Manager, Laboratory and Technical Services (Engineering and Physical Sciences)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Generous superannuation

5 weeks annual recreation leave

Flexible working options

On-site childcare

Well-equipped facilities

Job summary

James Cook University (JCU) invites applications for a dynamic Manager, Laboratory and Technical Services in Engineering and Physical Sciences. You will provide strategic and operational leadership across multidisciplinary facilities, ensuring safe, compliant and high-quality laboratory and teaching services to support student learning and research.

You will lead staff development, plan resources across campuses, and drive continuous improvement in safety, compliance and service delivery.

Qualifications

• Management experience within engineering, chemistry or technical service environments.
• Experience overseeing facilities, technical infrastructure, equipment and resources, ensuring safe, effective and compliant operation.
• Strong knowledge of WHS regulations and risk management practices.
• Ability to develop staff and drive capability and performance across teams.
• Familiarity with accreditation requirements for technical service delivery in engineering or chemistry is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, prioritisation and delivery of laboratory and technical services across multiple disciplines and campuses.
• Ensure safe, consistent teaching services and optimal use of facilities and equipment.
• Build a high-performing, collaborative workplace culture and drive service improvement.
• Provide strategic and operational advice on feasibility, safety, and resource implications of planned activities.

Skills

Leadership

Laboratory management

Safety compliance

WH&S knowledge

Stakeholder communication

Strategic planning

Education

Engineering or chemistry background

Job description

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 engineering and physical science 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 (Engineering and Physical Sciences) to provide strategic and operational leadership across multidisciplinary facilities, teams and services.

• Laboratory and Technical Services, Education Division
• 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 (Engineering and Physical Sciences), you will lead the planning, prioritisation and delivery of laboratory and technical services across multiple disciplines, facilities and campuses, with a service delivery portfolio spanning analytical, organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, and several Engineering disciplines, including chemical, civil, computer systems, electrical and mechanical engineering. You will ensure practical teaching 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, together with demonstrated leadership and operational management experience in a complex laboratory, workshop, or technical service environment. You will have experience overseeing specialist facilities, technical infrastructure, equipment and resources, ensuring their safe, effective and compliant operation.

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:

1. Management experience within an engineering, chemistry or comparable technical service environment, with a demonstrated understanding of the operational requirements of complex laboratory, workshop and practical learning environments across multiple engineering and chemistry disciplines.
2. Leadership experience in complex technical operational environments, with evidence of leading diverse teams, strengthening capability and collaboration, and fostering a culture of safety, accountability, innovation and high performance.
3. Knowledge of contemporary engineering and chemical science technologies, specialised laboratory and workshop equipment, instrumentation and technical facilities, and their application in supporting practical teaching and project-based learning outcomes.
4. Demonstrated experience leading safety and compliance within complex laboratory, workshop and specialised environments, with a strong understanding of WHS regulations, Australian Standards, and risk management associated with dangerous goods, hazardous machinery, specialised equipment and high-risk technical activities in engineering and chemistry.
5. Experience managing complex service demands across multiple disciplines and locations, with demonstrated ability to effectively plan, prioritise and coordinate human, financial and physical resources to meet competing operational and service requirements.
6. Familiarity with relevant accreditation body requirements applicable to technical service delivery for engineering and chemistry, or a demonstrated ability to develop knowledge of relevant requirements within a reasonable timeframe, will be highly regarded.

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

For enquiries about the role, please contact Dr Amanda Norton at [e-mail].

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.