Senior Strategy Manager

About AARNet

Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet) was established in 1989 and is widely regarded as the founder of the Internet in Australia and renowned as the architect, builder, and operator of world-class network infrastructure for research and education.

As Australia’s National Research and Education Network (NREN). We connect over one million users — researchers, faculty, staff, students, hospitals, vocational training providers, schools, and museums — across Australia.

We are an organisation of innovators, doers, and courageous thinkers. We don’t settle for the status quo; instead, we anticipate the future needs of our customers and build solutions today.

Role Purpose

The Senior Strategy Manager is responsible for developing, driving and monitoring the organisation’s long-term strategic direction. This role partners closely with the executive leadership to identify growth opportunities, and evaluate market trends and ongoing conditions. The Senior Strategy Manager is the conduit that allows strategic vision and priorities to be translated into actionable plans that deliver sustainable and measurable business impact.

This role will support the Director Product & Commercial and be accountable for the operational aspects of the annual strategic planning process. This includes facilitating executive and senior leadership workshops including but not limited to the annual planning and revision sessions, collaborating across the company and externally with subject matter experts, and presenting to the AARNet Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and the AARNet Board as required.

The Senior Strategy Manager is accountable for measuring strategy execution through aligned KPIs and partnering with Executives to monitor progress and mitigation efforts.With proven and relevant experience in the telecommunication sector, the Senior Strategy Manager will be astute to changes in the dynamic landscape and interpret these into potential threats and opportunities for AARNet. They will also be adept in sourcing data and performing high quality analysis. The Senior Strategy Manager will support executive workstream leaders in the strategic evaluation of programs and objectives, ensuring ongoing alignment to the corporate direction of AARNet.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Lead the development of short, and medium-term business strategies aligned with company vision and goals.
• Translate strategic objectives into clear and actionable initiatives and roadmaps, with clearly articulated and measurable outcomes.
• Monitor the execution of strategic initiatives and collaborate with stakeholders to accelerate progress and ensure timely delivery.

Market & Competitive Analysis

• Analyse market trends, customer insights, and competitive dynamics to ensure an ongoing understanding of the threat and opportunity landscape as applicable to AARNet.
• Identify growth opportunities, risks, and potential areas for differentiation.
• Lead strategic assessments for new markets, products, or business models or ideas.

Business Performance & Insights

• Develop frameworks and KPIs to track strategic performance.
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to executive leadership.
• Support annual planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work cross-functionally with Product, Operations, and Customer Relations, Finance, and People & Culture, to align strategy and execution.
• Present strategic recommendations to the executive team and Board.

Expertise, experience & qualifications

• Relevant degree in Business, Economics, Finance, or a related field (MBA or equivalent preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in strategy, management consulting, corporate development, or a related role, preferably in a Telecommunications orTechnology enironment.
• Proven experience developing and executing business strategies including market analysis and investment cases.
• Knowledge of the Research and Education sector preferred but not essential.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Experience working closely with executive leadership and board of directors.
• Ability to operate in an ambiguous environment
• Advanced communication skills in influencing, presentation and storytelling.
• Must have a strategic mindset with a hands-on execution approach.

Conditions of employment

• AARNet is committed to diversity and providing equal opportunity to all. We are a great place to work if you want to make a difference. Remuneration will be based on skills and experience and will include an above-market superannuation package.
• At AARNet, all employees are responsible for:
•  Actively promoting safe work practices in the workplace ensuring all activities are consistent with AARNet’s policies and comply with all WH&S legislation, policies, and procedures;
• Actively contributing to a safe and supportive working environment that is inclusive of all staff;
• Compliance with all workplace directions and processes;
• Compliance with the applicable contract of employment; and
• Maintaining a standard of performance that is acceptable to AARNet.