Chief operating officer, Melbourne

Melbourne University Publishing

Melbourne University Publishing (MUP) is looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated and skilled Chief Operating Officer (COO).

MUP, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Melbourne, is Australia’s first university press. MUP publishes books in fields aligned with the university’s academic strengths across three streams: scholarly, illustrated and trade. MUP also houses the literary journal Meanjin. Our books are available as print and ebooks, and distributed by a commercial distributor.

About the role

The COO works closely with the CEO & Publisher in the management and daily operations of the Press. The COO is responsible for all financial, operational, OH&S, human resources and systems activity, while also maintaining key relationships with external business stakeholders. They make a significant contribution to the strategic planning for the organisation, and are a great communicator. First Peoples, people with disability and candidates from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the management of MUP finances, with accountability for growing and improving financial performance and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Work with the CEO & Publisher to ensure the smooth running of operations, maintaining an inclusive team culture.
• Ensure compliance with OH&S requirements, University of Melbourne policies and procedures, and government workforce requirements.
• Ensure effective recruitment, onboarding, professional development, performance management and offboarding.
• Support the CEO & Publisher in managing relationships with key stakeholders.

Key selection criteria

1. Excellent understanding of all business functions, such as finance, HR, risk management and communications, with a strong understanding of the regulatory framework in which MUP operates.
2. Excellent leadership skills, with a proven ability to liaise with and manage internal and external stakeholders.
3. Well-developed data analysis and performance metrics skills, and a strong working knowledge of hardware, software and cloud-based systems.
4. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage people sensitively.
5. Excellent communication skills, with the demonstrated ability to prepare briefing papers, discussion papers and other documents on a diverse range of matters.
6. Sound management and organisational skills, and the ability to initiate action and monitor workflows in a time-critical environment.

Applications

A full position description is available.

Please submit your resume and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria and your suitability for the role to mup-contact@unimelb.edu.au by COB 17 June 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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