Director Sector Risk and Compliance

The Director, Sector Risk and Compliance will operate under broad direction and draw on their significant leadership experience to influence and set the strategic direction for the Compliance and Investigations, Financial Advisory and Risk, and Sector Intelligence teams. They will translate strategy into operational goals and standards, create plans, provide expert advice, manage performance and risks, and have demonstrated experience in achieving results and business process improvements.
The Director will demonstrate high levels of judgement, using data and other forms of intelligence to inform decision-making around Sector Risk and provider compliance. Working collaboratively across the agency, they will proactively address compliance issues, efficiently allocate resources, and build upon existing systems and processes to improve overall performance. They will communicate with influence by anticipating and adapting messages to their target audience, gain stakeholder support through persuasive negotiation and be able to identify common ground to facilitate agreement and acceptance on highly complex and/or sensitive matters.
The Director will initiate, establish, and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, capitalising on the knowledge within the agency as well as consulting externally where appropriate, to drive and implement a culture of change and continuous improvement. They will be instrumental in providing decision-makers with the information and strategic guidance necessary to understand provider and Sector Risks to maintain the integrity and reputation of the Australian higher education system and to protect the interests of students.
This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to build upon existing Risk and Compliance frameworks and systems to provide a contemporary regulatory practice for Australian higher education.
The key duties of the position include
As Director, Sector Risk and Compliance, you will be responsible and accountable for:

• Maintaining a high level of knowledge regarding regulatory best practice, relevant legislation and Government requirements relating to the higher education sector.
• Providing the group with strategic, values driven leadership with a keen focus on coaching and capability development, maintaining a strong team culture, and ensuring the operating model is contemporary, fit-for-purpose and conducive to continuous improvement.
• Establishing a new strategic and data-driven intelligence function at TEQSA to monitor, analyse, evaluate, and report on sector-specific risks.
• Leading TEQSA's compliance monitoring and assessment function, taking a risk-based approach to prioritisation of resources.
• Building and sustaining productive and influential relationships with a network of key stakeholders including registered providers, peak bodies, government, and other agencies, to facilitate cooperation and ensure high quality support and services are delivered, objectives achieved, and future needs addressed.
• Fostering collaborative relationships to lead the development of information and sector intelligence sharing processes across TEQSA including working with key stakeholders across the Information Technology, Regulatory Operations and Legal functions.
• Providing insights and recommendations to the Executive Leadership Team, Commission and relevant stakeholders to guide strategic decision making, including developing and presenting high-level reports and briefings on sector trends, underlying forces, and potential threats.
• Assisting in the development of sector-specific communications and policies, as well as influencing TEQSA's strategic and innovation plans to proactively address emerging trends and developments.
• Acting as a principal advisor on complex and/or sensitive regulatory matters, analysing and interpreting information and using sound judgement to choose an appropriate course of action.
• Participating in TEQSA's senior management group and the Regulatory Operations leadership team, actively contributing to corporate management and related statutory responsibilities including strategic planning, reporting, corporate and budgetary tasks to deliver organisational outcomes and deliverables.
• Performing other duties as directed.

Our ideal candidate
TEQSA is looking for a high-performing leader who is passionate about contributing to contemporary regulation for the excellence of Australian higher education.
Our ideal candidate will demonstrate:

1. effective senior leadership experience, with the ability to establish, lead and coach high performing teams to meet organisational objectives, working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
2. high-level analytical and problem-solving skills, including proficiency in taking a proactive, insight-driven approach to risk identification and making sound, evidence-based recommendations to senior executives.
3. outstanding interpersonal and stakeholder management skills to build influential relationships with key stakeholders to harness opportunities and gain buy-in for strategic initiatives.
4. exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and communicate effectively with senior executives.
5. knowledge of the Australian higher education's regulatory landscape and TEQSA's role, including trends and risks, or the ability to quickly acquire this knowledge.