Graham Lowe, the New Zealander who has been in charge of the restructuring of the top level of Scottish rugby for the past three years, has announced that he is leaving Murrayfield to take up a post with Western Bulldogs, the Australia Rules team, after Scotland have completed their autumn Test programme in November.

The move is understood to be primarily for personal reasons as Lowe, 41, has young children and wants to be closer to his extended family in the southern hemisphere.

Confirming his departure, the SRU announced that "a worldwide recruitment search" will now begin, with the aim of having a successor in place in time for next year's RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign.

Lowe, who holds the title Director of Performance Rugby, was a surprise appointment when he was brought to Scotland by Gordon McKie, the former chief executive of Scottish Rugby. His cv at that point suggested that the bulk of his work had been in fitness and conditioning – he had held such positions with the All Blacks and with the BMW Oracle yachting team – but his role at the SRU had a far more strategic dimension.

However, Lowe overcame scepticism and impressed many as a powerful advocate for closer ties between the amateur and professional games in Scotland.

Lowe said: "I have hugely enjoyed this opportunity to work with Scottish Rugby over the past three years and it is with some regret that I will be leaving now as much has been put in place to ensure Scotland retains and builds on its place and heritage in world rugby.

"However, after five years on the road, it is a good time to take my young family back south and the opportunity of moving into Aussie Rules with the Western Bulldogs will be both exciting and challenging.

"I want to thank all those people whom I have had the pleasure to both work and interact with in the rugby community in Scotland as a whole. I particularly wish to thank the staff at Scottish Rugby for all their hard work. I wish them every success in the future."

Andy Robinson, the Scotland head coach, paid tribute to the departing Lowe. "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Lowie over these last three years," said Robinson. "He is a fierce competitor and knows what is required to be the best. He has inspired high standards and has set Scotland on the right path. It's now vital that we build on the foundations that he has laid through his leadership."