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Associate Director – Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership

The University of Melbourne • Full-time • Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • 18h ago

Position number: 004162

Location: Parkville

Faculty: Faculty of Business and Economics

Role type: Full-time, fixed term (3 years)

Salary: Senior Manager 1 package, including 17% superannuation

Shape the future of Indigenous business leadership.
Represent and strengthen the Indigenous business ecosystem through research, education, and partnerships.
Investing in you – Enjoy salary packaging, wellbeing programs, staff discounts, and professional development opportunities.

Only Indigenous Australians are eligible to apply as this position is exempt under the Special Measure Provision, Section 12 (1) of the Equal Opportunity Act 2011 (Vic).

The University of Melbourne would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campuses are situated, the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Peoples, the Yorta Yorta Nation, the Dja Dja Wurrung People. We acknowledge that the land on which we meet and learn was the place of age-old ceremonies, of celebration, initiation and renewal, and that the local Aboriginal Peoples have had and continue to have a unique role in the life of these lands. 

About The Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership

Established in 2021 the University of Melbourne Faculty of Business and Economics in partnership with the Melbourne Business School Limited launched the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership. The objectives of Dilin Duwa are:

Research: improve the understanding of “what works” in Indigenous business and business leadership in Australia;
Programmes: improve the capacity and capability of Indigenous businesses and leaders to meet market demand and improve Indigenous economic independence;
Programmes: improve the capacity and capability of non-Indigenous organisations to engage with and purchase from Indigenous businesses; and
Engagement: connect Indigenous people and their businesses to knowledge and networks that underpin success and celebrate the success of the Indigenous business sector.

These objectives are achieved through research and education.

Dilin Duwa has endorsed a new ten-year strategic plan 2025-2034 which includes the scaling out our established research excellence, our education offerings and the development of three interconnected service offerings - academic services, enterprise services, and ecosystem level services.

About the role

As the Associate Director of the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership, you will provide senior leadership and operational management for one of Australia’s most significant initiatives in Indigenous business.

Reporting to the Centre Director and guided by the Indigenous Advisory Group, you will represent the Centre across the Indigenous business ecosystem and help deliver its ambitious ten-year strategy, while leading its operational and financial management with a strong focus on revenue generation and sustainability.

You will partner closely with academic leaders and staff to foster collaboration across research, teaching, and engagement, and build a unified “one team” culture where professional and academic staff work seamlessly together.

This is a unique opportunity to influence outcomes at a national scale, driving both strategic growth and tangible impact for Indigenous businesses and communities.

Your responsibilities will include:

Leading the Centre’s operations, governance, and compliance.
Driving financial sustainability, budget planning, and revenue-raising initiatives.
Mentoring and developing a professional team that supports academics and researchers.
Building strong relationships with Indigenous businesses, communities, philanthropists, and government stakeholders.
Representing the Centre publicly, strengthening its reputation across national and international networks.

You may be a great fit if:

You are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage (essential).
You hold postgraduate qualifications (or equivalent experience) and bring extensive management and leadership expertise.
You have proven ability to lead teams, manage budgets, and deliver operational sustainability.
You are experienced in building strong partnerships with Indigenous communities, academia, and business.
You bring exceptional communication skills, governance knowledge, and the ability to represent the Centre publicly.

For further information please refer to the attached PD. 

About the University 

The University of Melbourne is consistently ranked amongst the leading universities in the world. We are proud of our people, our commitment to research and teaching excellence, and our global engagement. 

Support for Indigenous staff   

Cultural leave:  Indigenous staff members are entitled to up to five days non-cumulative paid leave per calendar year for the purpose of attending NAIDOC, community, cultural and ceremonial activities.  
University policies: Indigenous staff are supported by the Indigenous Employment Plan 2023 - 2027 and Indigenous Employment Framework, with the commitment to improving the employment, retention and career progression outcomes for Indigenous staff members  
Indigenous Staff Network: Employees who have identified themselves as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander will have access to the Indigenous Staff Network (ISN) 
Cultural events: The University hosts annual cultural events such as the Wominjeka to begin the Academic Year and the Narrm Oration, and recognises significant times throughout the year such as, Reconciliation Week, Mabo Day and NAIDOC Week.  
Employee Assistance Program: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Line available free for you and your immediate family members.

 'Indigenous' here means a person of Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander descent.  

Be Yourself 

We value the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity.  First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, females, people of all ages, with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live. 

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact the employee listed on the first page of the Position Description found below, with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request". 

Working at the University – what you need to know  

This role requires the successful candidate to maintain a Working with Children Check The successful candidate can apply for the WWCC as part of the onboarding process. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.  

Join Us!

If this sounds like your next opportunity, please apply with:

Your resume
A cover letter outlining your interest and experience
The responses against the Selection Criteria^ (found in the Position Description)

^For information to help you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria and competencies, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria  

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Fahim Farzad via email at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au, ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.  

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the details listed on the Position Description.  

Position Description:Associate Director_PD (1).pdf

Applications close: Sunday 21 September 2025 at 11:55 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) / Melbourne time zone.