Director, Partnerships

Job Reference:

Full-time Continuing | Curtin Bentley Campus (Boorloo, Perth)
Strategic | Values-Driven | Industry-Connected | Purpose-Led

Curtin University is a global leader in research, education, and engagement. As part of our 2030 vision, the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) is seeking a forward-thinking and deeply connected Director of Partnerships to lead the development of transformative collaborations across industry, community, government, and academia.

This is a unique, build-from-scratch opportunity to lead the creation of a robust, values-aligned partnership ecosystem. You will be instrumental in enabling student success, driving social impact, and enhancing Curtin's reputation as a global leader in practice-based, purpose-driven education.

The Role: Enabling Growth, Connection, and Impact
Connection with industry and community is at the heart of our approach to education. We are committed to ensuring students at all degree levels benefit from authentic, practice-based learning.

As the Director of Partnerships, you will be a key member of the Faculty's Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the Pro Vice-Chancellor. In your role, you will lead and cultivate partnerships that create opportunities for work-integrated learning, applied projects, and co-designed initiatives that enhance student employability, build community impact, and strengthen our reputation as a leader in practice-based education.

As Director, you will:

• Develop and lead a faculty-wide engagement strategy that aligns with FBL's mission and Curtin's broader vision, supported by strong governance and a values-based partnership framework.
• Cultivate high-impact, purpose-driven partnerships across industry, government, NGOs, and community sectors that enhance teaching, enable applied research, and promote social good, justice, and inclusive growth.
• Drive opportunities for students through Work Integrated Learning (WIL), co-created education, and real-world projects that build employability and deliver community value.
• Collaborate with academic leaders and researchers to design initiatives, unlock external funding, and support research translation and innovation.
• Support the strategic development of the Industry & Community Hub by identifying aligned partners, improving engagement systems, and contributing to long-term sustainability.
• Champion a values-aligned, partnership-oriented culture that delivers measurable outcomes for students, staff, partners, and society.

Your Place in Our Ecosystem: The Industry & Community Hub
A cornerstone of this role is collaboration with our newly launched Industry & Community Hub - a central platform connecting students with impactful, real-world experiences. Through the Hub, students within FBL engage in WIL projects with community and industry clients as part of their business degree.

Although the Hub team is not under your direct management, your leadership will be key to its growth and success. You will:

• Expand the Hub's network of external partners, prioritising organisations that share our values and can offer accessible, high-quality experiences - especially for students from underrepresented, equity backgrounds.
• Help shape the Hub's long-term strategy, partner engagement model, and overarching narrative - ensuring alignment with Curtin Business School's brand and reputation.
• Provide expert input on operational systems and processes that improve engagement, project delivery, and relationship management.

What We're Looking For.
Strategic and Values-Led
You understand that great partnerships are not just transactions - they go beyond financial value and are long-term investments in shared purpose. You bring a strong appreciation for social impact, student equity, and public value, aligned with FBL's mission and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Industry and Community Connected
You offer well-established networks in sectors across government, NGOs, resources and/or community organisations. Whether or not your background is in higher education, you have an ability to translate external relationships into opportunities for students, staff, and research collaborations.

Embedded and Curious
This is not just an external-facing role. You are eager to understand and contribute to the internal culture and priorities of FBL. You will work collaboratively across portfolios - including with our Deans of Learning & Teaching, Research, and International - to improve student outcomes and support faculty-wide goals.

Innovative and Purpose-Driven
You thrive in a collaborative environment of co-creation and ambiguity. With curiosity, creativity, and courage, you will shape a new model of partnership engagement that advances equity, inclusion, responsible leadership, and sustainable development.

Lead with Purpose | Join our Team

Home to Curtin Business School (CBS) and Curtin Law School, FBL is deeply connected to industry and community. We partner with local, national and global organisations to enrich our student experience and deliver research with real-world impact. Our vision is to develop globally-minded, career-capable graduates and to advance responsible, evidence-based business and legal practices through innovation in education, research, and strategic engagement.

We stand for a leadership philosophy that goes beyond simply achieving goals. We believe in leadership that is creative, humble, and guided by both the head and the heart. We place a high value on leaders who are committed to transformational leadership, and who are driven to make a positive difference in the world. Our ideal leaders are those who are passionate about using their skills and experience to create lasting change in their communities and beyond.

Our work is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Learn more about our values and people at:

About Curtin University
We are an energetic, dedicated team of academics and professionals working together to provide global solutions through quality graduates and innovative research. Curtin is a welcoming space where integrity, respect for one another, courage, excellence, and impact are essential to everyday life. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA , parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information, please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page -

What We Offer You
Situated on Whadjuk Nyungar Country, our vibrant Bentley campus includes an art gallery, gym, childcare and medical centre, bus station, accessible parking and endless food options including a supermarket. Aside from the vibrant campus life, we offer more than just a job. Curtin offers a wide range of generous benefits, including additional leave, salary packaging, health and wellbeing services and an array of discounts for retail, travel and much more. For more information, check out our benefits page

For more reasons to work at Curtin, please visit

Join Us

If this sounds like your next role, please click APPLY NOW and provide the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and addressing the selection criteria for the role

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Postgraduate qualifications and extensive relevant experience or proven expertise in the management of significant human and material resources; or extensive relevant experience in the management of large scale and complex projects, or an equivalent combination of relevant work experience and/or education/training.
• Significant high-level creative, planning and management skills with the demonstrated ability to achieve business objectives, operating within complex organisational structures.
• Demonstrated experience in the development and ongoing nurturing of high-profile partnerships and stakeholder relations.
• Demonstrated high level interpersonal and oral communication skills with the ability to negotiate and liaise effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders using appropriate influencing styles to achieve outcomes.
• Demonstrated high level written communication skills with the ability to construct clear and concise and persuasive reports.
• Highly developed organisational skills with the ability to coordinate projects requiring the support and participation of many individuals from various levels and parts of an organisation, managing multiple and often competing tasks.
• Demonstrated critical analysis skills with the ability to exercise sound judgment in complex decision making.
• Demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in, the tertiary education sector (Desirable).

If you have any queries in relation to this opportunity or the application process, please contact Abby Fox at [email protected] or our careers team on [email protected].

Applications close: Sunday 20 July 2025

Disclaimer: Please note that there is no standardised time for the closing of adverts on the specified date. Therefore, we recommend submitting your application ahead of this deadline. Late applications will not be considered, and only successful candidates will be contacted.

Curtin reserves the right at its sole discretion to withdraw from the recruitment process, not to make an appointment, or to appoint by invitation, at any time. We reserve the right to remove the advert earlier than the date on the advert.

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