Biorisk Specialist

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

• Shape national biosecurity through expert advice and high-impact decision-making.
• Work across science, operations, and regulation in a world-class biocontainment facility.
• Lead innovation in biosafety and biosecurity strategy and compliance.

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 

Join the Biorisk Management Group at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), where you'll play a key role in maintaining biosafety, biosecurity, and biocontainment across a high-security facility. As a Biorisk Specialist, you’ll provide expert technical advice, support facility compliance, and contribute to the development of biorisk strategies.

This diverse role spans science, operations, engineering, and regulatory engagement, requiring strong knowledge of relevant legislation and standards. You’ll be involved in protocol and procedure maintenance, biological inventory management, secure storage systems, audits, training delivery, and quality and safety initiatives.

Ideal candidates will bring deep expertise in biorisk management, strong IT skills, and the ability to work across laboratory, plant floor, and office environments.

Your high-level duties will include: 

• Identifying, addressing, and advising other staff including senior management about ACDP’s biocontainment risks.
• Staying up to date with relevant biosafety and biosecurity regulations and standards, and working collaboratively to ensure the team provides accurate, current guidance to staff.
• Contributing to the development and operation of students and fellowship opportunities within the Biorisk Management Group
• Conducting activities in laboratory environments up to and including PC-4.
• Supporting BMG and facility staff on the safe and compliant removal of materials from the facility including the microbiologically secure areas

Role particulars

Location: Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Geelong, VIC

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

Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite; Full time

Reference: 101697

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A Bachelor’s degree (with Honours) in Microbiological Sciences &/or equivalent experience in a regulated / high containment microbiology or biorisk management / biosafety professional role.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• The ability to identify, implement and document decisions that impact microbiological containment, biosafety, biosecurity or regulatory compliance.
• The ability & willingness to contribute novel ideas and approaches in support of biosafety and biosecurity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver key training and messages to internal and external stakeholders, and prepare clear, professional communications and advice for a range of audiences, including senior management.
• The ability to demonstrate familiarity with, and understanding of current Australian legislation, regulations, and standards relevant to biorisk management, with the ability to actively support their implementation within the ACDP facility.

Please note that the successful candidate must be able to meet all special requirements of this position for working at ACDP.

 
For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the Position Description. 

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

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 

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens. 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 demonstrates your motivation and ability to meet the essential requirements of this role.

Applications close 

19 November 2025, 11:00PM AEST

We strongly encourage you to apply early, as we will review applications as they come in. CSIRO reserves the right to withdraw this ad prior to the closing date, if required.