Collection Technician, Australian National Wildlife Collection

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation; Canberra; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, is seeking a Collection Technician to safeguard and enhance the national wildlife collection. You will undertake specimen preparation, registration, databasing and curation, and support remote-area field programs for biodiversity research.

Working in a multidisciplinary team, you will build relationships with Traditional Owners and researchers while maintaining collection integrity, data accessibility and compliance with health, safety and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, museum studies or related discipline, and/or equivalent relevant experience in natural history collection curation and registration.
• Strong knowledge of Australia’s terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity and taxonomic expertise.
• Experience in natural history collections and collection data management.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation, registration, databasing and curation of terrestrial vertebrate specimens and metadata.
• Support secure storage, accessibility and ongoing research-readiness of collection specimens and data.
• Coordinate inbound/outbound loans of specimens and DNA, including documentation and permits.
• Conduct integrated pest management checks and maintain pest-free collection standards.
• Participate in remote-area field trips to collect reference specimens and tissue samples.
• Assist with field trip planning, logistics and coordination.

Skills

Attention to detail

Fieldwork experience

Data management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science, museum studies or related discipline

Job description

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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

• Help safeguard and enhance the research value of Australia’s nationally significant wildlife collections.
• Undertake hands-on specimen preparation, curation, databasing and collection management activities.
• Participate in remote-area fieldwork supporting biodiversity research, monitoring and genomics initiatives.

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.

Join the Australian National Wildlife Collection and contribute to the care, growth and accessibility of an important national research collection. As a Collection Technician, you will help maintain the research-readiness and integrity of terrestrial vertebrate specimens associated tissues and collection data.

Working within a multidisciplinary team, you will undertake specimen preparation, registration, databasing, curation and collection management activities. You will also contribute to remote-area field programs that acquire high-quality reference specimens and tissues for biodiversity research, monitoring and genomics initiatives. The role provides an opportunity to build relationships with Traditional Owners, Indigenous ranger groups, research collaborators and other stakeholders while supporting improvements in collection management, digital accessibility and curatorial practices.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Assist in the preparation, registration, databasing housing and curation of terrestrial vertebrate specimens, associated tissues and metadata.
• Support the secure storage, integrity, accessibility and ongoing research-readiness of collection specimens and data.
• Help coordinate incoming and outgoing loans of specimens, tissues and DNA, including documentation, freighting, permitting and compliance requirements.
• Conduct integrated pest management checks and help maintain pest-free collection standards.
• Participate in remote-area field trips to collect vouchered reference specimens and high-quality tissue samples.
• Assist with field trip planning, organisation and logistics.
• Help build and maintain respectful working relationships with Traditional Owners, Indigenous ranger groups, research collaborators and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to improved collection management practices, digital specimen accessibility and curatorial workflows.
• Follow relevant health, safety, environmental and specimen-handling requirements.

Salary: AU$100k – AU$113kper annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation

Reference: 104211

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A relevant bachelor’s degree in science, museum studies or a related discipline, and/or equivalent relevant experience in natural history collection curation and registration.
• Sound knowledge of Australia’s terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity, including taxonomic expertise in one or more Australian terrestrial vertebrate groups.
• Experience working in natural history collections, and an appreciation of their role in biodiversity research.
• Fieldwork experience, ideally involving the collection of vouchered specimens.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to quality assurance, including the ability to perform repetitive tasks accurately.
• The ability to maintain the accuracy of specimens, samples and associated data.
• Experience adhering to compliance and health, safety and environmental requirements relating to chemicals, specimen handling and fieldwork.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

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 let us know via email – [e-mail] how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

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.

Applications for this position are open to Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents.

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