Description

Vice-President (Advancement and Engagement)

Location: Canberra, Australia
Salary: A competitive salary will be negotiated with the preferred candidate
Terms: Five year, full-time, fixed-term
Applications close: Sunday 25 October 2026 AEDT

The Australian National University (ANU) seeks an exceptional senior leader to serve as our next Vice-President (Advancement and Engagement). This role is a member of the University Executive Committee and central to advancing the University’s philanthropic ambition, institutional reputation and national mission. 

About ANU:

As Australia’s national university, ANU delivers research of consequence, educates for leadership and convenes for national benefit. We are consistently ranked among the world’s leading universities and are proud to have been ranked in the top two per cent globally and fourth nationally in the QS World University Rankings for 2027.

ANU has a proud history of philanthropy, including the remarkable Tuckwell Gift in 2013, the largest donation made by individuals to an Australian university at that time, and transformative scholarships such as the Kambri Scholarship program, a $50 million endowment supporting Indigenous students to study at ANU with financial, academic and pastoral support.   

The role:

Philanthropy, engagement, government relations, strategic communications and brand are critical to how ANU fulfils our responsibilities. The Vice-President (Advancement and Engagement) provides strategic leadership across these integrated functions, designing and delivering fundraising activity, strengthening institutional reputation and building enduring relationships with donors, alumni, government, industry, community partners and friends of the University. 

Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and President and working closely with the Chancellor, the Vice-President fosters a cohesive, high-performing culture across the Advancement and Engagement Portfolio and works collaboratively with senior leaders across the University.

The position is responsible for ensuring the University’s philanthropy, alumni relations, communications, media, brand, government relations and institutional engagement activities support the priorities of the University Strategic Plan, strengthen institutional reputation and influence, achieve fundraising objectives, and reflect best practice across the sector.

The Vice-President is responsible for identifying opportunities to deepen relationships with existing and prospective donors, alumni, government and strategic partners; coordinating institutional engagement activities across the University; and ensuring the effective stewardship of key relationships that support the University’s long-term objectives.

Requirements

The successful candidate will be an accomplished advancement and communications executive with a record of securing major philanthropic gifts, leading strategic communications and building institutional brand and reputation, and leading complex engagement portfolios. They will bring strategic insight, professional confidence and the ability to operate at the highest levels nationally and internationally.

As a senior representative of ANU, the Vice-President will establish and sustain strong relationships across the University Academic Colleges and Service Divisions, and with external individuals, communities, institutions and organisations that are critical to supporting the innovation and activity of ANU.

Contact and confidential enquiries:

Heidrick & Struggles is supporting ANU with this search process. For further information about the opportunity or for a confidential conversation please contact Janelle Entwistle or Tanu Mehta at anuvpae@heidrick.com or on +61 411 419 680. A comprehensive candidate pack including Position Description and Selection Criteria is available on request. 

Applications close: 11:55 pm Sunday 25 October 2026 AEDT

Exploratory stakeholder meetings, presentations and/or psychometric testing may be required as part of the selection process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

Please note: The preferred candidate will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment declarations and background checks relevant to the role they have applied for, in accordance with the Background Checking Procedure and the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence.  

The University actively encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For more information on employment opportunities, contact our Indigenous Employment Consultant on indigenous.employment@anu.edu.au  

ANU values diversity and inclusion and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to those of all backgrounds and identities. For more information about staff equity at ANU, visit https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources/respect-inclusion.

As a member of our ANU community you will enjoy a great range of staff benefits:

At ANU we are committed to providing a distinctively inclusive, supportive and collegial environment in which to learn and work. As a member of our ANU staff community, you will enjoy a great range of benefits including:

• Professional and personal development and training opportunities
• 4 weeks of annual leave plus an end of year shutdown period
• 20 days of personal leave on commencement (accrue 25 days p.a. after 3 years of service)
• Generous superannuation package
• Staff and Family Tuition discount
• ANU Staff Health Insurance
• ANU Staff Travel Benefits
• Access to salary packaging for vehicles, e-bikes, technology and more
• On Campus childcare with priority enrolment for ANU Staff
• Industry-leading parental leave provisions
• Commitment to gender equality