Careers at TAFE NSW

Senior Manager Partnerships – Manufacturing Centres of Excellence

Location: Newcastle, Wetherill Park or Wollongong Campus

Temporary Full-time until June 2028

$210,025 package includes salary ($185,308), employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading.

At TAFE NSW, we are dedicated to life-changing impact. 

That’s why we offer world-class training and education that delivers the skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow. 

The TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence (MCoE), are National Centres of Excellence, a joint initiative between the Australian Government and NSW Government under the National Skills Agreement.

MCoEs are an innovative education model to tackle the manufacturing skills challenge for NSW and Australia. Located in Western Sydney, the Hunter, and the Illawarra, each centre specialises in different areas. These include advanced manufacturing with robotics and 3D printing, supporting clean energy in net zero manufacturing and sustainable manufacturing practices, supporting the heavy manufacturing industry, and supporting new and existing workforce build the skills they need for the future. 

By partnering with other CoEs, TAFES, universities, and industry, these nationally networked centres ensure training aligns with real-world job requirements. The MCoEs offer short courses, microskills, and will soon deliver higher apprenticeships to help individuals become job-ready or enhance their skills for future opportunities.

Learn more about this initiative by visiting TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence.

About the role

Are you a dynamic leader with a passion for fostering partnerships and driving innovation and results in manufacturing education?

The Senior Partnerships Manager will lead the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the MCoE Strategic Partnership Plan, with a core focus on establishing and sustaining high-impact relationships with key external stakeholders across local, state, and national levels.

This role requires proactive engagement with a broad spectrum of stakeholders including industry leaders, government agencies, academic institutions, and the national TAFE network to foster collaboration, drive innovation, and deliver mutually beneficial outcomes. Through strategic alignment and stakeholder leadership, your efforts will ensure the MCoE are recognised as nation-leading manufacturing education hubs

The successful candidate must be willing to travel regionally as required to the three MCoE campuses at Newcastle, Wetherill Park and Wollongong.

About You 

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic professional who is an influential leader, skilled negotiator, collaborative team player, and exceptional communicator, who is capable of navigating complex stakeholder environments and driving impactful partnerships across sectors.

Your experience working with universities, VET providers, and industry partners has equipped you with a deep understanding of the education and training landscape. You’re known for your ability to foster strong, mutually beneficial relationships, and you’re confident navigating both strategic planning and operational delivery. With a customer-first mindset and a commitment to excellence, you’re ready to lead initiatives that expand MCoE’s reach and impact across communities.

To be successful in this role you will hold a:

• Degree in a relevant discipline OR equivalent skills, knowledge and experience.
• Extensive experience building strong networks and strategic partnerships across numerous sectors and/or industry segments to support the achievement operational and/or service delivery outcomes.
• Demonstrated deep understanding of the manufacturing sector
• Demonstrated experience working within the tertiary education landscape, in particular universities, to deliver strong outcomes for industry

HIGHLY REGARDED

• A proven track record of connecting with key stakeholders to create value for the entire industry through education
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, along with a strategic mindset that enables you to develop and implement innovative partnership strategies

To find out more about the role, click to view the  Position Description.

A career of life-changing impact awaits you. Apply now!

Applications close 11.55pm AEDT Monday 3 November 2025

To apply for this role, click on 'apply now' and provide:

• Your current resume
• Copies of your qualifications (upload as one PDF file). Certified copies preferred; these will be required if successful for the role.
• Response to one targeted question when prompted in the application form (max 300 words)

TARGETED QUESTION: Describe your experience in developing and managing partnerships with universities, VET providers, or industry organisations. What outcomes were achieved through these collaborations?

General recruitment and adjustment enquiries: contact Talent Acquisition Advisor, Ravinder Mansfield via Email: ravinder.mansfield1@tafensw.edu.au or Tel: (02) 7921 2973.  

Role-specific enquiries: contact Kylie Fitzepatrick, Senior Manager Partnerships via Email: kylie.fitzpatrick1@tafensw.edua.u or Tel: 0412 109 595

For helpful insights into preparing your application, TAFE NSW’s recruitment process, and getting interview ready, read through our Application Process and the interactive Capability Application Tool. 

Our commitment to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

We are committed to creating a culturally safe and accessible workplace where dignity, trust, respect, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion are valued, so you can safely bring your whole self to work and connect with your community through our many diverse employee networks.

If you require an adjustment in the recruitment process, please contact our Talent Acquisition Advisor listed above.

This is a child-related position. A Working with Children Check is a prerequisite for anyone in child-related work. It involves a national criminal history check and review of findings of workplace misconduct. 

To be eligible for positions at TAFE NSW, you need to be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand passport.

A talent pool, valid for 18 months, may be created for this position, and position(s) of the same classification that subsequently becomes vacant, may be filled via this recruitment.