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

• Parental leave cover position
• Lead the administration team based across Perth and Geraldton
• Join the team building the world’s largest Radio-astronomy Telescope

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The Opportunity

The SKA Observatory (SKAO) is a next-generation radio astronomy facility that will transform our understanding of the Universe and fundamental physics. In Australia, SKAO is partnering with CSIRO to construct and operate the SKA-Low telescope on Wajarri Yamaji Country in remote Western Australia, supported by teams in Geraldton and Perth.

The SKA-Low Executive Officer provides high-level support to the SKA-Low leadership team, including the Telescope Director, Deputy Director, Site Construction Director, and Business Manager, and leads the Administration Team across Perth and Geraldton. This role blends executive support with operational coordination, managing stakeholder engagement, preparing briefing materials, and ensuring alignment between CSIRO and SKAO policies.

Key responsibilities include supporting business services across HR, Finance, Communications, and Facilities, as well as contributing to special projects, major events, and the operational management of SKA-Low properties.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Strategic support to leadership: Provide high-level executive support to the SKA-Low Telescope Director, Site Construction Director, Deputy Telescope Director and Business Manager.
• Team management: Lead and manage a team of administrators across Geraldton and Perth, overseeing effective workload distribution, performance managing and planning and professional growth opportunities.
• Operational alignment: Liaise with Business Enabling functions to align operational support meeting project requirements and expectations.
• Event coordination: Plan and execute major events, conferences, workshops, training sessions, and team-building activities. Ensure events are aligned with project goals and deliver value to participants.

Role Particulars

Location and office arrangements: Perth, Western Australia

Salary: AU$118,102 – AU$127,808 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) plus 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Specified Term approx. 12 months; Full-time (We are open to applicants who wish to work part-time or job-share. Please indicate this in your application).

Reference: 102658

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential

• Qualifications and Experience: A tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline and demonstrated experience coordinating administrative operations, stakeholder engagement, and supporting business enabling functions.

• Leadership and Stakeholder Management Experience: Proven ability to manage stakeholder relationships in a global multi-partner science organisation, including preparing briefing materials and supporting strategic alignment.

• People Management Expertise or Aptitude: Able to demonstrate experience or aptitude as a line manager, including setting clear expectations, managing workloads, and supporting professional development. Ability to lead a geographically distributed team, fostering a collaborative and accountable team culture.

• Strategic Thinking, Problem Solving, and Project Delivery: Proven ability to identify operational challenges within a multi-partner global science collaboration and implement practical solutions that improve efficiency and service delivery. Experience in managing projects, tracking progress, and making timely interventions to meet objectives.

• High-Performance Culture Expertise: Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, including the implementation of systems and workflows that support productivity and compliance. Experience promoting inclusive, safe, and values-driven workplace practices.

Desirable

• Project Management Experience: Experience in project management with a proven track record of successfully managing timelines, budgets, and risks.
  
• Health & Safety Knowledge: Understanding of health and safety principles, risk management, and incident response protocols.
  
  

For full details about this role, please review the

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.

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

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold 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 provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications close

4th May, 9:00pm AWST