Careers at UniSC

• Academic Support Unit | UniSC Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs
• Level 7, $105,843 - $115,703 p.a., plus up to 17% employer superannuation
• Full-time (36.25 hours per week), ongoing appointment

The Opportunity

You will provide technical leadership and expert guidance to support biosafety and biosecurity compliance across UniSC’s research environments. In this role, you will develop and implement compliant procedures, provide governance and advisory support to researchers and staff, and help ensure that research infrastructure, equipment and facilities operate safely and effectively across relevant UniSC sites. Working collaboratively with the Team Leader and Senior Technical Officer (Research; Moreton Bay), you will contribute to laboratory administration, user competency assessments, and the development of operational documentation and training resources that support researchers across all campuses. This role also includes occasional travel between UniSC campuses to deliver operational support and training to research and Technical Operations teams.

You will

• Promote and maintain compliance with legislation, regulations and Australian Laboratory Standards covering Biosafety and Biosecurity, health and safety, and the risk management framework to ensure successful research outcomes;
• Provide technical leadership, specialist support and expertise to laboratory users and other stakeholders ensuring the successful operation and administration of allocated research facilities; and    
• Oversee maintenance and servicing of equipment and infrastructure of the research facilities across allocated sites, ensuring safe, compliant operations.   

About you

You are a strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. You confidently negotiate service deliverables, manage reporting requirements and gain cooperation from individuals with diverse perspectives and working styles. Highly organised and detail-focused, you thrive in fast-paced environments and manage competing priorities with ease. You also bring strong analytical and independent critical thinking skills, enabling you to assess issues and support research or clinical laboratory activities within a PC2 environment.

You will possess:

• Completion of a relevant degree with at least four years subsequent relevant experience, or equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training previous work experience in a research or clinical laboratory environment, and specialist expertise Biosafety and Biosecurity;
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in microbiology, biotechnology, tissue culture and microscopy;
• Demonstrated ability to administer, develop and implement guidelines, legislation and regulations including OGTR, Biosecurity, Australian Standards, risk management and WHS;
• Comprehensive understanding with a track record of implementing workplace health, safety and wellbeing strategies in a laboratory environment including auditing and chemical safety strategies; 
• Experience in management of facilities with a complex set of functions and significant resources, with a  commitment to maintaining a high standard of service in research or clinical laboratories and the ability to train personnel, document and monitor performance;
• Strong analytical and independent critical thinking skills relevant to research or clinical laboratory activities in a PC2 environment; and
• Current driver’s licence.

Don't meet every requirement? At UniSC, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you're excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our position description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

UniSC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, women in STEM, First Nations Peoples, and individuals of diverse cultures, genders, abilities, and experiences. We value achievement relative to opportunity and encourage your commentary on your achievements in this context. For additional support during the application process, please contact us at unisc-careers@usc.edu.au or call +61 7 5430 2830.

Position description:  494316 - Senior Technical Officer, Research - Biosafety and Biosecurity.pdf

UniSC values a diverse and talented workforce and invites applications from candidates who already have legal work rights in Australia.

All applications must be lodged through the Careers at UniSC website.

UniSC does not accept unsolicited applications. For agency inquiries, contact unisc-careers@usc.edu.au

Applications for this position close midnight, Sunday 12 April 2026.

Your completed application must include:

• a resume, and a response to selection criteria. Noting that within the application form, we will request a statement addressing each of the selection criteria contained within the position description.

Further information regarding how to prepare your application is available on our website: Join our team

We would love the opportunity to get to know you better, but we know it works both ways. To get to know a little more about us, visit us at: Welcome to UniSC and LinkedIn Life

Have questions or want to know more? For a confidential discussion, please contact:

Michael Nielsen
Team Leader, Research, Advanced Instrumentation and Analysis - Academic Support Unit
Telephone: 07 5430 2838
Email: mnielsen@usc.edu.au

Discover UniSC

We're all about doing work that matters, connecting with great people, and being part of an incredible journey. We’re not the biggest university. But we’re growing every day, and doing big things. Like ground-breaking research, championing sustainability, producing gold-winning athletes and award-winning alumni.

We're one of the fastest growing universities in Australia, growing to over 2,000 people across 5 campuses in South East Queensland and a growing footprint in major capital cities.

Teaching excellence is at the heart of what we do, and our commitment to sustainability is integrated into our teaching, research, and daily operations. Our research tackles the most pressing challenges of our time, with 13 fields ranked well above world standard in the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) rankings, demonstrating outstanding performance across key disciplines. At UniSC, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the educational landscape and contribute to shaping the future for generations to come.

We foster a collaborative and supportive environment, encouraging continuous professional development and providing resources to enhance your career. We recognise and value the contributions of each team member to our culture and success. We're not afraid to be different, and we're looking for people who share our values and want to be part of a team that is working together to improve our local and global challenges.

Our Culture & Benefits:

• Our collaborative, passionate and welcoming culture is what really sets us apart.
• Modern teaching & research facilities.
• Professional development and career pathway opportunities.
• We are a proud recipient of the prestigious Athena SWAN Bronze Award, granted as part of the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) initiative.
• Flexible work arrangements & generous leave options.
• Salary packing options + 17% Super.
• EAP, fitness passport & discounted private health.