• Based at our Melbourne, Burwood Campus/ Geelong, Waurn Ponds Campus
• Full-time and Fixed term until end of December 2026
• HEW 10 $ 147,757 + 17% Superannuation

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 Principal, UX Design is a specialist professional position with knowledge of complex methods and techniques to ensure solutions align to the university’s strategic priorities, needs and standards. The role operates across the full range of the recognised specialist discipline (user-centred design) and is applied to diverse products and stakeholders. The role requires well-developed interpersonal skills to understand current practices and ecosystems to develop and recommend holistic solutions for the university.

The role reports to the Associate Director, UX Design and provides advice to senior leaders in relation to policy, program delivery, standards or resolution of technical problems.

As a Principal, UX Design, you will be,

• Provide leadership for the end-to-end UX design strategy, ensuring alignment with University objectives and enterprise design standards across all digital and hybrid experiences. Design and lead large-scale, complex user research initiatives that inform and drive strategic decision-making.
• Lead UX projects, ensuring that they are completed on time and within budget. Coordinate with project managers, stakeholders, and other teams to ensure the successful implementation of solutions.
• Align UX design frameworks and governance with organisational policies, accessibility standards, and compliance requirements.
• Apply analytical skills and systems thinking to map complex user flows, enterprise systems, and organisational processes. Lead analysis of user research, market insights, and emerging technology trends. Translate insights into actionable design strategies or advice that informs decisions and strategic priorities.
• Undertake objective, critical analysis and distil the core issues of complex design challenges, translating them into actionable strategies and scalable solutions.
• Monitor the external higher education and technology environment and market trends to anticipate shifts and integrate innovative approaches into the University’s experience design roadmap.
• Overcome resistance to change and manage complex stakeholder environments to ensure user experience principles are embedded across digital, mobile and hybrid initiatives. Collaborate with business units to understand their objectives, build consensus, and advance UX strategies and initiatives that support both user needs and organisational goals. Provide expert advice on experience design methodologies and frameworks, offering technical guidance to other departments and stakeholders on UX best practices.
• Establish long-term partnerships with leaders, act as a trusted advisor, change direction in alignment with learnings and offer expert solutions and strategies that best serve the area’s needs.

To be successful, you’ll have:

• Proven expertise in the management of significant human and material resources
• Postgraduate qualifications and extensive relevant experience.
• Experience as a UX designer in a commercial or educational setting and/or development environment.
• Strong understanding of front-end technologies and their impact on UX design.
• Proficiency in the use of design software or other UX related tools.
• Experience designing for accessibility and adhering to WCAG 2.1 AA

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 George Cockerill (Associate Director, UX Design) via email at george.cockerill@deakin.edu.au

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

 Principal, UX Design - HEW 10_PD 2 (2).pdf

Applications for this position close on 21st December 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.