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

• Support a nationally significant Indigenous Science project across CSIRO’s research collections and digital infrastructure.
• Work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to support co‑design, governance, and respectful engagement.
• Use your coordination skills to drive meaningful change, embedding Indigenous rights, interests, and knowledges into national collections.

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 Indigenous Research Project Officer provides high‑level administrative, coordination and project management support to a national Indigenous Science project within CSIRO’s biological research collections. Working across National Research Collections Australia (NRCA) and the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA), the role supports work that investigates how Indigenous rights and interests can be embedded into national biological collections, including through governance, engagement, and digital infrastructure.

The role works closely with the Project Leader, Project Sponsor, project teams and an external Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group. It plays a key role in supporting co‑design, strengthening relationships with Indigenous partners, and contributing to a broader cultural shift within CSIRO that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as past, present and future data custodians.

This is a unique opportunity for someone with strong administrative and coordination skills, who is also passionate about Indigenous science and cultural knowledge. In this role, you will support meaningful change across national research collections and digital science infrastructure. You will help enable stronger Indigenous partnerships and ensure project activities are delivered with professionalism, integrity, and cultural respect.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Coordinating the day-to-day delivery of the Indigenous Science and CSIRO’s National Research Collections and Digital Infrastructure project, including refining project planning, tracking milestones and delivering reporting to achieve project outcomes.
• Providing high-level project support to the Project Leader and Project Sponsor, ensuring effective scheduling, documentation, and communication across the project team and broader CSIRO teams.
• Coordinating activities of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group and CSIRO Project Advisory Group, including meeting logistics, agenda preparation, note-taking, action tracking, and follow-up communication.
• Supporting trusted, strengths-based relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, cultural knowledge holders, and organisations by assisting with respectful engagement processes and helping translate community-identified research priorities into project planning and actions.

Role particulars

Location and office arrangements: Canberra (Ngunnawal), ACT preferred; other locations may be considered; hybrid working options available.

Salary: AU$100k – AU$113k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Specified term of 12 months; Full time preferred; Options for part-time and flexible work arrangements can be discussed based on needs of role and individual circumstances.

Reference: 102739

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential criteria

• Demonstrated ability to provide high-quality project coordination and administrative support, including scheduling, meeting facilitation, record-keeping, and managing multiple tasks across timelines and priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work respectfully and collaboratively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, Elders, and organisations.
• Demonstrated experience working across diverse and geographically distributed teams or stakeholder groups, with the ability to build relationships, support Indigenous co-designed projects, and contribute to culturally respectful engagement.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills and attention to detail, with the ability to interpret procedures, evaluate options, and seek appropriate guidance to deliver project outcomes effectively.
• Understanding of, or strong interest in, Indigenous knowledge systems, data sovereignty, or Indigenous-led science and research.

For full details about this role, and other criteria, 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 Cristina O’Brien via email at cristina.obrien@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.

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.

Eligibility

CSIRO considers the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Citizenship.

The successful applicant will be required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

The successful candidate will be required to provide contact details of at least one Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Referee to confirm their ability to work and communicate respectfully with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

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 10th May 2026, 11:00pm AEST