Director, Operations and Infrastructure

Classification: Senior Manager 4
Salary package: Competitive salary package plus 17% superannuation
Terms: Full time, Fixed term (up to 5 years)
Location: Canberra, ACT

The Position

The Director, Operations and Infrastructure is a senior executive leadership role within the Campus Environment Division, providing strategic direction and operational leadership to deliver safe, reliable, sustainable and customer-focused campus environments that support teaching, research, student life and community engagement, and uphold the University's mission of enduring significance.

Reporting to the Chief Campus Environment Officer, the Director leads a large, diverse and highly technical portfolio encompassing building operations and maintenance, facilities management, security and safety, emergency management, procurement and contracts, gardens and grounds, remote sites, and operational support for infrastructure and capital works. The role is responsible for ensuring that campus infrastructure services and facilities operate effectively, safely and efficiently while supporting the University's long‑term strategy.

The Director plays a critical role in establishing and maintaining strong operational governance, service standards, risk management frameworks, and business continuity arrangements across the University's campuses and remote sites. Working closely with academic and professional leaders, the role ensures operational services are responsive, resilient and aligned with the evolving needs of staff, students and external stakeholders.
A key focus of the position is operational excellence and continuous improvement, using data, performance insights and customer feedback to optimise service delivery, manage operational risks and improve the campus experience. The Director provides expert advice to senior executives and governance bodies on operational performance, facilities management, critical incidents and service continuity, while ensuring resources are effectively prioritised and managed.

The Director, Operations and Infrastructure also provides strategic oversight of infrastructure and capital works activities to ensure operational requirements, asset performance and long-term service outcomes are effectively integrated into planning, delivery and handover processes.

The Person

You are a strategic and experienced operational leader with substantial experience managing large and complex facilities, operational services, maintenance, asset management, security or related portfolios within a university, government or similarly complex environment.

You have a strong track record of leading high-performing operational teams, delivering reliable services, managing risk and ensuring compliance within complex organisations. You understand how to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day operational demands and are comfortable making decisions in dynamic and time-critical environments.

You bring experience in facilities management, maintenance operations, service delivery, and business continuity, together with strong financial and contract management capabilities. Experience overseeing infrastructure programs or capital works within an operational environment would be highly regarded.

You are recognised for your outstanding communication and stakeholder engagement skills, able to translate complex operational and technical issues into clear, compelling advice for senior leaders, committees and broader audiences. With a strong customer‑centric mindset, you champion high‑quality service delivery, continuous improvement and responsive, solutions‑focused engagement.

You value inclusion, teamwork and a positive workplace culture. You lead with integrity, model respectful and ethical behaviour, and are deeply committed to health, safety and wellbeing. You create an environment where people feel supported, valued and empowered to perform at their best, ensuring the organisation and its community thrive together now and into the future.

Hays Executive Search is assisting ANU with this appointment. To discuss this opportunity in the strictest of confidence please contact Paul Phillips or Andy Sundberg at Hays Executive Search. A position description and selection criteria is available on request. P: +61 2 8226 9630, and E: DirOps.Anu@hays.com.au

The University actively encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For more information on employment opportunities, contact our Indigenous Employment Consultant on indigenous.employment@anu.edu.au

ANU values diversity and inclusion and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to people of all backgrounds and identities. For more information about staff equity at ANU, click here. For enquiries about the application process, or if you require reasonable adjustment to apply for this role, please contact the hiring manager on the above listed details.

Please note: The preferred candidate must have rights to live and work in Australia, and will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment declarations and background checks relevant to the role they have applied for, in accordance with the Background Checking Procedure and the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence.