(HEO6) $92,511- $99,929 per annum plus an employer contribution of 17% superannuation applies.

Full-time Fixed Term contract for 12 months.

TERN (Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network) is Australia’s field-based ecological observatory; collecting, recording and sharing data and samples using highly instrumented monitoring sites, surveys and remote-sensing techniques such as drones and satellites. TERN shares this data to enable Australia’s world-leading research on climate change, biodiversity, water and soil. Over the past 12 years, TERN’s Ecosystem Surveillance capability has collected soil and vegetation data and samples from about 1000 monitoring plots across the Australian continent using standardised survey protocols developed by TERN in collaboration with government, academic and industry partners. In fact, TERN is internationally recognised for its leadership in developing standardised ecological monitoring protocols, particularly through its Ecological Monitoring System Australia (EMSA) initiative. TERN’s surveillance monitoring infrastructure supports long-term ecological and biodiversity inventory, environmental monitoring and prediction, reporting and assessment, underpinning decisions about our greatest environmental challenges. TERN is enabled by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)..

You can learn more about TERN by clicking the link here: https://www.tern.org.au/

TERN are seeking a dynamic and motivated Engagement Officer to work within a team partnering with the Australian Government Department of Environment, Energy, the Environment and Water. The project involves developing standardised ecological monitoring protocols specifically designed to assist with impact assessments of renewable energy projects. The Engagement Officer will work closely with a variety of collaborators.

The Engagement Officer will enjoy:

• Collaborative goal setting: Working closely with diverse partner organisations, groups and individuals to identify shared objectives and align efforts toward common outcomes.
• Workshop organisation and facilitation: Design and lead both in-person and virtual workshops, ensuring inclusive participation and productive dialogue.
• Community and partner liaison: Acting as a key point of contact for groups and local communities, fostering open communication and trust.
• Relationship building: Develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with partners, community leaders, and cross-sector collaborators.

To be successful, you will need:

• Experience in developing and delivering engagement plans in a complex environment.
• Proven experience in understanding consultation and collaboration with government clients to meet deliverables.
• Highly developed communication, report writing, website and interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise effectively with a diverse range of collaborators.
• Experience facilitating scientific workshops, forums, committees, and working groups, using various communication skills to achieve desired outcomes. 
• Proven experience managing timelines for the development of deliverables and engagement plans.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with various parties, including State/Territory/Commonwealth regulators, research and industry technical experts, consultants, and landholders on a range of projects.
• Proven experience in designing, managing, and delivering draft documents for public comment, collating feedback and updating drafts.
• Demonstrated ability to promote the organisational values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery, and a commitment to positively comply with the associated behaviour expectations.

Qualifications / Licences

• A  degree with subsequent relevant experience: or
• An equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

Relocation assistance may be available for the right candidate. 

Enjoy an outstanding career environment

The University of Adelaide is a uniquely rewarding workplace. The size, breadth and quality of our education and research programs - including significant industry, government and community collaborations - offers you vast scope and opportunity for a long, fulfilling career.

It also enables us to attract high-calibre people in all facets of our operations, ensuring you will be surrounded by talented colleagues, many world-leading. Our work's cutting-edge nature - not just in your own area, but across virtually the full spectrum of human endeavour - provides a constant source of inspiration.

Our culture is one that welcomes all and embraces diversity consistent with our Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and our Values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery. We firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, so we work to grow and diversify the skills, knowledge and capability of all our staff.

We embrace flexibility as a key principle to allow our people to manage the changing demands of work, personal and family life.

In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive staff benefits. These include: salary packaging; flexible work arrangements; high-quality professional development programs and activities; and an on-campus health clinic, gym and other fitness facilities.

Learn more at: adelaide.edu.au/jobs

Your faculty's broader role

The Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology is a multidisciplinary hub of cutting-edge teaching and research. Many of its academic staff are world leaders in their fields and graduates are highly regarded by employers. The Faculty actively partners with innovative industries to solve problems of global significance. 

Learn more at: set.adelaide.edu.au

If you have the talent, we'll give you the opportunity. Together, let's make history.

Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to be taken through to the online application form. Please ensure you submit a cover letter, resume, and upload a document that includes your responses to all of the selection criteria for the position as contained in the position description or selection criteria document.

Applications close 11:55pm, Thursday 14 August 2025.

The University reserves the right to close this advertisement before the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.

For further information

For a confidential discussion regarding this position, contact:

Caleb Coish
TERN Business and Finance Manager
P: +61 (8) 8313 1142
E: caleb.coish@adelaide.edu.au

You'll find a full position description below: (If no links appear, try viewing on another device)

The University of Adelaide is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Female applicants, people with a disability and/or and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who meet the requirements of this position are strongly encouraged to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application. 

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