Manager, Laboratory and Technical Services (Clinical and Simulated Learning)

James Cook University; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 112,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Superannuation up to 17%

5 weeks annual recreation leave

Sick/carers leave 15 days per year

Parental leave up to 6 months

Flexible working options

Staff study assistance

Professional development support

Fitness Passport

Health insurance discount

Job summary

James Cook University is seeking a dynamic leader to oversee Laboratory and Technical Services across clinical and simulated learning environments. The role focuses on strategic and operational leadership, ensuring safe, compliant services and optimal use of facilities and equipment for student learning and service outcomes.

The successful candidate will drive staff development, safety culture and continuous improvement across multiple disciplines and campuses, with a strong emphasis on risk

Qualifications

• Experience leading laboratory, clinical, simulation or technical services.
• Strong operational management capability.
• Knowledge of Workplace Health and Safety legislation and risk management.
• Ability to develop staff, plan workloads and coordinate resources.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, prioritisation and delivery of laboratory and technical services across multiple disciplines and campuses.
• Ensure services are delivered safely, compliantly and to agreed standards.
• Lead staff capability, manage workload and performance, and provide strategic direction.
• Drive service innovation, cross-team planning and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Operational management

Risk management

Safety compliance

Staff development

Stakeholder communication

Job description

Manager, Laboratory and Technical Services (Clinical and Simulated Learning)

James Cook University (JCU) is creating a brighter future for life in the Tropics and beyond, through education and research that makes a difference locally and globally.

Are you an experienced leader with a strong background in laboratory, clinical, simulation or technical service environments? This is an opportunity to lead safe, compliant and high-quality laboratory and technical services that directly support student learning and service outcomes across JCU.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Manager, Laboratory and Technical Services (Clinical and Simulated Learning) to provide strategic and operational leadership across multidisciplinary facilities, teams and services.

• Full-time, continuing | 36.25 hours per week
• Successful candidate must be based in Townsville or willing to relocate before commencement
• Based at the Townsville Bebegu Yumba campus,gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and tropical North Queensland
• HEWL 8: $111,960 - $128,567 per annum plus up to 17% superannuation

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Manager, Laboratory and Technical Services (Clinical and Simulated Learning), you will lead the planning, prioritisation and delivery of laboratory and technical services across multiple disciplines, facilities and campuses, with service delivery spanning Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, Dentistry, Rehabilitation and Health Sciences. You will ensure services are delivered safely, consistently and to agreed standards, timeframes and stakeholder expectations, while optimising facilities, specialist equipment and other resources to support learning and operational outcomes.

The role also contributes to the broader leadership of Laboratory and Technical Services by building a high-performing and collaborative workplace culture, strengthening cross-team planning and driving service consistency, innovation and continuous improvement. You will lead and develop staff capability, manage workload and performance, and provide high-level technical and operational advice on the feasibility, safety, compliance and resource implications of planned activities.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ROLE

You will bring relevant qualifications and proven leadership experience gained within a complex laboratory, clinical, simulation or technical services environment. With strong operational management capability, you will be experienced in leading specialist facilities, infrastructure, equipment and resources, ensuring they operate safely, efficiently and effectively while meeting relevant regulatory and compliance requirements.

Your strong understanding of Workplace Health and Safety legislation will be supported by practical experience in risk management, incident response, compliance monitoring and continuous improvement. You will also demonstrate high-level communication, interpersonal and influencing skills, a proven ability to develop staff and team capability, and the capacity to contribute to strategic initiatives, service innovation and operational improvement.

Selection Criteria

In addition to the Key Requirements for Success outlined in the Role Profile, the successful applicant must have:

• Management experience within clinical and simulated learning, health professional education, or a comparable technical service environment, with a demonstrated understanding of operational and safety requirements of contemporary health professional learning environments.
• Leadership experience in complex technical operations environments, with evidence of leading diverse teams, strengthening capability and collaboration, and fostering a culture of safety, accountability, innovation and high performance.
• A strong understanding of the operational complexities and service requirements associated with supporting practical learning across Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, Dentistry, Rehabilitation and/or Health Sciences.
• Knowledge of contemporary simulation technologies, specialised clinical equipment, high-fidelity models and simulated learning environments, and their effective application within health professional education.
• Experience managing complex service demands across multiple disciplines and locations, including demonstrated ability to effectively plan, prioritise and coordinate human, financial and physical resources, to meet competing operational and service requirements.

WHY JCU

JCU offers a dynamic and culturally diverse workplace where your ideas are valued, your professional growth is supported, and your work-life balance is respected. Working under the values of Authenticity, Excellence, Integrity and Respect, we support and empower our people through the provisions of:

• A generous superannuation scheme with up to 17% employer contributions with UniSuper
• 5 weeks of annual recreation leave plus leave loading
• 15 days paid sick/carers leave per year
• Up to 6 months paid parental leave
• A range of flexible working options
• Staff study assistance and paid study leave
• Ongoing professional development support
• Fitness Passport
• Corporate discount on health insurance
• Free Employee Assistance Program (coaching and counselling)
• Well-equipped modern facilities and contemporary workspaces with access to on-site childcare and medical services at our Townsville campus

ABOUT OUR PROCESS

At JCU, we are committed to employing individuals who meet the requirements of the role and align with our values. All applicants will be contacted and advised of an outcome once the recruitment process is finalised.

Please visit our Information Privacy Policy to understand how your information is collected, stored, accessed and used.

James Cook University encourages people from all backgrounds who meet the role requirements to apply. We value and celebrate the diversity of our community and are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming learning and working environment.

For enquiries about the role, please contact Dr Amanda Norton at **************@jcu.edu.au.

Applications close Sunday, 1 November 2026 at11:55pm.