OVERVIEW The University of Melbourne is seeking a Senior Academic Programs Coordinator to lead academic program administration within the Melbourne School of Health Sciences in Parkville, Melbourne. This full-time fixed-term role runs until April 2027 and supports coursework and graduate research programs across five health sciences departments. The position focuses on service excellence, policy compliance, process improvement, and collaboration with academic and professional staff to deliver high-quality student and staff experiences. The role sits within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and offers the opportunity to contribute to a leading research and teaching environment. The successful candidate will work closely with academics, students, and administrative teams while overseeing key academic operations and supporting School-wide outcomes. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES – Coordinate coursework and graduate research program administration across the student lifecycle, ensuring policy compliance and consistency. – Lead, coach and develop Academic Programs Team members. – Foster collaboration, transparency and a supportive, high-performance culture. – Provide authoritative advice to academics and students on policies, curriculum changes and complex enrolment or assessment matters. – Plan and oversee key academic program activities, committee support and reporting. – Ensure activities and reporting meet School and University timelines. – Drive client-focused service standards across academic program administration. – Conduct process reviews and support continuous improvement initiatives. – Collaborate with academic and professional staff across the Melbourne School of Health Sciences. – Support equitable and efficient administrative processes for academics and students. REQUIREMENTS – Relevant degree. – Extensive experience in complex student or course administration environments. – Proven leadership experience coaching professional staff. – Experience building high-performing, client-focused service teams. – Strong organisational and problem-solving skills. – Ability to manage multiple deadlines and time-critical academic processes. – Strong written and verbal communication skills. – Experience producing accurate documentation, reports and committee papers. – Experience in higher education, government or large organisations. – Experience with frontline enquiry and advisory services. – Ability to investigate complex issues and gather information. – Ability to make sound judgements within policy and governance frameworks. – Current valid work rights for Australia. – Working with Children Check required. – Ability to submit a resume, cover letter and separate response to selection criteria. WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS Senior academic administration professionals play an important role in maintaining quality, consistency, and compliance across university programs. By supporting both academics and students, this role helps ensure that teaching, assessment, enrolment, and research administration processes run effectively within a complex higher education environment. This position also contributes to continuous improvement and service excellence across the School of Health Sciences. Effective coordination and leadership in academic administration can strengthen the student experience, support institutional goals, and improve collaboration across departments. BONUS: APPLICATION ADVICE – Tailor your cover letter to demonstrate experience in academic program administration, student services, or higher education operations. – Provide clear examples of leadership experience, particularly where you coached teams or improved service delivery. – Address each selection criterion directly using concise examples with measurable outcomes where possible. – Highlight experience working with