Director of Operations, Nif

National Imaging Facility-
- HEW Level 10A- Fixed-term position for up to 5 years- Closing date: Friday 16 September at 11.00pm AEST (R-16275)

About This Opportunity

We’re looking for a Chief Operating Officer to manage the core activities of the National Imaging Facility.

Your work will have significant national reach at a multi-institutional scale leading the NIF operations across a central team and 14 nodes located in five states, in alignment with the NIF vision and mission. You will work closely with the CEO and the Governing Board, to deliver a national-scale flagship infrastructure project with international impact.

Our excellent team culture is critically important to us, and our COO is responsible for empowering and leading our high-performing central operations team in an energetic environment with an open communication culture.

You will communicate with and influence a diverse range of stakeholders, extending from Australia’s research community, including many leading scientists, research infrastructure peers and government representatives, through to global imaging networks and partners.

You will work closely with NIF’s node directors and operations managers to collaboratively develop and enable strategic initiatives.

You will have experience managing financial and legal operations, and working within collaborative, multi-institutional structures to manage and deliver reporting and governance documentation.

About the National Imaging Facility

National Imaging Facility (NIF) is Australia’s advanced imaging network.

We provide open access to flagship imaging equipment, expertise, tools, data and analysis. We address Australia’s strategic science and research priorities, and this benefits Australian industry and helps keep Australians healthy.

NIF is unlocking solutions to the world’s biggest imaging challenges across commercial, clinical and research fields. We have helped Australians innovate in fields such as bioengineering, clinical science, biology, medical technology, pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical therapies, agriculture, materials, museums and cultural collections.

Thousands of doctors, scientists and professionals across hundreds of Australian institutions, companies and research organisations use our work to help answer their questions. We work with engaged volunteers and patients who make a valuable contribution to health and discovery by being part of research.

The capabilities we provide result in better healthcare, better products, and important discoveries.

Key responsibilities will include:
- Developing and delivering a national operational structure across 14 nodes located in five states, in alignment with the NIF vision and mission.- Develop, implement and evaluate strategic and operational activity plans for NIF- Work closely with stakeholders at an Executive University level (PVC, DVC), Commonwealth Government, and State Governments.- Lead operational management including risk, human resources, financial and legal matters- Negotiate and maintain key strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, at an executive level.- Lead the development and implementation of efficient management structures, policies and procedures to enhance and support the vision of the national capability.- Manage an annual operating budget (up to $15M pa), in addition to $50M+ five-year capital budget and national investment plans.- Lead the consultations, negotiations and implementation of legal agreements with Partner organisations, Commonwealth Government and other funding partners.- Meet compliance requirements for the Commonwealth and State Governments, including milestone reporting, operational plan, risk management plan, and compliance with governmental and multi-institutional agreements.

Code of Conduct


About You- Postgraduate qualifications in management or relevant degree; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education and training.- Extensive experience preferably in a tertiary education institution or relevant large organisation.- Knowledge in Australian granting agencies and research funding opportunities, international funding schemes, and the structures and operation of State and Federal governments that impact on tertiary education and research funding.- Extensive experience in high-level organisational management, including financial, human resources management and legal.- Demonstrated ability to contribute to strategic planning, policy formulation and implementation of strategies.- Significant experience with organisation and project governance structures and their effective implementation including both corporate not-for-profit and collaborative research governance structures.- Experience with managing change across an organisation.- Team focused with an ability to work effectively in a multi-faceted position interacting with a wide cross section of people.- Experience working within a multi-partner collaborative o