Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

Child Safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

The Opportunity

• Lead a laboratory biorisk capacity building project across the Asia-Pacific region
• Provide advice, training and support to develop and implement appropriate biosafety and biosecurity systems in laboratories
• Collaborate broadly across the Asia-Pacific region, build capability to combat infectious disease threats

CSIRO is Australia’s National Science Agency and is one of the world’s largest and most successful publicly funded R&D organisations. The Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) Business Unit is located at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong and is one of nine impact science business units in CSIRO. Our goal is to protect a healthy, productive and prosperous future for Australia’s animals and people by delivering world-renowned science that will further our understanding, preparedness and management of infectious diseases. The ACDP International Program (ACDP-IP), partners with multiple organisations across the APAC to build laboratory capacity, improve the quality of laboratory diagnostic services, and laboratory biosafety and biosecurity in the region. To know more, click on ACDP- global and about our partnerships, like project BICOLLAB and our established partnership with PNG here.

As the Project Manager – Regional Biorisk Management Training (R-BMT), you will manage a laboratory biorisk capacity building project, in the Asia-Pacific region. This will include coordination of activities and providing advice, training and support to develop and implement appropriate biosafety and biosecurity systems in laboratories involved in the project across the Asia-Pacific. You will also liaise with key partner organisations in recipient countries, and relevant stakeholders, to identify collaborative opportunities and ensure impactful and sustainable outcomes.

The role will involve working in and providing training to overseas laboratories, either in person or virtually, as required to meet the project objectives of ACDP’s International Program. Overseas work regular travel (approx. 4-6 times per year) of 1-2 weeks duration in countries primarily in the Asia-Pacific region. If you are keen to explore more about this position do not hesitate to reach out to our team. There are some amazing things we are currently doing that you can read here.

Your duties will include:

• Oversee the implementation of the R-BMT project in the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring project objectives and deliverables are met according to contracted budgets and agreed timeframes. This includes conducting international travel and leading training activities to support project implementation.
• Lead and coordinate technical biorisk management training to establish biorisk systems and processes, to support implementation of the project activities and achievement of outcomes which are practical and sustainable.
• In partnership with partner countries, support the development of a good biosafety and biosecurity culture in partner laboratories, including establishment of Biorisk Management committee, Biorisk Management manuals and ensuring good scientific practice and regulatory compliance.
• Remain conversant with relevant regulations in the country where working, international and Australian Standards to provide current and accurate guidance and direction to partner laboratories.
• Develop and foster relationships with valuable and influential stakeholders to facilitate implementation of the project and in alignment with the ACDP-IP strategy.
• Willingness to travel and work in countries across the Asia-Pacific on a regular basis and enthusiasm to support biorisk management systems in low resource environments.
• Maintain connection and relationship to ACDP Biorisk Management team. Remain up to date with ACDP biorisk management systems and practices which could be relevant to laboratories in low resource environments.

Location:  Geelong, Victoria
Salary:  AU$121k – AU$142k plus up to 15.4% superannuation
Tenure:  Specified term until 30th June 2027
Reference:  94069

To be considered you will need:

Essential:

1. A relevant Degree in Microbiological Sciences and/or equivalent experience in laboratory biorisk management. 
2. Demonstrable experience in delivering expert advice, training and support in relevant areas of science or biosafety. 
3. Demonstrated ability to lead projects, including independently planning, implementing and completing the required project activities and objectives to clients’ expectations.
4. Proven ability to work both independently and co-operatively as a member of a larger project team and to form and maintain effective and respectful relationships with a range of colleagues and collaborators. 
5. Demonstrable experience as a specialist advisor with high level interpersonal and communication skills to foster knowledge transfer, open communication, coaching and collaboration with colleagues and clients from various cultural backgrounds.
6. Willingness and ability to regularly travel overseas, approximately 4-6 times time per year for periods of between 1-2 weeks to deliver project work and to provide structured training for overseas collaborators.

Desirable

1. Previous experience working in biocontainment facilities at multiple containment levels is desirable.
2. Previous experience working overseas, particularly in low-resource environments. 

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens and Australian Permanent Residents. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements, including meeting ACDP microbiological security and security assessment requirements detailed in the position description.

Flexible Working Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs, whether we are undertaking research, engaging with the public or nurturing future scientists in person or online. Source – CSIRO Child Safe policy 2023

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications Close

8 October 2023, 11:00pm AEST/AEDT