• Flexible location based at Melbourne, Burwood or Geelong Campus + hybrid work arrangements
• Full-time and ongoing – commencement from 6 October 2025

Team overview:

As trusted advisors and collaborative partners, the Finance and Assurance function provides a range of services to all parts of the university to drive financial sustainability and provide expert advice and compliance assurance to support delivery of the University Strategy and operational activities.

Our Assurance capability, consisting of Legal Services, Compliance, Contract Governance and Risk, incorporates key expertise that underpins compliance and corporate governance and Deakin's commitment to high standards of integrity.

About the role:

The Lead, Strategic Risk plays a strategic role in the development and implementation of the University’s enterprise risk management framework and related governance practices. The role provides expert advice and analysis to guide the identification, assessment, and mitigation of strategic and institutional risks and contributes to the promotion of a proactive risk culture across the University.

This position supports senior leaders and governance bodies by providing high-quality insights and reports on risk exposure, risk trends, and mitigation strategies aligned with the University’s objectives. It works collaboratively across functional areas to enhance organisational resilience.

As a Lead, you will:

• Conceptualise, design, develop and implement the University’s enterprise risk management framework, including associated tools, policies and procedures, to enable consistent and effective risk assessment and mitigation across all portfolios in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to faculties, divisions and to the university level project teams on the identification and management of strategic, operational and reputational risks, aligned with the University's priorities and compliance obligations.
• Coordinate and deliver high-quality risk reporting to University Council, the Audit and Risk Committee of Council and University Executive, including analysis of risk trends, emerging issues and mitigation plans.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with key internal stakeholders including risk owners, internal audit, compliance, governance, legal and planning teams to promote alignment and integrated risk thinking and planning.

To be successful, you’ll have:

• Demonstrated expertise in strategic and operational risk management
• Proven experience in developing and applying enterprise risk frameworks, policies and practices in a complex organisation, with the ability to provide high-level advice on the identification, assessment, and mitigation of institutional and reputational risks.
• Strong knowledge of the regulatory and governance environment in higher education or a similarly complex, regulated sector.
• Understanding of the risk, compliance, and governance challenges relevant to the university sector, including legislative, policy, financial and reputational dimensions.
• Ability to interpret and synthesise complex information and data to support evidence-based decision-making, and to prepare clear, concise and insightful risk reports and briefings for senior stakeholders and governance committees.

Here's how to apply:

Only people with the right to work in Australia may apply for this position.

Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience by clicking the 'Apply' button.

For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Briony Lewis (Executive Director, Assurance) on [email protected]

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

Lead, Strategic Risk_HEW 9.pdf

Applications for this position close on Sunday, 21 September 2025 at 11:55pm.

Benefits for working with us!

At Deakin, we offer more than just a job — we offer a lifestyle. Across our campuses in Geelong, Melbourne, and regional Victoria, you’ll find everything you need to thrive: on-site childcare, gyms, medical centres, cafes, accessible public transport, and convenient parking. Enjoy flexible working arrangements that support your work-life balance, generous leave entitlements including extended parental leave and the option to purchase additional time off, plus a wide range of staff discounts on travel and more. Our health and wellbeing services, ongoing professional development opportunities, and inclusive, supportive culture make Deakin a place where you can grow — whether you're working remotely or immersed in the vibrant energy of campus life.

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.