Role type: Full-time; Fixed-term (2 years)
Department: Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre, Melbourne Enterprise
Salary: UOM 9 - $146,049 - $151,951 p.a. plus 17% super
Senior leadership role in a growing entrepreneurial centre / build strategic corporate and philanthropic partnerships / shape MEC 2030 impact
Join MEC to lead partnerships, community engagement and events that fuel Melbourne’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and venture success.
Investing in you – 17% superannuation, benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities.
The University of Melbourne
We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website.
Your next career opportunity:
In this senior role, you will lead MEC’s partnerships, community and events functions to drive sustainable growth.
You will cultivate corporate and philanthropic partners while energising a vibrant network of students, alumni, mentors and innovators.
What you will deliver:
Lead MEC’s commercial and philanthropic partnerships strategy, pipeline and portfolio to grow revenue and strategic relationships.
Build and activate MEC’s community, alumni and mentor networks to support programs and entrepreneurial engagement.
Oversee a high-quality events program that showcases MEC, strengthens partnerships and deepens community connections.
Provide inclusive leadership, clear direction and coaching to partnerships and engagement staff within a growing team.
Monitor performance, budgets and risk, delivering regular reports on revenue, engagement metrics and partnership impact.
You may be a great fit if you:
Demonstrate a strong record securing corporate and philanthropic partnerships with measurable revenue and relationship outcomes.
Apply commercial acumen to build and manage partnership pipelines, forecasts and stakeholder reporting in complex organisations.
Design and deliver stakeholder, community or alumni engagement programs that deepen long-term participation and advocacy.
Lead and coach professional staff, fostering collaborative, high-performance cultures aligned with shared goals.
Plan and deliver impactful events, from intimate partner engagements to large-scale showcases, with excellent participant experiences.
Engage confidently with entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystems, using data and insights to improve programs and partnerships.
What we offer you!
We offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits to support your success and sense of fulfilment, including:
Build future financial security with 17% superannuation
Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well-being
Career development opportunities, including access to a range of tailored programs, such as Academic Women in Leadership, and learning platforms including LinkedIn Learning
Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work-life balance and well-being, including leading parental leave, gender affirmation leave and cultural leave
Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance, and access to unique cultural and recreational benefits such as discounts for the Melbourne Theatre Company
Health and well-being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program
For more information check out our benefits page!
Your new team:
Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre (MEC) is the University’s hub for entrepreneurship, supporting students, researchers and alumni to build ventures.
MEC sits within Melbourne Enterprise and Melbourne Research and Enterprise, connecting deeply with faculties and industry partners.
Based at Melbourne Connect, you will join a collaborative team scaling programs, partnerships, community and impact.
Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a child-safe organisation. The diversity of our community enriches us all, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and fair workplace where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Discover more about Diversity and Inclusion at UniMelb.
We're committed to a barrier-free recruitment process and ongoing workplace support, providing adjustments throughout. We warmly encourage applications from people with disabilities. Learn more about how we support an accessible recruitment process.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians. Visit our Indigenous staff page to learn more about our investment and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
Indigenous applicants are encouraged to connect with our Indigenous Employment & Development team at [email protected].
Application essentials:
Visit "apply with us" to learn more about the process, including tips and FAQs.
You must have current valid work rights for Australia. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
A Working with Children Check is required for all positions. If successful, we will guide you through the process and reimburse you.
Please upload your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and experience as part of the application process.
Want to know more?
For queries related to this specific position, contact Monica Bulla-Valencia at [email protected]
For questions related to our recruitment process email Alessandro Storani at [email protected]
For recruitment adjustments contact Kim Groizard on +61 3 9035 3218 or at [email protected] (subject: 'Recruitment Adjustments').
Apply today, and join a community that’s shaping the future.
Applications close: Sunday 11 October 2026 - 11:55 PM; Melbourne time zone.
Position Description: PD_JR-018267 Senior Partnership & Engagement Manager, MEC.pdf
PD_JR-018267 Senior Partnership & Engagement Manager, MEC.docx
Skills Required
- Strong record securing corporate and philanthropic partnerships with measurable revenue and relationship outcomes
- Commercial acumen in building and managing partnership pipelines, forecasts, and stakeholder reporting in complex organisations
- Experience designing and delivering stakeholder, community, or alumni engagement programs
- Experience leading and coaching professional staff
- Experience planning and delivering impactful events
- Experience engaging with entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystems and using data to improve programs and partnerships
- Current valid work rights for Australia
- Working with Children Check
- Resume and cover letter
What We Do
The University of Melbourne is a leading public research university that makes distinctive contributions to society in research, learning, teaching, and engagement.
