School Manager - School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work

Company Description

Every institution values excellence. What matters most is why.

Griffith was created to be a different type of university. You’ll find we’re about leading research, academic excellence, and the transformative power of education. But what sets us apart is why those things matter and how you’ll achieve them.

Why? As Southeast Queensland prepares for the world stage with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Griffith University is investing in people who want to make a lasting impact - locally, nationally and globally. This is an exciting time to join Griffith and contribute to a University with strong ambitions for its people, students and communities.

Job Description

The  School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work  is a large, diverse and dynamic School, bringing together academic and professional staff across multiple disciplines and campuses. With strong connections to industry, professional bodies and community partners, we are focused on delivering outstanding education and research and creating meaningful impact for our students and the communities we serve.

If you enjoy solving complex problems and want a role where you can genuinely influence how a large and diverse School operates, this could be the opportunity for you.

As School Manager, no two days are quite the same. You might be partnering with the Head of School on strategic priorities, working through a complex workforce or resourcing challenge, leading a major improvement project, advising on an emerging operational issue, developing your professional staff team, or bringing people together from across the University to find a way forward.

As a key member of the School Executive Leadership Team, you will work closely with the Head of School and Deputy Heads of School, providing strategic and operational leadership and helping turn the School’s priorities into action. You will be a trusted advisor and influential partner, with the opportunity to shape decisions and how the School works.

Leading a talented professional staff team operating across three campuses, you will also play an important role in creating an engaged, responsive and high-performing environment that supports our teaching, research, staff and student communities.

In this influential role, you will:

- partner with the Head of School and senior leaders on strategic and operational planning, governance, budgeting, workforce planning and resource management
- provide trusted advice and practical solutions on complex operational and business matters
- lead, coach and develop professional staff and foster a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture
- lead business improvement, change initiatives and special projects, often involving complex issues and competing priorities
- contribute to academic workforce and workload planning, including sessional staffing and resource allocation
- build strong relationships across the School, Griffith Health and the broader University, connecting people and ideas to achieve outcomes
- represent and advocate for the School across University committees and initiatives
- identify opportunities to improve the way we work and support the School’s future growth and strategic priorities.

About you

You will be an experienced and adaptable leader who enjoys working in a complex environment where priorities can move quickly and relationships matter. You don’t need to have all the answers, but you will know how to ask the right questions, exercise sound judgement and work with others to move issues and opportunities forward.

You will bring relevant tertiary qualifications together with extensive management experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

You will also bring:

- strong strategic thinking and sound judgement, with the ability to move comfortably between big-picture priorities and operational detail
- an engaging and collaborative leadership style, with experience leading and developing high-performing teams
- excellent relationship-building skills and the confidence to work with senior leaders and stakeholders across a complex organisation
- strong communication skills and the ability to turn complex information into clear advice, recommendations and action
- experience leading projects, change or business improvement initiatives
- strong financial and resource management capability
- resilience, flexibility and curiosity, with an appetite for challenge and continuous improvement.

Most importantly, you will be energised by the opportunity to make a difference - bringing sound judgement, initiative and a genuine commitment to helping the School and its people succeed.

Southeast Queensland offers an enviable lifestyle, with world-class beaches, stunning hinterland and a relaxed outdoor culture, alongside excellent schools, high-quality healthcare and strong connectivity. With Griffith campuses across the Gold Coast, Logan and Brisbane, you will be part of a connected University community with opportunities to build strong professional networks across the region.

What we can offer
This is a continuing, full-time position primarily based at the Griffith University Gold Coast. As Griffith is a multi-site university you may be required to work across other locations.
Griffith University’s sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

Salary Range
The full time equivalent base salary will be HEW Level 9 range $137,165 - $142,070 per annum + 17% superannuation. The total FTE package will be in the range $160,483 - $166,222 per annum.

Additional Information

Why join Griffith?
As a values-led organisation, at Griffith University, we've worked hard to create a dynamic and strong organisational culture. We offer:

- Mix of on campus and work from home options available and a supportive work environment
- Salary packaging options and corporate health discounts
- Generous leave entitlements including paid parental leave and leave loading
- Health Safety and Wellbeing initiatives – on campus Gym facilities

Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

How to apply
At Griffith, we’re committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all - whoever you are and wherever you’re from. If you require any accommodations, we welcome you to let us know so we can work with you to participate fully in our recruitment experience.

Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. For more information please visit our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion page. Our University is committed to fostering a safe, respectful and inclusive community for all. In alignment with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (2025), Griffith University includes a declaration as part of the recruitment journey to uphold the values and standards of our community. Griffith University also maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of modern slavery. For more information, please refer to Griffith’s Modern Slavery Policy .

Please submit your application online and ensure it includes the following:

- A covering letter outlining your suitability for the role (please refer to the qualifications above and the position description (https://c.smartrecruiters.com/sr-company-attachments-prod-aws-dc5/6270a42b9da2f23e08f16ddd/85441558-fa1e-463d-89f0-06c0804115f3?r=s3-eu-central-1))
- Current curriculum vitae/resume including full contact details

Applicants must have unrestricted working rights. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

For further information specifically about this role, please contact Professor Norman Morris, Head of School - School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work at [email protected]

For application and recruitment advice, please contact Maria Mahon, Talent Acquisition Partner at [email protected]

Closing date:  Monday 12th October at 11:59pm AEST. All applications must be submitted online.

Please allow at least 1 – 2 weeks from the closing date to expect an application update.