Jobs and Careers

Technical Officer - Research

• Offer support and guidance to research staff and students on a wide range of laboratory practices
• Provide exceptional technical assistance across the operational areas of the research laboratory, including technical support in core research facilities, and maintaining laboratory resources and records
• Full time, ongoing role based in Hobart

About the opportunity

The Technical Officer – Research is critically important to the oversight, maintenance, and day-to-day operation of the Research Laboratory at the University’s Medical Science Precinct (MSP). This role captures responsibilities tied to aspects of safety, facility administration, resource management and supply, equipment maintenance, and the effective operation of our core facilities. This significant PC2 research laboratory accommodates over 200 users undertaking world-class medical research and facilitates research across a variety of medical science fields and makes use of a range of modern research technologies. The key users of the Research Laboratory are researchers from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Tasmanian School of Medicine and Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre.

We are seeking a dedicated professional with a passion for medical research and experience working in a PC2 research laboratory. The ideal candidate will be collaborative, have a commitment to safety and continuous improvement, and a commitment to enabling research that improves the health outcomes for Tasmania.

What you’ll do:

• Maintain common laboratory research facilities, with specific responsibilities tied to managing biohazardous waste and autoclave areas, hazardous chemical management, ultra-low temperature freezers, reticulated gas supply, and liquid nitrogen cryostorage facilities.
• Provide support and advice to research staff and students on a broad range of laboratory practices and procedures, including the maintenance of laboratory equipment, standard/best practices, institutional requirements, workplace health and safety, and working to ensure that all users of the laboratory follow approved protocols.
• Provide excellent technical assistance and recordkeeping with regards to maintenance, repair, inventory, and calibration of laboratory equipment.
• Support core research facilities and activities (for example microscopy and flow cytometry), including oversight of maintenance, basic operation, and testing and tagging.
• Maintain and administer central laboratory resources/databases, and support research staff and students to maintain and update task risk assessments, safe operating procedures, documentation for hazardous chemicals, and compliant labelling practices for hazardous substances.
• Provision of a safe working environment for staff and students, ensuring that all policies are implemented, staff and students are inducted, and with effort to support continual improvement in safe work practices.

What we’re looking for:

• Significant experience in providing technical laboratory support including experience in the development, implementation, and management of risk assessments, safe working practices and standard operating protocols in a changing environment.
• Demonstrated experience and skills in medical research laboratory practices, and management of laboratory hazards including safe handling, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals, and other workplace health and safety issues.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse and solve complex technical and non-technical problems and to adapt rapidly to changing priorities and tasks.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with a wide range of people and organisations.

Salary details

Appointment to this role will be at HEO 5 and will have a total remuneration package of up to $102,190 comprising base salary within the range of $78,210 to $87,342 plus 17% superannuation.

How to Apply

• This vacancy is being advertised internally only in the first instance to current staff.
• In submitting your application, you acknowledge you have/intend to discuss your interest in this vacancy with your current manager and understand they may need to be contacted confidentially by the hiring manager as part of the assessment of your application.
• To apply online, please provide your CV and 1-2-page cover letter outlining your interest in the role, skills, capabilities and experience.  You do not need to separately address the success profile criteria.
• For further information about this position, please contact James Bender, Research Laboratory Manager,  jabender@utas.edu.au or 03 6226 8733.
• Please visit https://www.utas.edu.au/jobs/applying for our guide to applying and details on the recruitment process.
• Please refer to the attached Position Description Below for full details.

 Position Description - 501023-Technical Officer - Research.pdf

Applications close Monday, 28 April 2025, 11.55pm

To be eligible for this position, you are required to have Australian or New Zealand citizenship, permanent residency or a current valid visa that allows you to fulfil the requirements of this role.