Lead, Student Load Optimisation

• Based at our Melbourne, Burwood Campus/ Geelong, Waurn Ponds Campus
• Full-time and fixed term (2 years)
• HEW 9 $138,102 - $146, % Superannuation (pro rata, part time)

Who are we?

Deakin is a cutting-edge public university in Victoria, revolutionising education with 61,000 students across seven campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, Deakin University Lancaster University Indonesia (DLI), GIFT City, India and our dynamic online Campus. We're proud to be a progressive and open-minded university, delivering the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and consistently ranked in the top 1% of the world's universities.

About the role

The Lead, Student Load Optimisation plays a pivotal role in processing and analysing data and information from business, internal systems and external sources and transforming this data into actionable insights that inform business decisions to improve university performance. This position will contribute to ensuring that the university effectively manages student load and academic resources, supports strategic enrolment goals, and enhances overall institutional efficiency. The Lead will work closely with various departments to develop data-driven insights and strategies that align with the university's academic and financial objectives.

As a Lead, you will:

• Deliver effective and efficient high-quality reports, insights and briefing papers on the commencing student journey, including areas such as student admissions and enrolments, how it impacts commencing and total load and revenue outcomes to the university's Executive, and university groups.
• Leverage student and financial information, insight and analysis with an understanding and appreciation of the dynamic within the higher education environment, economic context and competitive landscape to assist in implementation of strategic initiatives.
• Where required, integrate multiple data sources to seek trends and analyse issues from diverse perspectives and draw sound inferences and specific challenges from information available.
• Collaborate closely with the key stakeholders and teams to achieve the forecast, targets, dashboards and insights.
• Consult a diverse range of stakeholders and collaborate with key stakeholders to facilitate new reporting metrics and dashboards.
• Stay current with external sources, identify underlying trends and use a range of references and professional networks to conduct specific research ensuring sustainable and inclusive results.

To be successful, you'll have:

• Postgraduate qualifications and extensive relevant experience; or
• Extensive experience and management expertise; or
• An equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training in quantitative analysis, business or equivalent.
• Proficiency in statistical and analytical software and data modelling.
• Extensive experience identifying client needs and developing analysis briefs.
• Extensive experience analysing data, developing reports and providing insights.
• Experience within a complex financial and resource management environment.
• Knowledge of the Australian Higher Education sector and an understanding of academic and administrative practices in a university.

Here's how to apply:

Please submit your updated resume along with a brief cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experience by clicking the 'Apply' button.

For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Bhavika Patel (Senior Manager, Student Load Optimisation) via email at

For a copy of the position description, please see below:

PD- Lead, Student Load

Applications for this position close on 17th October 2025.

Are You Ready?

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community.

We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success.

We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.