Research Projects Manager (Livestock) - CSIRO Lansdown Research Station

Acknowledgement of Country

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Role highlights

• Play a pivotal multi-faceted role in advancing sustainable livestock production
• Great opportunity to further enhance your project management and leadership skills
• Join our innovative team at Lansdown Research Station and help create real impact!

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

At CSIRO, we collaborate closely with livestock farmers and allied industries to enhance their productivity, profitability, and sustainability through better livestock breeds and management practices. Our Lansdown Research Station, located approximately 45 km outside Townsville QLD, conducts innovative research to optimise productivity and environmental aspects of northern cattle systems. Our work ranges from methane mitigation research to precision livestock management and improving cattle efficiency on pasture.

Joining our ‘Northern Cattle Production’ team at Lansdown Research Station, you will contribute to groundbreaking research aimed at increasing the economic value of livestock industries. Our team generates high-value products for Australian and export markets by integrating animal and microbial genomics, advanced nutritional formulation, and digital sensing for feed intake and animal behaviour. We have a successful track record of securing external funds to address industry priority areas, including our contribution to the cattle industry’s strategy to become carbon neutral by 2030.

The Research Projects Manager position is a strategically important, coordinating role, which will involve efficiently coordinating R&D activities and closely collaborating with livestock researchers primarily based in Townsville and Brisbane; overseeing research station project staff and coordinating with farm operation staff to effectively manage livestock research activities; establishing and maintaining strong collaborative partnerships and balancing the needs of farm operations and research activities; as well as planning and executing experiments to study the effects of diet intervention strategies on animal and microbial community structure and function, focusing on production, resilience, behavioural, and sustainability traits; and utilising digital technology and data collection tools to support research initiatives. Therefore, previous experience in agricultural sciences (ideally livestock farming), and an aptitude for digital technology & data collection, as well as project leadership, would be essential for this role.

If you have a passion for contributing to research and finding solutions for Australian livestock, and you excel in project coordination and stakeholder management, we would love to hear from you! This is a great opportunity to be part of a dynamic team that’s making a significant impact on the future of livestock production and sustainable agriculture!

Your high-level duties will include:

• Coordinating the activities of onsite project offices within the team to deliver effective research outcomes.
• Developing novel techniques to produce enhanced results, providing researchers with new or improved approaches to research or technological problems.
• Leading teams and/or collaborating with staff from other teams in meeting their objectives as required.
• Taking a lead role in project scoping and planning, making significant contributions to the research or technological direction, and may advise on the level and type of services that are provided.
• Closely coordinating with research staff in the planning and preparation of research projects.
• Communicating effectively with farm staff to accommodate both research and farm objectives.
• Collecting and processing data in an accurate manner and preparing reports for the team.
• Addressing problems promptly and in a constructive manner, and promptly communicating actions to the team. 

Role particulars

Location and office arrangements: Woodstock, QLD (CSIRO Lansdown Research Station)

Salary: AU$114K – AU$123K per annum (pro-rata for part-time) plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Specified Term of 3 years; Full-time (preferred) – flexible work arrangements may be considered, based on the needs of the role and individual circumstances.

Reference: 98739

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• Relevant tertiary degree in Agricultural Science, and/or significant relevant experience in Agricultural Science.
• Qualifications and/or demonstrated experience in relevant digital technology.
• Demonstrated experience in working with a research organisation and establishing and maintaining relationships with researchers.
• Strong communication and organisational skills, and ability to negotiate positive outcomes with both internal and external contacts.
• Proven ability to lead projects, and provide high-level coordination and supervision of diverse teams.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and demonstrated ability to manage, and work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed team, and carry out tasks autonomously.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to contribute novel ideas and approaches.
• A current Australian driver’s licence.
• Desirable: Experience in working in livestock farming, data handling & analysis, and knowledge of sustainable livestock production & digital monitoring would be highly desirable.

For full details about this role 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 the Talent Acquisition Partner via email (see details in the Position Description) and let us know how we can support you.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this role, you must be either an: 

• Australian/New Zealand Citizen;
• Australian Permanent Resident; or
• Australian Temporary Resident, with a valid working visa and unrestricted work rights for the full duration of the specified term (and no requirement for visa sponsorship from CSIRO).

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Due to the nature of this position, the successful candidate should also be able and willing to travel to field sites and remote locations as project requirements arise. 

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.

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 provide a CV and a detailed cover letter, responding to each of the selection criteria in detail, that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role. Please attach your selection criteria responses to your cover letter as one document.

Should you have any questions regarding this requirement, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition Partner (see details in Position Description).

Applications close

22 June 2025, 11:00pm AEST

We encourage early applications as we will be reviewing applications as they come through. CSIRO reserves the right to withdraw this ad prior to the closing date, if we find our desired candidate and/or if required.