Data and Economic Strategist

Deakin, Australian Capital Territory 2600, Australia

Full-time Contract Mid-level Senior

Posted 25 Aug 2026

Description

About Universities Australia

Universities Australia (UA) is the national peak body collectively representing Australia's 38 comprehensive universities. Its key role is to assist in securing, through policy development and political advocacy, a policy, regulatory, and funding environment that supports the maintenance of a world class university system.

UA also promotes the role of university education and research in underpinning national economic, social, and cultural wellbeing. The organisation seeks to ensure that relevant policy discussion is as well informed as possible through the development and prosecution of whole-of-sector policy positions.

It provides representation to relevant committees, advisory groups and working parties, pursues and implements agreements with international bodies that facilitate member engagement and builds and executes issue specific campaigns.

Universities Australia assists its members by serving as a hub for the exchange of information, ideas and learning across the sector.

Role overview

Universities Australia is building a stronger, more strategic approach to how data and evidence shape national higher education policy. This role exists to turn complex data into clear insight, strengthen sector-wide decision-making, and lead the development of Universities Australia's organisation-wide data strategy.

This position will help shape national higher education policy by delivering rigorous analytics on university funding, student outcomes, research performance, economic contribution and workforce needs.

This is a high-impact role for someone who wants to sit at the intersection of data, policy, economic analysis and executive decision-making - with visibility across the university sector and influence at the highest levels.

Reporting to the Senior Director: Policy Futures and Reform, and working closely with the Executive and Leadership Group, you will:

• Lead the design and implementation of UA's data strategy, aligning data capability with organisational priorities
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, translating complex analysis into clear, decision-ready insights
• Shape how data is used across advocacy, public communications, and policy development
• Build stronger data governance, literacy, and analytical capability across the organisation
• Engage with senior stakeholders across government, universities, and the research community
• You will be the person people come to when the question is: "What does the data really tell us - and what should we do about it?"

Key responsibilities

Strategic data leadership

Design and deliver a whole-of-organisation data strategy, including:

• Identifying data gaps and quality issues
• Strengthening governance, security and analytical practices
• Lifting organisational data literacy and capability

• Advise the Executive and Board on data-driven insights relevant to national higher education reform

Analysis, insight and storytelling

• Analyse large, complex datasets to support economic and policy analysis
• Track and interpret major Australian and international data releases
• Develop compelling data visualisations, dashboards and briefings
• Translate technical findings into clear narratives for non-technical audiences

Policy and sector engagement

• Contribute evidence and analysis to policy submissions, thought pieces, Board papers and sector briefings
• Support working groups as a subject-matter expert
• Collaborate across Strategy & Policy, Corporate, and Public Affairs teams to ensure data strengthens advocacy and communications

Capabilities and experience

Technical and analytical capability

• Advanced data analysis skills
• Experience working with large datasets and analytics tools such as Power BI, Tableau or similar
• Strong analytical judgement - you know which data matters and why

Strategic and communication skills

• Ability to synthesise complex information into policy-relevant insights
• Confidence explaining data to senior leaders and non-technical audiences
• Strong written capability across briefs, submissions and executive papers

Ways of working

• High degree of ownership and accountability
• Collaborative worker who builds trust and works constructively across teams
• Comfortable working across multiple priorities in a fast-moving policy environment
• Curious, adaptable, and motivated by impact rather than routine reporting

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field (e.g. data science, economics, statistics, analytics or related discipline).

Personal attributes

• Sound judgement and discretion.
• Strategic, practical and solutions focused.
• Curious, analytical and adaptable.
• Collaborative and relationship focused.

REPORTS TOSenior Director: Policy Futures and Reform

DIRECT REPORTSNil

What we offer:

• Competitive salary with options for 12%, 15.4% or 17% super depending on preference
• Flexible hybrid work model, including remote days and core-hours scheduling.
• Salary packaging options that can improve your take home pay
• Generous parental leave entitlements
• FREE annual flu vaccinations
• FREE parking
• Access to free guidance and counselling through our Employee Assistance Program
• A vibrant, inclusive culture.

Universities Australia welcomes people from all backgrounds and values the different experiences, perspectives and strengths each person brings. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, LGBTQIA+ people, people of all ages, neurodivergent people, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Additional Information

Interstate residents will be considered for this role noting that travel will be expected from time to time.