Information Technology Director

Job Description

As the IT Director – Portfolio, Performance and Practice, you will be a transformative leader responsible for elevating how Griffith plans, governs and delivers its digital investment portfolio. This is an opportunity to shape the future of Digital Solutions by strengthening delivery disciplines, uplifting organisational capability and fostering a high-performance culture that enables exceptional outcomes for the University.

You will bring a proven ability to lead autonomously while building highly engaged teams, creating clear standards of excellence and driving sustainable improvements across portfolio management, governance and delivery practices.

Here's how you'll make it matter:

• Provide inspirational leadership for the Portfolio, Performance and Practice function, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Lead the strategic oversight of Griffith’s digital investment portfolio, ensuring initiatives are prioritised, governed effectively and aligned to University strategy and organisational objectives.
• Drive the transformation of portfolio and project delivery practices, uplifting project management maturity, introducing contemporary ways of working and embedding best-practice governance frameworks.
• Establish clear delivery standards, performance expectations and operational disciplines that improve consistency, transparency and successful outcomes across the organisation.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, coaching leaders and practitioners to build capability, strengthen engagement and achieve sustained performance improvements.
• Identify opportunities to improve underperforming functions, implement effective operating models and create environments where teams can thrive and deliver measurable value.
• Partner with senior leaders across the University to strengthen strategic decision-making, shape demand and maximise the impact of digital investments.
• Build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, influencing outcomes through collaboration, credibility and a strong customer-focused approach.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging data, insights and emerging practices to optimise portfolio performance, resource allocation and investment outcomes.
• Oversee financial stewardship of the digital portfolio, ensuring disciplined investment planning, governance and performance reporting.

About You

What matters most is your drive to create a brighter future that benefits all. Through our core principles you'll thrive on seeing the direct and lasting impact you'll have on every community and every future.

You are a strategic and people-focused leader with a demonstrated ability to transform teams, establish operational excellence and deliver results in complex environments. You are equally comfortable setting direction independently and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to achieve organisational outcomes.

You will also have:

• Extensive senior leadership experience managing large-scale digital portfolios, enterprise programs or transformation initiatives within complex organisations.
• A proven track record of leading organisational change, including successfully turning around underperforming teams, improving capability and building high-performance cultures.
• Demonstrated success in uplifting project, program and portfolio management disciplines, implementing governance frameworks and embedding best-practice delivery standards.
• Experience designing and implementing new ways of working that improve efficiency, delivery performance, transparency and organisational outcomes.
• Strong commercial, financial and strategic acumen, including oversight of significant budgets, investment planning and performance management.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and build trusted partnerships across all organisational levels.
• A leadership style that balances strategic thinking with hands-on execution, empowering teams while maintaining accountability for outcomes.
• Postgraduate qualifications in information technology, business, digital transformation or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of qualifications and experience.

What we can offer
This is a full time, fixed term opportunity for 12 months (with possibility of extending for the right candidate) primarily based at Griffith University Brisbane South (Nathan). As Griffith is a multi-site University you may be required to work across other locations.

Griffith University’s sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

Salary Range
This position will be offered on a Senior Contract with a competitive salary package negotiated with the successful candidate.

Additional Information

Why join Griffith?  
As a values-led organisation, at Griffith University, we've worked hard to create a dynamic and strong organisational culture. We offer: 

• Wide range of Learning and Development opportunities 

• Mix of on campus and work from home options available and a supportive work environment 

• Salary packaging options and corporate health discounts 

• Generous leave entitlements including paid parental leave and leave loading 

• Support with future learning opportunities through our educational staff assistance scheme 

• Opportunities for internal mobility 

• Health Safety and Wellbeing initiatives – on campus Gym facilities 

At Griffith, we’re committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all - whoever you are and wherever you’re from. If you require any accommodations, we welcome you to let us know so we can work with you to participate fully in our recruitment experience.

Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. For more information please visit our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion page. Our University is committed to fostering a safe, respectful and inclusive community for all. In alignment with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (2025), Griffith University includes a declaration as part of the recruitment journey to uphold the values and standards of our community. Griffith University also maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of modern slavery. For more information, please refer to Griffith’s Modern Slavery Policy. 

How to apply 

Please submit your application online and ensure it includes the following: 

• A covering letter outlining your suitability for the role please refer to the qualifications above and the position description.

• Current curriculum vitae/resume including full contact details 

For application and recruitment advice please contact Laura Whitworth, Talent Acquisition Partner at l.whitworth-matthews@griffith.edu.au

Closing date: Wednesday 29th July at 11:59pm. All applications must be submitted online.

Company Description

Every institution values excellence. What matters most is why.
Griffith was created to be a different type of university. You’ll find we’re about leading research, academic excellence, and the transformative power of education. But what sets us apart is why those things matter and how you’ll achieve them.

Why? Griffith brings together exceptional minds like yours from across the globe and from all walks of life. Here, we do incredible work, questioning and challenging, always in the pursuit of excellence.

Digital Solutions is Griffith’s strategic technology partner, delivering innovative digital capabilities that support our students, researchers and community. Working within a contemporary operating model, the team is modernising technologies, strengthening digital investment governance and enabling sustainable delivery of strategic initiatives across the University.