Director, Estate, Infrastructure and Campus Services
James Cook University
Custodian of a uniquely diverse $1.5B estate portfolio
One of Australia’s leading and most impactful universities
Live and work in the tropics – where opportunity meets lifestyle
The Organisation
James Cook University (JCU) is one of the world’s leading institutions focusing on the tropics. With campuses in Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Mount Isa, Emerald and specialised field stations spanning the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage listed rainforests, JCU plays a pivotal role in enabling research, education and community impact across the region. Guided by the values of Authenticity, Excellence, Integrity and Respect, JCU is committed to creating a sustainable future for its students, staff, partners and communities.
The Opportunity
JCU is seeking to appoint a Director, Estate, Infrastructure and Campus Services - an executive leader responsible for the strategic management, development and operational delivery of the University’s diverse property and infrastructure portfolio. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director will lead a team of 70+ staff and a large outsourced workforce. This position carries strategic accountability for JCU’s estate—spanning ~300 properties, major campuses, regional centres and multiple research stations—with an asset value of ~$1.5B. The role leads master planning, capital program delivery, space optimisation, property consolidation, and facilities operations ensuring the estate supports JCU’s academic, research and community priorities.
To effectively deliver these responsibilities, the role is based at JCU’s Townsville Bebegu Yumba campus, with an expectation to reside in Townsville.
About You
You are an experienced property, capital works or multi site facilities leader with strong capability in managing large portfolios and complex operational environments. You bring:
Relevant tertiary qualifications and experience across enterprise-level strategic planning and resource stewardship, including responsibility for significant human, financial and physical resources, and delivery of outcomes across a large and diverse portfolio. Experience within the higher education or similarly complex public-sector environment would be advantageous.
Advanced expertise in financial and strategic resource management, with a proven ability to oversee and optimise substantial budgets, ensure value for money and support long-term financial and sustainability aligned to organisational priorities.
Highly developed communication and stakeholder leadership skills, with demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships, influence outcomes, and effectively negotiate with senior leaders, academic and professional staff, industry partners, government, and delivery partners, leveraging external networks and sector engagement to inform best practice and support successful outcomes.
Expert knowledge of and demonstrated experience in estate management principles and practice, including capital planning, infrastructure strategy, space and asset management, with the ability to shape and influence institution-wide estate strategy and implement best-practice frameworks.
Demonstrated capability to lead enterprise program delivery, with accountability for performance, including quality assurance, risk management and continuous improvement, and the development and implementation of robust policies, systems and governance frameworks.
Strong stakeholder leadership skills, with the ability to work closely with academic, research, industry, government and community partners.
A hands on, visible and collaborative leadership style, capable of balancing strategic planning with operational execution.
Commitment to the mission, regional context and broader JCU community.
To review a detailed Success Profile for the opportunity please visit the role microsite using the following link:
How to Apply
If you are a strategic, commercially astute and values-driven leader looking to shape the future of a major university estate, we invite you to apply.
To apply, please submit your CV and a brief cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining your capability and motivation to Watermark Search International at search@watermarksearch.com.au quoting Ref No A006257. We will reply to the email address used for your application.
For a confidential discussion, please call Will Wilson or Alison Myatt of Watermark Search International on (07) 3020 0316.
Applications close: 11:59PM AEST on Tuesday, 31 March 2026