Graduate Research Liaison Coordinator

About the Graduate Research Academy (GRA)

Macquarie University is seeking a Graduate Research Liaison Coordinator to join its Graduate Research Academy (GRA). The GRA is a central office providing leadership, support, and administration for Graduate Research students, supervisors, departments, and faculties. It coordinates structured graduate research training programs to support progressive academic and professional skills development, aligning with models from leading universities worldwide.

Staff within the GRA partner with faculties to support graduate researchers throughout their candidature. The vision is to deliver an exceptional research training experience, building from basic training through the unique Master of Research program to more advanced research training as part of the Doctor of Philosophy.

A key objective of the GRA is to develop distinctive, connected, and career-focused graduate research programs that meet individual researcher needs and support employability. This includes enhancing opportunities for internships and innovative industry-linked graduate research programs, and growing international partnerships with leading universities worldwide to support joint PhDs and international experiences for graduate researchers.

About the Role

As a trusted business partner for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the Graduate Research Liaison Coordinator provides advice and support to the Associate Dean, Research Training and Performance, faculty staff, and GRA colleagues on a wide range of areas. This includes developing strategies to enhance recruitment, identifying research training and development needs, coordinating external partnership activity, implementing initiatives to improve the candidate experience, and triaging and managing complex cases and appeals.

Selection Criteria

• A degree or progress towards a degree with significant relevant experience, or extensive experience and management expertise in the student administration field, or a combination of relevant experience and/or education and/or training in a field of university administration.
• Highly developed interpersonal and relationship management skills to liaise, consult, negotiate, and influence a wide range of people at all levels within the organisation.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in promoting a client-focused approach to the delivery and management of services.
• Demonstrated project management skills with an ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high quality outcomes in a complex environment with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to think strategically and to use initiative and apply new ways of thinking to identify and solve problems.
• Understanding of the current national and international research training landscape and the higher education sector.
• Excellent computing and presentation skills, including a sound working knowledge of Microsoft Suite of programs.

Pre-Employment Checks

Macquarie University cultivates a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity. Prior to completion of an offer of employment, preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for. Your employment is conditional upon the completion and maintenance of all role-required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University.

How to Apply

To be considered, please apply online with your CV and a cover letter outlining how your experience meets the selection criteria above. Submission of applications is open until Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (AEDT). Macquarie University reserves the right to progress or decline an application prior to the application closing date, and to close the advertisement early if a sufficient number of qualified applicants is received.

Why Join Us?

Macquarie is a university engaged with the real and often complex problems and opportunities that define our lives. Since its foundation in 1964, it has aspired to be a different type of university. Over the years, Macquarie University has grown to become the centre of a vibrant local and global community. The university ranks amongst the top employers in the Australian Workplace Employers Index, having recently earned a five-star rating in the QS World Rankings with the highest rating for employability.

Benefits include: Flexible, hybrid work arrangements, 17% Superannuation, subsidised onsite parking options, extensive training and professional development programs, onsite childcare facilities, onsite vacation care during school holidays, discounted health insurance, subsidised membership at the Sport & Aquatic Centre, access to an Employee Assistance Program, and convenient onsite GP, imaging, and physiotherapy clinics.

A Place Where You Belong

At Macquarie, diversity makes the university stronger, inclusion drives success, and belonging inspires the best work. Macquarie University fosters a community where different backgrounds, identities, and experiences are valued, and where people are empowered to thrive through supportive leadership, shared responsibility, and a deep commitment to genuine care and respect for its community. More information about the vision for an inclusive workplace can be found in their Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Framework.

Flexible Work

Macquarie University believes that by providing flexibility in when, where, and how work is done, they can support staff to manage personal commitments while optimising work performance and contributions to the University. Learn more about their culture and hiring process on the Jobs at Macquarie page.

Key skills/competency

• Student Administration
• Project Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Recruitment Strategy
• Partnership Coordination
• Interpersonal Skills
• Client-Focused Service
• Problem Solving
• Higher Education Sector Knowledge