Manager - Student Life And University Events

About the Company

Established in 1951 and ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide*, Australia’s University of Wollongong is a global brand with international campuses in Dubai, Hong Kong and Malaysia. University of Wollongong Dubai (UOWD) offers over 40 internationally recognised bachelor and master degrees spanning 10 in-demand industry sectors. All of our degree courses are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education’s Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and licensed by Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), as well as being recognised by leading professional organisations such as AACSB, ACCA, ACS, CIM, CIPD, CPA, Engineers Australia, PMI, and others. The first internationally accredited Australian university in the UAE, we are the education gateway of choice for over 3,500 students, representing 100+ nationalities. Our global community of 152,000 alumni are pursuing career goals with respected blue-chip companies and industry giants such as 3M, ADCB, Adidas, Amazon, Deloitte, Emirates, FedEx, GE, IBM, Microsoft and Pepsico. Additionally, research reveals that 83%** of fresh graduates are employed within six months of graduation. Life at UOWD is rooted in the continued pursuit of excellence through teaching, research and industry engagement, with the student experience at its heart. Our 200,000-square-foot campus at Dubai Knowledge Park features access to cutting-edge technologies and a mix of traditional and innovative learning spaces, all housed in a vibrant modern setting that promises to deliver an enriched learning experience for our students.

*QS World University Rankings 2023

**Data from the Graduate Destination Survey 2017 to 2020

About the Role

The Manager - Student Life and University Events will manage the delivery of a diverse portfolio of student life activities and university events that enhance student engagement, wellbeing, and campus experience. The role ensures efficient, student-centered operations aligned with university policies, providing short-term support services, extracurricular opportunities, and vibrant on-campus engagement. The role is primarily operational in nature, focused on leading the team and service delivery to achieve outputs in a scalable and efficient manner.

Responsibilities

• Develop and propose the annual Student Life operating plan and oversee its implementation by ensuring the team delivers a diverse calendar of inclusive and engaging student activities.
• Manage and support student clubs, teams and societies in line with UOWD governance standards.
• Manage and support the Student Representative Council (SRC), providing guidance, oversight, and coordination to ensure effective student representation and leadership development.
• Support institutional diversity and inclusion efforts through culturally sensitive programming and collaboration with diverse student groups.
• Coordinate with Careers & Alumni to support delivery of the extracurricular development framework, ensuring Student Life facilitates execution.
• Oversee the management of student transportation services, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient transport options for students.
• Oversee the provision of short-term counselling support services and direct referrals to appropriate long-term resources as required.
• Provide leadership and oversight to the events coordination team responsible for planning and executing university-wide events.
• Monitor and support event logistics including venue booking, scheduling, and coordination with vendors and departments.
• Ensure all university events comply with legal, regulatory, and institutional safety, data, and accessibility requirements.
• Oversee continuous evaluation and reporting on student life and event performance using data insights to drive service improvements.
• Manage the departmental budget efficiently in line with UOWD financial policies.
• Develop, maintain, and refine standard operating procedures for Student Life and Events to ensure consistency, compliance, efficiency and scalability.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Student Life & University Events team to ensure high performance, responsiveness, and alignment to UOWD values.
• Actively contribute to the UOWD Operations Team and cross-departmental initiatives as a functional lead.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Education, Events, Psychology, or Student Affairs).

Required Skills

• 5+ years in student services, event management, or related operational leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to manage teams and coordinate multiple priorities.
• Experience working with diverse customer populations and support services.
• Operational planning and execution.
• Event coordination and stakeholder management.
• Team leadership and coaching.
• Budget and resource management.
• Data-informed decision-making.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Pay range and compensation package

The successful candidate will receive a remuneration package which includes an attractive competitive tax free salary depending on the profile of the candidate and relevant experience, six weeks of paid leave per year, annual air ticket and private medical insurance for self and eligible dependents, life & disability policy, professional development assistance, education allowance for up to 3 eligible children, professional development and fee waiver for self and dependents looking to pursue higher studies.

Equal Opportunity Statement

UOWD is an equal opportunity employer that attracts, develops, motivates, empowers, and retains a diverse workforce.