Senior Executive Assistant, Interim Vice Chancellor

Senior Executive Assistant, Interim Vice Chancellor

• 561896

• Canberra / ACT, ACT, Australia, 2601

• Continuing

• Closing at: Apr 16 2026 - 23:55 AEST

**Classification:**ANU Officer 8 (Administration)
Salary package:$121,359 to 129,772 per annum plus 17% superannuation
Terms: Full time, Continuing

The ANU is looking for leaders to join the Office of the Interim Vice-Chancellor (IVC) as Senior Executive Assistant. This is a unique opportunity to step into a high‐impact role at the centre of University leadership, providing strategic and operational support to the Interim Vice-Chancellor working closely with the broader Portfolio leadership team. This position operates in a fast-paced, highly complex environment where priorities shift rapidly and where the capacity to anticipate needs, interpret context and exercise judgement is critical. The role offers exceptional exposure to executive decision-making, governance and strategic planning at the highest levels of the institution.

The Role

As the Senior Executive Assistant, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the effective functioning of the Office of the Interim Vice-Chancellor. You will provide high-level executive support to the Interim Vice-Chancellor and senior leadership team, operating with a level of autonomy, discretion and professional maturity expected of those working directly with the University’s most senior leaders.

This role goes well beyond traditional diary and administrative coordination. The Senior Executive Assistant acts as a key conduit between the Vice-Chancellor’s Office and internal and external stakeholders, often serving as the first point of contact for complex, sensitive or confidential matters. You will manage the commitments and schedule of the Interim Vice-Chancellor and Provost with exceptional attention to detail, prioritising competing demands and ensuring seamless workflow across the portfolio. You will also prepare and quality‐assure briefings, advice, correspondence and documentation that inform executive decision‐making, often under tight timeframes and with significant reputational implications.

This opportunity will appeal to a highly experienced EA seeking to operate at a senior executive level, or someone ready to step up to a role with significant exposure, responsibility and influence within the higher education sector. The position requires excellent administrative capability, but also the strategic awareness, political acumen, initiative and sound judgement needed to operate effectively within the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.

To succeed in the role, the Senior Executive Assistant will need the confidence, resilience and judgement to manage multiple high‐stakes tasks and priorities—many of them complex, sensitive and confidential—while maintaining strong relationships and representing the Vice-Chancellor’s Office with professionalism. The successful candidate will also have:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage credibly with senior stakeholders
• A commitment to maintaining confidentiality and applying discretion at all times
• Experience in managing diverse and shifting workloads
• The capacity to work under pressure and manage competing demands with composure
• Well‐developed IT capability and the ability to quickly learn new systems
• A proactive approach to anticipating needs and resolving issues before they escalate
• A strong commitment to service excellence and supporting the strategic priorities of the University

For further information please contact Bhavani Balakishnan, Chief of staff, Office of the Interim Vice Chancellor, [email protected]

The University actively encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For more information on employment opportunities, contact our Indigenous Employment Consultant on [email protected]

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

Application information

In order to apply for this role please make sure that you upload the following documents:

• A statement addressing the selection criteria.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV) which includes the names and contact details of at least three referees (preferably including a current or previous supervisor). If your CV does not include referees you can complete these online when prompted in the application form.

Applications which do not address the selection criteria may not be considered for the position.

Please note: The successful candidate must have rights to live and work in this country and will be required to undergo a background check during the recruitment process. An offer of employment is conditional on satisfactory results.

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