• Based at our Burwood or Geelong Waterfront Campus + hybrid work arrangements
• Full-time and continuing
• HEW 9 $138,102 - $146,374 + 17% Superannuation

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.

Who are we?

Deakin is a cutting-edge public university headquartered in Victoria, revolutionising education with 61,000 students across our campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, Deakin University Lancaster University Indonesia (DLI), GIFT City, India, and our vibrant online environment. 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.

The Role:

As Senior Strategist, Course Innovation, you will play a critical leadership role in shaping Deakin University’s course portfolio through rigorous market intelligence, strategic analysis, and evidence-based recommendations. Sitting within the Market Insights team, this role operates at the intersection of strategy, marketing, and academic planning, influencing decisions with long-term impact on Deakin’s growth, competitiveness, and relevance.

You will lead university-wide course innovation analysis, identifying new course opportunities, evaluating the performance and future potential of existing offerings, and guiding course innovation priorities across onshore and offshore markets.

Working closely with senior academic leaders, professional staff, and external partners, you will act as a trusted strategic advisor, translating complex market and competitive intelligence into clear, actionable recommendations that inform executive and faculty-level decision-making.

This is a senior, highly autonomous role requiring strong judgement, influence, and the ability to operate effectively in ambiguity.

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.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex higher education market, competitor, and performance data into strategic insights that influence decision-making
• Proven experience leading strategic research or insight programs in complex environments.
• Strong stakeholder management capability, with experience influencing senior academic and professional audiences.
• Experience developing and embedding frameworks, or strategic processes that drive consistency and impact.
• Experience identifying client needs and producing high quality briefs and recommendations for senior/executive-level audiences.
• Strong understanding of higher education sector dynamics, market intelligence, and competitor behaviour, including emerging trends in course design, delivery and demand.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality briefs, reports, and presentations for executive and governance audiences.

Here's how to apply: 

Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience.

For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Jaclyn Lim, Senior Manager, Market Insights, on Jaclyn.lim@deakin.edu.au

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

 PD - Senior Strategist, Course Innovation.pdf

Applications for this position close at 11.55pm on Sunday 1st February.

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.

Pre-employment Safety and Suitability Checks

In accordance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence, appointment to this role is subject to successful completion of relevant pre-employment checks, including Working With Children Checks and candidate gender-based violence declarations. 

Candidates may be asked to declare whether they have been investigated for an allegation of Gender‑based Violence, or determined to have engaged in conduct that constitutes Gender‑based Violence during the course of their previous employment, or otherwise in a legal process.  A declaration is not required from individuals who have experienced gender‑based violence.  A ‘Yes’ response does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment, and any information provided will be treated confidentially and considered only for relevance to the role and the University’s safety obligations.