Position Description – Executive Manager – Strategic Innovation and Educational Projects
Position Title / Executive Manager – Strategic Innovation and Educational Projects /
Portfolio / Strategic Innovation and Educational Projects /
Centre/Department / N/A /
Primary location / Warrnambool / Position Number/'s / TBC /
Classification / VPSC / Salary / Based on VPSC guidelines /
Employment type / Full-Time / Contract type / Fixed Term /
Hours per week / 38.0 / Contract duration
(Non-permanent roles only) / 5 years /
Reporting to / Chief Executive Officer /
Supervises / Senior Manager – Research and Tendering
Senior Manager – WTIF and Business process improvement
Executive Assistant – Strategic Innovation and Educational Projects

Who is South West TAFE?

South West TAFE is an education hub with a difference. We bring innovative education and industry insider knowledge together to power talent for tomorrow.

To better meet the demands of the fast paced world of 21st Century business, our courses are designed by industry and taught by professionals.

With over 150 courses on offer, we are well suited to provide quality hands-on training across the major business sectors. Plus, our teachers, training facilities, support services and direct links with industry are second to none.

Our campuses are located in Warrnambool, Portland, Hamilton & Colac, with facilities and services set to expand as the region grows.

Our Ambition is to provide future focused education that creates a lifetime of opportunity and employability.

Our Purpose is to deliver a modern and fresh approach to helping generations develop the skills they need for the futures they aspire to.

Our Values are to be people focused, deliver quality and excellence and to constantly seek innovation.

Institute Executive Team

The Institute has three main campuses spread across the southwest Victoria region at Hamilton, Portland and Warrnambool and further delivery sites in Colac, and Glenormiston. The Warrnambool Campus is the administrative base, and the largest campus of the Institute. It is complemented by a training facility east of the city at Sherwood Park (adjacent to Deakin University).

The Institute also offers studies through regional secondary schools. Programs are offered through off-campus studies with program delivery interstate and internationally.

Through delegation from the Institute Board, the Institute Executive Team has the authority and responsibility to implement the Board’s long-term strategic directions and policies. Accordingly, the Institute Executive Team is accountable for the strategic and operational management of the Institute including:

  • the provision of academic services and student management encompassing the management of the Institute’s educational commitments to government and the community
  • the continuing growth and development of state, national and international education delivery and partnerships
  • the provision and maintenance of corporate services throughout the Institute’s buildings and properties, its information technology and financial services
  • marketing and corporate communications, human resources and workforce development, client and student services and quality management
  • research and development

Position overview/your opportunity

The Executive Manager – Strategic Innovation and Educational Projects (the Executive) is a part of the Institute Executive Team, and is a dynamic, forward thinking educational expert whose primary purpose is to ensure the Institute’s sustainability through growth in funding applications which meet our customers’ training needs.

The Executive is a highly skilled and experienced educational and project leader tasked with developing and driving forward customer-focused and innovative business cases that support the current and emerging employment needs of our industry and community partners across the Institute, our region and beyond. The position requires previous experience in research, business case development and successful project management in accordance with the Institutes strategic goals and objectives.

The position operates highly autonomously and provides strategic advice to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), as well as strategic and management expertise on issues relating to the employment needs of the region and exploring appropriate solutions that support these needs.

This Executive meets Performance Criteria established annually in consultation with the CEO, and consistent with Institute strategic and operational objectives.

The position will constantly engage with Industry, employers and our community and work closely with the Institutes education departments matching the employment needs of the region with education and training solutions. The incumbent will research local, national and international reports to understand current and emerging employment and educational trends and use relevant data to support business case applications and to inform the future strategic direction of the organisation. The outcomes of this engagement and research will be reported to the Executive, the Board, and all relevant stakeholders across the region.

The office of the Executive Manager – Strategic Innovation and Educational Projects will explore new ideas and solutions to enhance current and emerging workplace productivity and on behalf of the Institute and our partners seek financial support from local, state and federally funded schemes through the submission of business case applications to support these needs. It is the responsibility of this portfolio to successfully manage approved projects and to support and guide teaching departments with appropriate project management to ensure all projects are delivered on time, within budget and achieve the projects objectives

As an executive position within the Institute the position requires an experienced and innovative professional with:

  • initiative, sound judgement and high level strategic planning skills
  • the vision and drive to create and develop industry-focused, flexible, innovative educational solutions to our Industry partners.
  • empathetic and robust people-management skills
  • strategic understanding and acumen
  • an excellent knowledge of the region’s employment needs, and the capacity to quickly work out how the Institute may best respond to these needs
  • the ability to establish, negotiate with and consult government, education and business contacts, and develop and maintain these relationships.

Parallel positions within the Institute, and forming the Institute Executive Team, are:

  • Executive Manager - Education
  • Executive Manager - Corporate Services
  • Executive Manager – Major Projects

The Executive Manager - Strategic Innovation and Educational Projects oversees the corporate and educational requirements of the Glenormiston and Colac delivery locations providing a high degree of engagement with the local industries and communities to support their educational and employment needs.

This position also works closely with Campus Managers at the Portland, Hamilton and Colac campuses and other significant Institute positions which provide support for, and advice and information to, teaching staff.

Negotiation, consultation and liaison also occurs with the Chief Executive Officer, other Executive Managers and a broad range of government, industry bodies and relevant organisations to enhance the reputation of the Institute and to maintain its educational and innovative excellence.

The Executive may be required to deputise for the Chief Executive Officer during periods of absence of that position.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Research current and emerging employment trends across the region and develop strategies to support these needs in line with the broader strategic direction of the organisation and in conjunction with the CEO, the Institute Executive Team and Teaching Managers.
  2. Develop, explore and seek funding for innovative and pedagogically sound approaches to Teaching and Learning delivery, based on the current and developing requirements of industry, enterprises and communities, and taking into account the competitive “contestable” funding context for Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Victoria.
  3. Work in conjunction with the Skills and Jobs Centre to support the matching of employment seekers and skills gaps needs across the region
  4. Identify and implement teaching and learning strategies (in conjunction with the Executive Manager – Education) that maintain and further develop innovative partnerships with secondary schools, VET and Higher Education providers (including Deakin University) for the benefit of the South West region.
  5. Prepare, develop and submit business case submissions at a local, state and federal level for funding support that compliments the development of innovative educational and employment related projects that address current and emerging needs.
  6. Oversee and implement appropriate project management governance practices including the management of project control groups and reporting to the Board and Higher Education and Skills Group for all successfully funded projects. (Project funding, to date, has been received from the following two schemes - Regional and Specialist Training Funds and Workforce Training Innovation Funds).
  7. Oversee the educational and corporate business activities at Glenormiston and Colac delivery locations maintaining a high degree of community and industry engagement. Specific projects aligned to these locations are the responsibility of this position.
  8. Participate in the planning functions and committee operations of the Institute and wider TAFE system to ensure the Institute operates and plans effectively.
  9. Maintain a high level of stakeholder engagement throughout the life of all projects ensuring appropriate, timely and consistent communication is provided.
  10. Act as the executive officer to the Innovation and Industry Committee (Board Committee) coordinating the agenda, reports and actions from these meetings.
  11. Prepare accurate and timely reports that provide information to the Board, HESG, project control groups and stakeholders on each projects key reporting requirements in accordance with the milestones and objectives of the project.
  12. Work effectively and persuasively with the Institute Management Group, and external stakeholders as appropriate, on sensitive and complex issues, to gain commitment to agreed project outcomes.
  13. Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of all relevant legislative, regulatory and contractual obligations as well as Institute policies, and act in an advisory role by providing professional advice, direction and ongoing support to managers and staff
  14. Integrate health and safety management into Institute structures, processes and culture and ensure that accountability for OH&S is appropriately assigned, identified and controlled.

General Responsibilities

  • Comply with internal policies and procedures including the Code of Conduct
  • Demonstrate organisational values on a daily basis
  • Commit to access and equity principles in carrying out work functions
  • Maintain a healthy and safe work environment

Key performance measures will be established and reviewed as part of the Institute’s Performance Review and Development process.

The Executive may be required to undertake other duties as requested and required by the CEO from time to time. Accordingly, this position description describes in general terms the normal duties which the position is expected to undertake. However, the duties described may vary or be amended from time to time without changing the level of responsibility.

South West TAFE is a multi-campus institute and employees may be required to work from any campus location. There may be a requirement to be away overnight and to travel state-wide, interstate and/or internationally.

Due to the nature of the position, there is a requirement to accommodate flexible working hours and attendance requirements.

Key to success (Key Selection Criteria)

Successful candidate will demonstrate the best combination of the following characteristics;

  1. A demonstrated capacity to research and develop innovative business case submissions on behalf of industry, community and the Institute.
  2. A clear vision for the ongoing development of industry-focused, flexible and innovative Industry employment training solutions.
  3. A demonstrated track record of implementing project management principles in order to deliver projects on time, within budget and in accordance with project objectives.
  4. The ability to engage directly and professionally with industry to identify training solutions to meet their current and emerging employment needs.
  5. High level financial and physical resource management and budgeting skills and high level understanding of Human Resources issues.
  6. Demonstrated ability to manage a range of complex change-focused projects, under pressure, within a strategic framework that also meet financial and operational targets.
  7. Outstanding interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills and problem solving skills including the ability to negotiate effectively and work through issues constructively with staff, students and relevant stakeholders

Qualification/Requirements

Mandatory requirements

  • A relevant degree appropriate to the delivery of projects.
  • A relevant management qualification or extensive leadership and management experience at a senior level (preferably in an education environment).
  • Proven leadership and management skills, relevant industry experience as well as a comprehensive understanding of current issues and developments in the vocational education and training (VET) sector and in relevant industries served by the Institute.
  • Employee Victorian Working With Children Check

Desirable requirements

  • An approved course of teacher training accredited at Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 5

Additional information

  • South West TAFE supports Equal Employment Opportunity and actively encourages Indigenous applicants to apply
  • South West TAFE promotes the safely, wellbeing and inclusion of all children including those with a disability
  • Position, requirements, classification skill level required and conditions in accordance with South West Institute of TAFE (Specialist Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2016
  • Any member of SWTAFE may be required to work at any site dependent upon business needs

Authority level / Name / Date
Prepared by / Recruiting/Hiring Manager / Chief Executive Officer / 1/04/2018 /
Approved by / Department Executive Manager / Chief Executive Officer / 1/04/2018 /

HR- PD Executive Manager – Strategic Innovation and Educational ProjectsPage 1 of 5

© South West Institute of TAFE RTO ID: 3120 | Version: 2 | Last Edited: 12/04/2018

Uncontrolled once printed. The most recent version of this document is located on SWTAFE’s intranet