BRAIN AND MIND RESEARCH INSTITUTE (BMRI)
REFERENCE NO. 2695/1114

• Advance the mission of the BMRI as a strategic, cross-faculty and multidisciplinary University centre
• Lead and facilitate development and management of all support services, systems and processes for BMRI to enable effective delivery of its strategy
• Competitive remuneration package including leave loading and up to 17% super

The University of Sydney is Australia's first university and has an outstanding global reputation for academic and research excellence. It employs over 7300 permanent staff, supporting over 50,000 students.

The BMRI is the second of four identified Strategic Priority AReas for Collaboration (SPARC) within the University of Sydney to become operational as such.  Each SPARC is a strategic collaborative, interdisciplinary research and education centre designed to deliver outcomes of significant benefit for the health and wellbeing of society. 

The BMRI will make real differences to the societal and personal challenges presented by the workings of the brain and mind.  It strives to:

• promote mental health, cognitive and behavioural wellbeing for all people;
• deliver  better understandings of the disorders of the brain and mind, and their biological and environmental determinants; and
• maximise the social and economic participation of all those directly affected by brain developmental, neurological and mental disorders, including those with lived experience, their families and carers. 

It will achieve its mission by bringing together the best people, operating within optimised physical and intellectual environments and capitalizing on the new opportunities provided by major advances in relevant technologies and care delivery systems.

The BMRI is currently seeking a COO to work autonomously within the broad strategic framework agreed with the DVCR and BMRI Co-Directors. Reporting to the Co-Directors (BMRI), the COO will:

• lead the unit that supports the BMRI’s research and education strategies and leadership, and provides operational and other support for programs and initiatives that achieve the BMRI’s objectives
• provide leadership in the establishment of a new model of co-location and facility management and utilisation, and the development of associated systems and processes
• play a key role in building and maintaining collaborative relationships across distributed and diverse academic and professional staff groups throughout the University and with external stakeholders.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• experience in leading and delivering major programs in complex environments with multiple organisations and personalities
• understanding of the higher education sector and/or health and medical research sectors including their environment and culture
• extensive experience in budget and accounting processes and the provision of financial and resource management advice and oversight
• ability to contribute to strategy and policy development, planning and policy review and implementation
• experience in gaining the confidence of, influencing and engaging a wide range of stakeholders, both within and outside the University, ideally within a matrix organisation
• demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, including acting strategically driving creativity, innovation and change
• tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.

This is an ideal opportunity for a senior professional to utilise their outstanding leadership, strategic, teamwork and relationship management skills to support the BMRI operational strategy within one of Australia's leading universities.

All applications must be submitted via the University of Sydney careers website.  Visit sydney.edu.au/recruitment and search by the reference number for more information and to apply.

Remuneration package: a competitive remuneration package including leave loading and up to 17% super.

CLOSING DATE: 11pm 8 February 2015

The University is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity and social inclusion. Applications from equity target groups, including women and people with disabilities are encouraged. As the University of Sydney has established a scheme to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff employed across the institution, applications from people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are also encouraged.

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.