Manager, Research Partnerships

Req ID: 7463

Date: 17 Jun 2026

Site: VCCC (Parkville)

Location:

MELBOURNE, VIC, AU, 3000

Company: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Unit: Office Of Cancer Research

Division: Cancer Research

Department: Office Of Cancer Research

Enterprise Agreement: Health and Allied Services, Managers and Administr

Office Of Cancer Research

YOUR ROLE IN OUR FUTURE

Manager, Research Partnerships

Ongoing, Full-Time position - 80 hours per fortnight with monthly ADOs.
CBD location, with flexible, hybrid working.
Up to $140,000.00 - $155,000.00 base salary + salary packaging + super + 5 weeks annual leave.

About the role

The Manager, Research Partnerships plays a pivotal role in fostering and nurturing effective relationships with academic research organisations, medical research institutes, industry, government, and identifying partnership opportunities for Peter Mac. In addition to supporting the development and coordination of large, often multi-organisational research partnerships, this role also spearheads special initiatives under development within the research and business ventures directorates. This is an Ongoing, Full-Time position, 80 hours per fortnight with monthly ADOs.

About you

You will have exceptional written communication skills, capable of articulating complex or technical concepts across various formats, whilst you would also bring demonstrable planning and organisational skills, including experience in establishing priorities, resource allocation, and meeting deadlines effectively.

You'll bring with you:

A qualification in a biomedical, biotechnology, science or business-related field, complemented by relevant experience.
Demonstrated track record in developing successful complex business cases and proposals, preferably for multiple stakeholders and/or high-value initiatives.
Highly developed conceptual, analytical, and evaluation skills, with the ability to develop creative and commercially sound solutions to complex problems and business requirements in collaboration with external partners.
Superior interpersonal communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to liaise, mediate, and influence stakeholders.
Proven project management skills, including the ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and maintain composure and tact in challenging circumstances.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise judgment, and initiative in problem identification and resolution.

Our benefits

We offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally, including:

Up to $11,660 in salary packaging to increase your take home pay
Discounted health insurance and eye care
A comprehensive health and wellbeing program
Public transport options at our doorstep and end of trip facilities for cyclists
Onsite eateries and coffee shops and inviting rooftop garden spaces
Pathways for professional development and new career opportunities
Five weeks annual leave, 17.5% leave loading, purchased leave options & ADOs
Flexible, hybrid working practices

Inclusion and belonging

Peter Mac celebrates, values and supports a diverse and inclusive environment which reflects our vibrant community. We encourage applications from anyone identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also welcome anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, linguistically, culturally and/or gender diverse, people with disability, and people of any age to apply for our roles.

Join us!

If you feel this role is right for you we warmly invite you to apply, and encourage your early application. All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory police check and may include vaccination requirements. Should you need assistance or require any adjustments or accommodations to fully participate in the application or interview process, you are welcome to reach out to the contact person listed. We acknowledge that not all applicants will meet the full list of selection criteria outlined, and wherever possible we will consider applications where relevant experience can apply.

Applicants to this role should provide a covering letter outlining relative key skills and experience to assist us with our assessment.

For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position summary. Alternatively, please contact us using the information below for a confidential discussion.

Hiring Manager: Ricky Johnstone

Email: Ricky.Johnstone@petermac.org

Applications Close: 11.59pm Wednesday 8 July 2026.

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Position Summary

The Manager, Research Partnerships plays a pivotal role in fostering and nurturing effective relationships with academic research organisations, medical research institutes, industry, government, and identifying partnership opportunities for Peter Mac. In addition to supporting the development and coordination of large, often multi-organisational research partnerships, this role also spearheads special initiatives under development within the research and business ventures directorates. This includes playing a central role in managing the development of significant projects, providing strategic guidance, negotiating key commercial initiatives, and leading cross-functional groups to ensure the successful inception, management, and initial implementation of strategic initiatives. These activities will be conducted in alignment to strategic objectives outlined in Peter Mac’s Research Strategy and under the leadership and guidance of internal stakeholders, notably the Executive Director Cancer Research and Director, Partnerships and Enterprise.

Enterprise Agreement

HAS

Classification or Salary Range

05

Immunisation Risk Category

Category C: Position within a non-clinical setting.

Key Relationships

Internal	Executive Director Cancer Research Director, Partnerships and Enterprise Executive Director Business Ventures Associate Directors, Research Members of the Partnerships & Enterprise teams Other Executive Directors Other Directors, notably Commericalisation
External	Industry, Universities, Medical Research Institutes, other Academic organisations and relevant government agencies or departments

Skills

Essential

A qualification in a biomedical, biotechnology, science or business-related field, complemented by relevant experience.
Demonstrated track record in developing successful complex business cases and proposals, preferably for multiple stakeholders and/or high-value initiatives.
Highly developed conceptual, analytical, and evaluation skills, with the ability to develop creative and commercially sound solutions to complex problems and business requirements in collaboration with external partners.
Exceptional written communication skills, capable of articulating complex or technical concepts across various formats.
Exceptional planning and organisational skills, including experience in establishing priorities, resource allocation, and meeting deadlines effectively.
Superior interpersonal communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to liaise, mediate, and influence stakeholders.
Proven project management skills, including the ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and maintain composure and tact in challenging circumstances.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise judgment, and initiative in problem identification and resolution.

Desirable

Demonstrated networks or links with industry and/or government, and/or academic stakeholders would be advantageous.

Key Accountabilities

Key Accountabilities	Demonstrated by / Key Performance Indicators
Strategic Partnership Development	Contribute to the development and management of major research-driven industry, healthcare, and academic initiatives and partnerships, locally, regionally, and internationally. Lead major research driven partnership projects, directed by the Executive Director Cancer Research (EDCR) and Director Partnerships and Enterprise, and collaborating closely with the Global Industry Research Alliance team. Support the development of strategically important opportunities that require academic and/or commercial and/or government partnerships. Coordinate the development of teams with representation from various departments to support large-scale research-focused opportunities for Peter Mac. Provide guidance to clinicians, researchers, and senior managers in developing partnership opportunities and business cases.
Business Case Development	Develop innovative research-directed business cases to secure strategic partnerships with industry, academia and government focusing on implementing the research strategic plan, revenue growth and enhancing reputation and impact. Formulate project plans and business cases to successfully prosecute both the Peter Mac research strategy and the Peter Mac organisational strategy.
Advanced Stakeholder Management	Develop and maintain robust relationships with key stakeholders within Peter Mac and partner organisations to identify significant opportunities for collaboration. Work with laboratory, translational, clinical and health services researchers and galvanise support from across the organisation to deliver on partnership activities and outcomes. Work collegially and collaboratively with other members of the Research and Business Ventures Division, drawings on other team members skills and capacity, to collectively achieve outcomes.

Key Accountabilities (Contd..)

Key Accountabilities

Demonstrated by / Key Performance Indicators

External Representation and Relationship Management

Cultivate strong relationships with industry, medical, academic, government and other relevant organisations to explore new engagement opportunities related to the organisation’s strategic objectives.
Represent Peter Mac at research-related industry, healthcare, academic, government, and community forums.
Liaise with industry, academic research, government, and community partners to fulfill Peter Mac's strategic research and business ventures objectives.

Program and Project Management

Effectively manage multiple and complex programs, projects and competing priorities, ensuring momentum is maintained towards achieving objectives

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For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position profile. Alternatively, please contact us for a confidential discussion.

Peter Mac is a child safe organisation and has a commitment to child safety and wellbeing.

WHY WORK FOR PETER MAC

Peter Mac offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally.
Our staff benefits include award winning facilities, professional development and events, a health and wellbeing program, flexible work practices and policies and financial benefits such as salary packaging.
We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.