Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
Collaborate with stakeholders to gather and present vital population trend data.
Make a difference in biodiversity conservation.
Based at our Long Pocket research precinct in Indooroopilly.
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
Salary packaging options
About This Opportunity
The primary purpose of this position is to ensure the continuity of the threatened species index and its utility in supporting the needs of researchers and decision-makers with respect to Australia’s threatened species and related management and policy approaches.
Reporting to the TERN Director and guided by the Threatened Species Index Advisory Group, you will work with data providers and data users to collate information on population trends for Australian threatened species and display that information through an integrated index that can be readily interrogated to report on trends for different regions, jurisdictions, taxonomic groups, management investments, etc.
Central to the role is maintaining a positive network of active stakeholders including data custodians and partners from state/territory government, natural resource management bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), universities and citizen science groups.
You will grow the Index by gaining additional data custodians for exist taxonomic groups, developing the index to support new taxonomic groups, facilitate communication with and training of Index users, as well as sourcing additional funding for the Index to allow growth and enhancements.
Key responsibilities will include:
Working with the Advisory Group, actively contribute to setting and implementing the Index’s high-level strategic objectives and operational plans within the agreed budget, scope, and timelines.
Maintain awareness of and report on research trends in the field of monitoring of threatened species status, analysis of monitoring data, species-trend analyses modelling, spatial planning and modelling, management of threatened species.
Investigate and report on the potential to expand the Index through acquisition of biodiversity data and their integration into the database.
Foster expansions of the Index’s engagement and relationships with industry, government agencies, Indigenous organisations, NGOs, professional bodies and the wider community
Manage the Index’s operations including finance, legal obligations, communication and supervision of support staff.
Monitor the Index’s performance ensuring that KPIs and reporting requirements are met.
Oversee the effective governance of the Index including legal and contractual obligations are met.
Participate in initiatives endorsed by the Threatened Species Advisory Group to secure additional funding for the Index’s continuing operations and development.
This is a full-time, fixed-term position until June 2028.
At HEW level 8, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $108,975 - $122,176, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $127,500 - $142,942,946 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 postgraduate research qualification in conservation science, ecology or related field, or equivalent experience and training.
Ability to work effectively independently with periodic project guidance from an external advisory group.
Demonstrable high level written and oral communication skills.
A record of effective negotiation and diplomacy in building and maintaining a network of diverse stakeholders.
Demonstrated experience in project management including timely and effective reporting against contractual obligations, milestones, budget, KPIs, risk, outcomes and impact.
Successful track record in raising funds for scientific projects.
Demonstrated experience in quantitative ecology or data science, including processing and working with big data.
Demonstrated skills and experience in advanced R programming and version control.
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.
About TERN
TERN is an Australian Government grant-funded research infrastructure initiative operating a network of monitoring sensors, sites and services. National datasets and products related to ecosystem condition and function derived from these contribute to meeting the needs of long-term terrestrial ecosystem researchers, decision-makers and other users in Australia and globally. TERN’s grant provides funding until June 2028 with potential for extension.
The Threatened Species Index for Australia (TSX) is a flagship TERN project, aggregating thousands of threatened species monitoring projects. From the database, TERN produces a quantitative index that aims to measure changes in the abundance of Australia’s threatened and near-threatened species over time, currently birds, mammals and plants but with other taxa planned.
Information about TERN may be accessed at http://www.tern.org.au . Information about the TSX may be accessed at https://tsx.org.au.
Questions?
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Beryl Morris, Director TERN Australia at [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 Sunday 24 March at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-34643).