Job Description

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

Role highlights

• Leadership role reporting to the Chief Information Officer leading cyber security strategy for Australia’s national science agency
• Influence at Board and Executive level across a complex, high-trust environment
• Shape cyber resilience across world-class research, national infrastructure and digital platforms

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, we are working at the forefront of discovery to help solve the challenges that shape our nation’s future. From climate resilience and sustainable energy to food security, health, space and digital innovation, our science underpins Australia’s prosperity, security and wellbeing. Many of our most recognised breakthroughs began as bold ideas, made real by people who were curious enough to ask “what if” and determined enough to turn possibility into impact.

Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and pragmatic Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to provide organisation-wide leadership in cyber security. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer and operating as a senior executive within the Information Management and Technology (IMT) Enterprise Unit, this role is central to protecting CSIRO’s information, systems and assets.

World-class, secure digital capability is fundamental to CSIRO’s strategy. Understanding, managing and communicating cyber risk is essential as we deliver national research infrastructure, collaborate globally, and enable cutting-edge science. The CISO will shape CSIRO’s cyber posture, mature governance, and ensure cyber security is embedded as a shared organisational responsibility.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Championing and fostering a cyber-aware security culture across CSIRO
• Leading and managing CSIRO’s cyber security strategy and cyber security program, integrated with the broader protective security framework
• Establishing, maintaining and maturing the information security governance framework, including the cyber policy suite, in line with external regulatory and compliance requirements
• Working collaboratively across the organisation and through governance committees to ensure consistent application of cyber security policies and controls across technology, projects, systems and services
• Partnering with business and science stakeholders to manage cyber risk in alignment with the CSIRO Risk Management Framework
• Supporting science activities by ensuring appropriate and proportionate cyber controls are applied
• Monitoring the cyber threat landscape and overseeing cyber security incident response, including directing internal communications and performing a crisis management role for significant incidents
• Reporting on cyber security risks, incidents and outcomes to the Senior Executive Team, the Board and, where required, external bodies

Role particulars

• Location and office arrangements: All Capital Cities and major CSIRO sites across Australia considered
• Salary: Attractive Salary package plus 15.4% super
• Tenure & work schedule: 3 year Specified Term, full time (Options for part-time, job-share and flexible work arrangements can be discussed based on needs of role and individual circumstances)
• EligibilityApplications for this position are open to Australian citizens and all CSIRO indefinite and term employees who have been previously appointed through a competitive advertised process. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate will be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Negative Vetting Level 1
• Reference No.: 102310

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential criteria

1. A relevant degree and or equivalent senior executive experience, in conjunction with demonstrated achievement in senior advisory and managerial roles in information management, governance and or enterprise applications and solutions delivery.
2. Extensive senior experience across a combination of risk management, information security and information technology roles.
3. Knowledge of common information security management frameworks.
4. Demonstrated leadership in some of the following: information services, information policy and governance, and digital transformation.
5. A history of establishing and leading high-performing teams, and a record of strong leadership that has contributed to or defined policy direction and strategy.
6. Proven ability to foster effective relationships, using complex influencing strategies to ensure alignment between client or stakeholder needs and CSIRO’s objectives.
7. Demonstrated ability to anticipate and successfully manage major conceptual technical, commercial or management problems, which have a significant impact at a Business Unit or Organisational level.

Desirable

• An appropriate information security credential such as CISM, CRISC etc or similar.
• Experience in delivering a cyber security strategy and roadmap for large and complex organisations.

For full details about this role, including all selection criteria and duties, please review the

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact careers.online@csiro.au to discuss.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO

Our commitment to inclusion, safety and cultural respect

CSIRO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. At CSIRO, inclusion is about more than who is represented. It is about creating environments where people feel safe, respected and a strong sense of belonging. We value the richness that comes from different cultures, experiences, identities and ways of thinking, and we are committed to culturally safe workplaces, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. By fostering inclusion, belonging and safety, we strengthen innovation and ensure our work reflects the communities and Country we work with.

CSIRO holds Platinum Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

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

How to apply

Please apply online and submit a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) and CV that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the essential requirements of this role.

Applications close

Sunday 8th February 2026, 11:00pm AEST/AEDT