About

5 years fixed term position Located in Darlington campus Be responsible for shaping and executing the University's ICT strategy, plans, and roadmaps. Join one of Australia’s most prestigious universities at a time of significant digital expansion and modernisation. As Executive Director, Infrastructure, Research and Client Technology, you will lead the foundational capabilities that power a global institution, including cloud, networks, platforms, research computing and client technology services. This role offers the rare opportunity to influence the reliability, resilience and performance of a complex and high-demand environment that supports world-leading research, teaching and clinical activity. You will shape the University’s core technology foundations, modernise critical services and uplift the end-user experience across one of the largest and most diverse campus environments in the country. Supported by strong executive sponsorship, significant investment and a forward-looking digital strategy, you will lead a portfolio that enables excellence today while building the infrastructure for the University of the future. About the opportunity The Executive Director, Infrastructure, Research and Client Technology is a senior leadership role within the University’s ICT Division. Reporting to the Chief Information and Digital Officer, the role is a key member of the ICT Executive Leadership Team responsible for the strategic direction, operational performance and long-term resilience of the University’s core technology foundations. The portfolio underpins mission-critical operations, including high-volume teaching, advanced research computing, clinical and laboratory systems, and 24/7 digital services across multiple campuses. You will lead a wide-ranging portfolio that includes enterprise networks, data centres, hybrid cloud platforms, compute and storage, research technology, field services, end-user computing and AV/learning space technology. You will drive a modernisation agenda that improves performance, strengthens enterprise resilience, enhances cyber-readiness, and ensures the University’s foundational services are scalable, secure and future-ready. A central responsibility of the role is leading a cultural and service excellence uplift across the Infrastructure, Research and Client Technology portfolio. You will strengthen accountability, enhance operational maturity, embed consistent ways of working, and build a customer-focused service culture that improves reliability, responsiveness and trust across the University. This includes modernising frontline support and field operations, uplifting AV and teaching space support, and advancing contemporary engineering practices across infrastructure teams. You will ensure the University’s research community is supported with secure, high-performance research computing, specialist scientific platforms, data-intensive workflow capability, and advanced storage environments. You will also uplift multi-campus client technology services across field operations, AV design and delivery, teaching space technology and end-user compute, ensuring consistent, high-quality support across a large and diverse digital environment. About you (skills, capabilities and experience) You are an experienced technology executive with deep expertise in delivering large-scale infrastructure, research technology and client service portfolios within complex environments. You will bring: Extensive leadership experience in ICT infrastructure, networks, platforms or research technology A proven ability to modernise legacy environments and uplift operational maturity Experience overseeing field services, AV/learning space technology and end-user computing at scale Strong capability with cloud and hybrid platforms, including AWS or Azure Expertise in delivering resilient, scalable and secure technology foundations Experience supporting advanced research computing, data-intensive workloads or specialist research platforms Demonstrated ability to build high-performing specialist teams and shape culture Strong stakeholder management and communication capability A track record of managing competing priorities in complex, multi-faceted environments Key Benefits of Working at the University of Sydney Generous superannuation with a University contribution of 17% of your base salary. Tax-effective salary packaging options, including novated leases, laptops and additional superannuation contributions. Purpose-driven work contributing to meaningful projects that support teaching, research and innovation at a world-leading university. Health and wellbeing benefits, including access to the Fitness Passport program and discounted memberships at University sports and fitness facilities. Professional recognition and impact gained through working at a globally respected, top-ranked university. Sponsorship / work rights for Australia You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. Term and remuneration The successful candidate will be offered a competitive remuneration package commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and the candidate’s relevant experience and qualifications. Pre-employment checks Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment. To keep our community safe, please be aware of our COVID safety precautions which form our conditions of entry for all staff, students and visitors coming to campus. EEO statement At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion. How to apply Applications (including a CV and cover letter outlining how your skills, capabilities and experience meet the requirements for the role) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. Please refer to the position description for further details. Click to view the Position Description for this role. For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply. For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Lucy Porter (Senior Talent Partner, Recruitment Operations, Human Resources) by email lucy.porter@sydney.edu.au Please note that the University will be observing its seasonal shutdown from Friday, 19 December (last day of operations) and will reopen on Tuesday, 6 January. During this period, our team will be offline and unable to respond to queries. We’ll get back to you as soon as we return. © The University of Sydney The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment. Applications Close Friday 09 January 2026 11:59 PM Our team is expanding, and we want to hire the most talented people we can. Continued success depends on it! So once you've had a chance to explore our current open positions, apply to the ones you feel suit you best and keep track of both your progress in the selection process, and new postings that might interest you! The University values are excellence, trust and accountability. The University of Sydney is committed to diversity and social inclusion. Applications from people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; equity target groups including women, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTIQ; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment. The University of Sydney may conduct routine pre-employment checks before an appointment is made. Want to know more about working at the University of Sydney? https://www.sydney.edu.au/about-us.html