Scholarship And Student Programs Manager

Scholarship & Student Programs Manager (STEM Workforce Development)

Australian Power Institute (API)

Full-time or 4 days per week | Work from Home / Cowork space (Melbourne or Brisbane)

- organised enough to run a national university student scholarship program,

- personable enough to build relationships with students and industry professionals,

- confident enough to host live and online events,

- and independent enough to work largely unsupervised (but as part of a tight team of 6 happy people)?

In this role, you'll be responsible for supporting 200+ scholarship students each year throughout their journey, from application and selection through to placements in electricity sector organisations, to professional development opportunities and transition into industry careers.

Help us shape the future workforce of Australia's energy sector

The Australian Power Institute (API) is a national not-for-profit organisation working with industry, universities and students to build the future workforce of Australia's electricity and energy sector. We're a small team of 6 staff, investing $1.8M/year, all funded by our industry partners.

We are recruiting a Scholarship and Student Programs Manager to lead delivery of our flagship PowerUP Undergraduate Scholarship Program and support the development of the next generation of power sector professionals.

A high-impact role, building relationships with talented university students across Australia, connect them with industry opportunities, and help shape their journey from university through to employment in the Australian power sector (ideally with the API’s member organisations).

Working closely with industry leaders, universities and students, you will play a central role in supporting approximately 150-200 scholarship students – generally engineering students - and helping develop the workforce needed to deliver Australia's energy future.

About the role

The Scholarship and Student Programs Manager is the primary relationship manager for API PowerUP scholarship students and is responsible for delivering the programs, opportunities and support that help them succeed.

You will oversee the student journey from scholarship application and onboarding through to placements, professional development opportunities, conferences and transition into employment.

The role combines program management, stakeholder engagement, student development, event delivery and continuous improvement.

This is a role with significant autonomy, flexibility and variety, ideal for someone who enjoys working with people, managing programs and creating meaningful opportunities for students.

What you'll do

Lead the Undergraduate Scholarship Program

• Coordinate annual scholarship recruitment, application, selection and onboarding activities for the national scholarship program, recruiting 50 students from 500+ applicants.
• Lead the selection of students, within input from our industry partners, and other processes that connect students to our members for paid work placements and other activities.
• Maintain scholarship systems, processes and student records.
• Continuously improve the scholarship student experience.

Support scholarship students throughout their journey

• Act as the primary contact for approximately 150-200 scholarship students nationally.
• Build strong relationships with students and support their participation in API opportunities.
• Manage scholarship student communications, engagement and support.
• Monitor student participation, progression and outcomes.

Deliver placement and development programs

• Coordinate scholarship student work placement and allocation activities with the API’s industry partners for 30-50 students each year.
• Lead delivery of the API’s work placement support activities (the Learning Journal Program).
• Organise student briefing sessions and development activities.
• Support students participating in placements, conferences and industry experiences.

Create meaningful opportunities for students

• Coordinate student participation in industry conferences and events.
• Manage scholarship student welcome and recognition activities.
• Support student webinars and development programs.
• Administer digital credentials and student recognition initiatives.

Use insights to improve outcomes

• Manage student surveys and participation data.
• Monitor program performance and outcomes.
• Prepare reports and insights for API stakeholders.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of scholarship and student programs.

About you - the type of person we're looking for

This role would suit someone who enjoys combining program management, relationship building and event delivery – and is passionate about helping students succeed and creating pathways into meaningful careers.

You'll be equally comfortable working independently from a home office, collaborating with colleagues across Australia, presenting to a room full of students, or engaging with industry professionals about workforce development opportunities.

You'll enjoy bringing structure to complex activities, coordinating multiple moving parts and ensuring students have a positive and engaging experience throughout their journey with the API.

We're looking for someone who:

• Is highly organised and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Can work independently, take ownership and self-manage their workload in a remote environment.
• Communicates confidently with a wide range of stakeholders, from undergraduate students to senior industry leaders.
• Enjoys building relationships and helping people succeed.
• Experienced in managing university-student focused programs, projects or other student-oriented development initiatives.
• Is comfortable planning and facilitating engaging workshops, webinars and live events.
• Has strong attention to detail and follows established processes while also identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Can adapt to changing priorities and find practical solutions when plans need to change.
• Enjoys working as part of a collaborative team and contributes openly to discussions and shared initiatives.
• Is confident using technology and willing to learn new systems and platforms.

Experience using Microsoft 365 applications, Microsoft Teams, project management tools, CRM systems and online learning platforms (we use Thinkific) will be highly regarded. Experience developing or administering online learning content is beneficial but not essential.

What a typical week might look like

No two weeks are the same in this role.

On one day, you might be reviewing scholarship applications, coordinating industry selection panels and preparing onboarding information for newly selected students.

On another, you could be planning a series of student events across multiple states, coordinating speakers and venues, managing registrations, and tracking progress through Microsoft Planner.

You may spend part of the week communicating with scholarship students, reviewing survey results, tracking participation in the Learning Journal, or preparing reports and insights for API stakeholders.

Why join the API?

At the API, you'll have the opportunity to make a genuine difference to students, industry and Australia's energy future.

We offer:

• Work from home (or co-work space) with genuine flexibility.
• A family-friendly and supportive culture.
• Significant autonomy and ownership of your portfolio.
• Opportunities to work with industry leaders and universities across Australia.
• Participation in major national programs and events.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Salary packaging benefits through a registered charity.
• The opportunity to help shape the future workforce of a critical national industry.

Travel expectations

The role requires periodic travel throughout Australia, including to student events, conferences, the API’s 2-week residential Summer School, staff team meetings, and other member engagement activities and placement events throughout the year.

Mobility and Accessibility considerations

The API encourages applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and abilities. If you have questions about mobility considerations, please ask. The role is primarily undertaken in office-based environments, including home offices, co-working spaces, corporate offices, universities, conference venues and hotels. Periodic travel is required and may include participation in industry site visits to facilities such as electrical substations and other operational infrastructure sites (but solutions and alternatives can be found).

The API is committed to providing an inclusive workplace and will work collaboratively with employees to identify reasonable adjustments and practical solutions that support participation in role-related activities where accessibility or mobility challenges exist.

Keen? How to apply

Please submit BY EMAIL to ***email_hidden***:

• A cover letter outlining your interest in the role and relevant experience.
• Your current resume.

Applications close Sunday 5 July 2026 @ 11:59pm (by email). Applications will be reviewed as they are received and interviews may commence prior to the closing date.

For further information about this opportunity, please contact David Pointing, API CEO at ***email_hidden*** .

See full Position Description here: https://api.aflip.in/ScholarshipPMPDJune2026.html

Got a question about the role – call David for a chat on 0403 448 488.

The Australian Power Institute is an Equal Opportunity employer and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

Applicants must have Australian work rights and will be required to undertake relevant pre-employment checks, including a National Police Check and Working with Children/Vulnerable People Check.