Research Project Officer: Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (99039)

Acknowledgement of Country

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The opportunity

• Play a key role in advancing our research impact in sustainable agroecosystems.
• Join CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food and support high impact research in environmental monitoring and evaluation
• Three year term opportunity based in Black Mountain, ACT

The Agriculture and Food business unit is looking to appoint a Research Project Officer based at Black Mountain, Canberra. In this role, you will work closely with research teams locally and across Australia to support the efficient delivery of data and findings to support high impact research in environmental monitoring and evaluation.

You will be responsible for the field and laboratory environmental monitoring equipment to enable the measurement of water, nitrogen and carbon fluxes in Australian and potentially international locations. This will include coordinating laboratory and field staff and workflows across multiple projects, integrating data across multiple measurements, managing databases, and using and developing data analysis approaches.

This role crosses the boundaries between research technician and research scientist, and will suit someone with an engineering or environmental background. You will play a key role in advancing our research impact in sustainable agroecosystems.

Your duties will include:

• Collaborating with research scientists and technical staff to coordinate the planning and scheduling of analytical pipelines associated with measuring the flux of carbon, nitrogen and water in agroecosystems and lab-based experiments.
• Manage data resources, conduct flux calculations from eddy covariance and other approaches, and statistically analyse and interpret agro-ecological environmental data using a range of data tools, under limited supervision.
• Use initiative and sound judgement to adapt experimental methods and data analysis/management approaches.
• Provide input to the interpretation and communication of research results.
• Contribute to efficient and safe operations in a shared laboratory space and field locations including instrument maintenance, risk assessments, and purchasing consumables.
• Provide coaching, on-the-job training and instruction to colleagues, collaborators, and students on analytical activities pertaining to the immediate work area.
• Support the research direction of the team through representation of CSIRO externally at scientific, industry, and Government events, and at public forums.
• Other duties as directed.

Location:  Black Mountain, Canberra, ACT

Salary:  $114k to $123k pa + 15.4% super

Tenure:  Specified term of 3 years

Reference:  99039

To be considered you will need:

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental, agricultural or mechatronics engineering or equivalent relevant work experience in setting up and conducting agricultural and environmental measurement, monitoring and analysis.

• Fundamental understanding and measurement of soil, fluxes of soil carbon and nitrogen, and water cycling, and their fundamental measurement.

• Demonstrated skills in the measurement of carbon, nitrogen and water fluxes in agroecological systems using Eddy Covariance and other relevant techniques, including setting up automated GHG measurement systems and in the use and maintenance of relevant instrumentation.

• Demonstrated skills in the construction and maintenance of Eddy Covariance and other relevant techniques and instrumentation to measure environmental variables.

• Sound understanding of FAIR data principles, database management and version control, statistical and data analysis through R programming, and knowledge of Campbell data loggers programming will be required.

• Ability to manage competing project deadlines, including scheduling, monitoring, and completing tasks under minimal supervision, and an ability to work on several projects at the same time.

• Well-developed written and spoken communication skills.

• A current Australian driver’s licence and expertise in field work, and willingness to travel and work in remote locations to support project delivery. 

Desirable:

• Experience in designing and implementing field sampling protocols across spatially variable soil and sediment landscapes.

• Hands on experience with analytical instrumentation (e.g., LECO, gas chromatography, Picarro), troubleshooting, and data quality control.

For full details about this role please review the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents or you must either hold, or be able to obtain, a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

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.

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

28 February 2025, 11:00pm AEDT