Lead Business Analyst

• Employment Type: Full Time, Fixed Term, 2-year opportunity

• Remuneration: Competitive Total Remuneration Package

• Location: Kensington-based role with frequent travel to Canberra.

About UNSW

UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It’s the reason we’re one of the top 20 universities in the world and a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.

About the Role:

Reporting to the Program Manager for the UNSW Canberra City Program, this is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Lead Business Analyst with a background in designing and implementing operating model evolution, aligning localised operational needs with enterprise-wide standards.

UNSW is expanding in Canberra from a University College supporting Defence (ADFA) to support broader enterprise activities requiring change in the ways of working across multiple sites, a larger spectrum of education offerings, new types of partnership and collaborator engagements and a broader range of student profiles. As the geopolitical landscape evolves and the university plays its part, this role will also help translate the university’s security posture to processes, policies, systems and people models.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design of the Canberra City Precinct workforce and input into broader University operating model work by translating business architecture into Canberra specific frameworks for governance, process, technology, and performance.

• Conduct current-state assessments, gap analyses, and future-state modelling to evaluate feasibility, assess risks, and deliver evidence-based recommendations and business cases.

• Facilitate co-design workshops and engage cross-functional stakeholders across faculties, divisions, and precinct partners to balance local requirements with enterprise standards.

• Drive cross-functional collaboration and provide leadership to direct and indirect teams, creating clarity, accountability and opportunities for capability development.

• Provide strategic advice, facilitation and coaching to support leaders and teams through significant organisational change.

• Contribute to systems, processes and tools that improve operating model effectiveness and strengthen organisational capability.

• Lead local alignment of operating model and organisational design initiatives that enable strategic transformation and improved business performance. Support governance bodies and steering committees by defining KPIs, establishing reporting dashboards, and building continuous improvement mechanisms to monitor operational performance.

• Partner with change management teams to develop stakeholder impact matrices, communication plans, and executive presentation packs that facilitate project rollouts.

About You

• Tertiary qualifications and extensive industry experience, including at least 5 years leading business analysis teams and 7+ years in operating model design or enterprise workforce transformation within complex organisations.

• Advanced expertise in conducting operating model reviews, strategic project planning, value stream mapping, and delivering high-quality analytical documentation.

• Proven consultation, influencing, and negotiation skills with a track record of building trusted relationships across diverse academic, executive, and external stakeholders.

• A collaborative leadership style supported by strong accountability and commercial awareness.

• The ability to lead effectively through ambiguity, complexity and competing organisational priorities.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and initiative-driven capabilities to evaluate risks, assess feasibility, and develop robust solutions for complex business challenges.

• Outstanding written, verbal, and facilitation skills, backed by high proficiency in standard office and diagramming toolsets (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Visio) for executive reporting.

• Excellent organisational and time management skills to manage competing priorities, with higher education experience and alignment with UNSW values highly desirable.

For further information on the role & responsibilities, please refer to the Position Description.

How to Apply: Submit your CV & cover letter detailing your interest and suitability for the job (as per the skills & experience bullet points in the job description) before 11:55pm, Monday 5 October 2026.

Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role, valid Australian working rights are required on application.

 

UNSW Benefits and Culture: People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world. Our benefits include: 

• Additional 3 days leave during December festive period.

• Career development opportunities 

• Up to 50% discount on UNSW courses

• Flexible 17% Superannuation contributions, additional leave-loading payments and salary sacrifice.

• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness passport)

Job queries contact: Tai James, Talent Acquisition Consultant

E: tai.james@unsw.edu.au  (applications to the address cannot be accepted, please apply online)

 

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.

 

Pre-Employment Checks

Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.

These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:-

• National and International Criminal history checks

• Entitlement to work and ID checks

• Working With Children Checks

• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration

• Verification of relevant qualifications

• Verification of relevant professional membership

• Employment history and reference checks

• Financial responsibility assessments/checks.

• Medical Checks and Assessments

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.