note, if you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click 'apply' and you will be redirected to RMIT's Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page. Due to recent upgrades, position description links may not work on LinkedIn advertisements.  

RMIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a child safe organisation. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community. 

At RMIT, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively support and encourage people with disability to apply to RMIT (including alternate formats of application forms). To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact Dani, via or visit our Careers page for more contact information -

We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.