Principal Research Administration Officer

• The School of the Environment

• An exciting new role awaits, offering a high level of support to our world-class academic staff spanning diverse fields including environmental science, ecology, conservation, marine biology, earth sciences, geography, zoology, wildlife, biodiversity, genetics, evolution, and human society.

• Coordinate  pre-award processes for a prominent and research-intensive school, overseeing the intricate procedures involved in securing research grants and funding opportunities

• Continuing, Professional HEW 7 position

• Based at St Lucia Campus

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.

Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• 26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave

• 17% superannuation contributions

• 17.5% annual leave loading

• Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options, flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight

• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family

• On campus childcare options

• Cheap parking (from just $5 a day)

• Salary packaging options

About This Opportunity 

The Principal Research Administration Officer is instrumental in distributing information and providing guidance to researchers about sources of research support, both externally and internally within the University. Their role is vital in enhancing and diversifying the School's research performance and reputation. Additionally, they offer high-level assistance to researchers at every stage of the grants and ethics application and assessment processes.

This role involves the comprehensive compilation, analysis, and reporting of the School's research performance. The Principal Research Administration Officer also acts as a crucial bridge, connecting the School with research professional services within the Faculty of Science and the broader University, ensuring seamless collaboration and communication.

Key responsibilities will include: 

Act as a senior subject matter expert and source of high-level advice on all aspects of research administration, including:

Research Advisory

• ​The research performance and grants profile of the School

• Research performance and grants, including grants administration policy, processes and requirements

• The use of research-related online submissions and application systems and software

• Human and/or Animal Ethics processes and sources of additional information/support

• Research Partnership and Funding processes within the School.

• UQ research-related governance, policies and procedures and any changes or updates

• Providing advice regarding networks and key points of contact within the Faculty of Science, the Research Office and external to UQ

​Funding and Grant Administration

• Provide advice, guidance and critique to assist researchers with the development and submission of applications for research funding and assist them to meet their obligations in regard to the conduct of research, including conflicts of interest, human and animal ethics and data management

• Ensure applications are submitted by required deadlines, both internally and externally

• Coordinate and assist with development of research grant applications across a range of funding initiatives.

Funding Opportunities

• Advise and assist researchers in the identification of opportunities, both in terms of advocacy and funding, for the advancement and sustainability of activities

• Identify and distribute information regarding research income opportunities as relevant to the specific discipline/context

• Support the planning and organisation of School research seminars/workshops.

​This is a full-time (100%), continuing position. At HEW level 7, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range of $94,754.55 -$103,180.96 plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $110,862.82 - $120,721.72 annually. As this role is covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases – at least once a year.

About You  

• Completion of a degree with at least four years subsequent relevant experience; OR • Extensive experience and management expertise; OR • An equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

• Demonstrated and well-advanced experience in the area of research administration or research management

• Excellent written communication skills with demonstrated experience in preparing briefings and strategic reports with a high attention to detail, either in conjunction with other senior staff members or independently

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with demonstrated experience in the development of strong external and internal relationships including the importance of integrity, diplomacy and sensitivity in communicating with a wide range of client groups

• Ability to work cooperatively and constructively as a team player with staff from a variety of settings within the University and external to the University

• High level of computer proficiency and practical understanding of corporate administrative computer systems related to research administration as well as computer software packages for word-processing, data storage and retrieval, and spreadsheets.

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. 

• Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to a criminal record check. Please note that people with criminal records are not automatically barred from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits. 

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact the School Manager Sue Lowrey via [email protected]

For application queries, please contact [email protected] stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. 

Want to Apply? 

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section  

• Resume 

Other Information

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion .  We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in the broader community, whether that be gender identity , LGBTQIA+ , cultural and/or linguistic , Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples , or people with a disability . Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to [email protected]  

If you are a current employee (including casual staff and HDR scholars) or hold an unpaid/affiliate appointment, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.

Applications close January 21 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-32873). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for early February 2024.

Please note that UQ will be closed from 23 December until 2 January (inclusive). All applicants for this position will be contacted in the new year. We thank you for your patience during this time.