Senior Operations Coordinator

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

• Lead critical operations at Australia’s most advanced high-containment science facility to help strengthen national biosecurity and disease preparedness
• Drive complex, high-impact projects that directly support world-leading infectious disease research
• Shape and grow a high-performing operational team in a world-class research / laboratory environment

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 

CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong is Australia’s national animal health laboratory and home to the country’s highest-level biocontainment facility. Our work protects Australia’s multi-billion-dollar livestock and aquaculture industries—and the public—from emerging animal and zoonotic disease threats, with world-class secure facilities that keep our teams and community safe.

The Senior Operations Coordinator plays a pivotal role in enabling the scientific mission of the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong. Leading a cross-functional team spanning Operations, Glasswash and Project staff, you will oversee the daily operational functions that keep ACDP running safely, smoothly and efficiently. In this influential role, you will anticipate and resolve complex operational challenges, manage competing stakeholder needs, and drive continuous improvement across secure and non-secure laboratory environments. You will guide operational planning, asset and equipment management, quality documentation, and regulatory compliance, while building team capability and supporting major facility and infrastructure initiatives. This is an opportunity to lead essential scientific operations in a high-containment environment that safeguards Australia’s health and biosecurity.

Please note: the successful candidate must meet ACDP’s microbiological security and security assessment requirements.

Your high-level duties will include: 

• Lead and coordinate daily operational functions across secure and non-secure laboratory environments, glasswash services and facility accommodation, proactively identifying challenges and applying critical thinking to resolve complex issues.
• Drive operational improvements by scoping, prioritising and delivering projects, managing team resources, and influencing stakeholders to support change, including in sensitive or contentious contexts.
• Oversee key operational systems, including asset management, equipment calibration, consumable inventories and quality assurance processes, ensuring alignment with regulatory, accreditation and ISO requirements.
• Develop and strengthen team capability through performance management, staff development, clear documentation and creation of redundant skillsets (cross-skilled teams) to ensure operational continuity.
• Develop and maintain clear, robust operational documentation and frameworks, ensuring accessibility for staff across experience levels.
• Integrate quality assurance systems into daily operations and support broader facility, infrastructure and strategic projects while maintaining uninterrupted site operations.
• Collaborate effectively across the organisation, contributing to strategic and infrastructure projects, supporting CSIRO values and HSE standards, and communicating professionally with staff, clients and suppliers.

Role particulars

• Location and office arrangements: Geelong - Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Victoria. On-site 4 days per week minimum.
• Salary: AU$118k – AU$127k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation
• Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite / Full Time
• Reference: 102017

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience demonstrating operational leadership within a scientific or regulated environment.
• Strong leadership capability with experience managing teams and fostering staff development.  
• Demonstrated experience identifying, implementing and delivering operational improvement initiatives.
• Strong systems thinking, critical analysis and problem-solving skills, including in ambiguous or contentious situations.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment, build strong relationships, and collaborate widely with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working in a PC2/3/4 laboratory environment is highly desirable.

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 careers.online@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.  

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process, however, please note that this role is predominantly site-based. 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 only and the successful candidate will be required to obtain an Australian Government Security Clearance at Negative Vetting 1 level.

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 

18th January 2026, 11:59pm AEDT