Group Leader Immuno-oncology

Children's Cancer Institute; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing days (up to 5)

Fitness Passport

UNSW education discounts

Job summary

Children's Cancer Institute in Sydney is seeking a Group Leader - Immuno-Oncology to build and lead a high-calibre research group focused on paediatric tumour immunology, immune evasion, and immunotherapies.

You will shape scientific direction, manage finances, and ensure ethical governance to sustain a pioneering program that translates discoveries into early-phase clinical trials for children with high-risk cancer.

Qualifications

• PhD in immunology, cancer biology or a closely related biomedical discipline.
• Minimum 10+ years postdoctoral research experience.
• Minimum appointment at, or eligibility for appointment at, Associate Professor level.
• Expertise in immunological methods and models relevant to cancer.
• Strong publication record in highly regarded journals.
• Ability to attract peer‑reviewed funding.
• National/international scientific reputation with collaborations.
• Experience contributing to broader health and medical research.
• Commitment to ethical and regulatory guidelines for experiments involving humans, animals or GMOs; compliance with regulations.
• Budget management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the scientific direction for the Immuno-Oncology group.
• Oversee financial management and ethical oversight of the program.
• Attract funding to sustain the research program.
• Collaborate with clinicians, UNSW and trial networks to translate discoveries into early phase trials.

Education

PhD in immunology or cancer biology

Eligibility for Associate Professor level

Job description

For over 40 years, our shared commitment to curing childhood cancer has united us. Together, we continue to accelerate the answers to make that possible.

To accomplish our vision, we’re seeking someone who lives our values: owning and delivering meaningful work, collaborating to drive impact, challenging the status quo to create a better future, and balancing logic with empathy. Let’s achieve more, together.

The Group Leader - Immuno-Oncology is the senior research leader responsible for building and leading the Immuno-Oncology research group at CCI. The Immuno-Oncology team play a key role in the Institutes strategy providing innovative research into how the immune system can be harnessed to treat and cure Childhood cancer.

The Group Leader - Immuno-Oncology, will conceptualise and conduct original research of the highest calibre spanning paediatric tumour immunology, mechanisms of immune evasion and resistance, and the development and testing of immunotherapies.

This role is responsible for leading the scientific direction, financial management and ethical oversight for the Group, and will be accountable for attracting funding to maintain the viability and sustainability of the research program. The Group Leader - Immuno-Oncology works closely with clinicians at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, collaborators at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and with national and international trial networks, so that the Group discoveries move effectively towards early phase clinical trials for children with high-risk, refractory and relapsed cancer.

To succeed in this role you will have…

• A PhD in immunology, cancer biology or a closely related biomedical discipline.
• A minimum 10+ years postdoctoral research experience.
• A minimum appointment at, or eligibility for appointment at, Associate Professor level.
• Demonstrated expertise in immunological methods and models relevant to cancer, such as high-parameter flow or mass cytometry, single-cell and/or spatial profiling, functional immune assays, and immunocompetent or humanised in vivo tumour models.
• A strong record of publications, relative to opportunity, in highly regarded journals.
• A demonstrated capacity to attract peer-reviewed funding.
• A strong or emerging national and/or international scientific reputation, proven by collaborations.
• Evidence of contribution to the broader health and medical research community.
• Demonstrated commitment to conducting experiments involving humans, animals and/or GMOs under strict ethical and regulatory guidelines, and of compliance with other regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets.

We will support you to be your best with benefits that include but are not limited to:

• Working in a world-class, purpose‑built facility, the only one in Australia dedicated to curing childhood cancer
• Focus on employee wellbeing, including up to 5 gifted wellbeing days off (paid) per year
• Access to Fitness Passport, with access to an extensive choice of fitness facilities across Sydney at discounted rates
• Corporate discounts and discounts on education through UNSW

Join us to shape a future every child deserves and to find meaning in your own. Because together, we can cure every child of cancer. It’s not if, it’s when.

Additional information about Children's Cancer Institute can be found on our website at: https://www.ccia.org.au/jobs-study . We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance Children’s Cancer Institute and our culture. We embrace diversity and encourage you to advise of any reasonable adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.