National Research Infrastructure Lead

CSIRO; Sydney; On-site; AUD 260,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Career development opportunities

Employer-sponsored leave Entitlements

Job summary

CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, invites an established leader to shape national research infrastructure strategy and investment.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Technology, National Facilities and Collections, you will develop coordinated national approaches, advise senior leaders, and position CSIRO for future challenges.

Location across Australia with a 3-year term; competitive salary and 15.4% super, flexible work options.

Qualifications

• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across organisational boundaries.
• Experience with national research infrastructure and procurement processes.
• Ability to translate trends into practical strategies and proposals.
• Commitment to values-based, inclusive leadership across geographically dispersed teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead CSIRO’s enterprise research infrastructure strategy and national plan.
• Shape long-term capability roadmaps and investment priorities.
• Advise senior leaders on future capability needs and investments.
• Strengthen governance and visibility of research infrastructure.
• Identify opportunities for shared capability and co-investment across sectors.
• Represent CSIRO in national infrastructure discussions and partnerships.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic relationship building

National research infrastructure

Procurement collaboration

Investment decision-support

Inclusive leadership

Education

Postgraduate qualifications in management, business, science, engineering, research infrastructure, asset management or related field

Job description

Acknowledgement of Country

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

• Shape CSIRO’s national approach to research infrastructure, scientific capability and long-term investment
• Influence major infrastructure priorities across one of Australia’s largest multidisciplinary research organisations
• Build stronger connections across CSIRO, universities, NCRIS facilities, government and industry to maximise national research impact

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, we deliver the science Australians need for the nation they want: productive, sustainable, healthy and secure. We work at the intersection of discovery, innovation and impact, tackling some of Australia's biggest challenges, from climate resilience and clean energy to food and fibre security, health, emerging technologies and national resilience. Our people combine world‑class science with collaboration, curiosity and expertise to create solutions that benefit communities, industry and the environment. Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity

This is a new strategic leadership role with enterprise-wide influence across CSIRO’s research infrastructure portfolio.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, Technology, National Facilities and Collections, and with the full support of CSIRO’s Executive Team, you will shape how we plan, prioritise and invest in the scientific infrastructure and capability that underpin our future research.

You will lead the development of a coordinated national approach to research infrastructure, providing senior advice on long-term capability needs, investment priorities, major equipment, emerging technologies and opportunities for collaboration and co-investment.

This is a role for an established leader who can bring together science, strategy, investment and infrastructure, influence at the highest levels, and help position CSIRO for the research challenges of the future.

Your high-level duties will include

• Lead CSIRO’s enterprise research infrastructure strategy and national infrastructure plan.
• Shape long-term capability roadmaps, investment priorities, lifecycle planning and major scientific equipment decisions.
• Advise senior leaders on future capability needs, infrastructure risks and significant investment decisions.
• Strengthen governance, prioritisation and visibility of research infrastructure across CSIRO.
• Identify opportunities for shared capability, collaboration and co-investment across universities, NCRIS, government and industry.
• Represent CSIRO in national research infrastructure discussions and partnerships.

Role particulars

• Location and office arrangements: All Capital Cities and major CSIRO sites across Australia considered
• Salary: Attractive Salary package plus 15.4% super
• Tenure & work schedule: 3 year Specified Term, full time
• Eligibility : Applications for this position are open to Australian citizens and all CSIRO indefinite and term employees who have been previously appointed through a competitive advertised process. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate will be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Negative Vetting Level 1
• Reference No.: 103918

Essential Criteria

• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills, including the ability to build strategic relationships, gain commitment across organisational boundaries and represent CSIRO effectively in senior internal and external forums.
• Demonstrated experience in national level research infrastructure - working collaboratively with procurement, commercial, technical, scientific and enabling functions to improve value, efficiency, compliance and strategic outcomes from major research infrastructure, supplier or service arrangements.
• Demonstrated ability to identify national and international trends, emerging technologies, collaboration opportunities and future capability requirements, and translate these insights into practical strategies, proposals and decision-support processes.
• A demonstrated commitment to respectful, inclusive and values-based leadership, including health, safety and wellbeing, collaboration, evidence-based decision making and the development of professional capability across multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualifications in management, business, science, engineering, research infrastructure, asset management, procurement, commercial management or a related field.
• Knowledge of Australia’s national research infrastructure landscape, including NCRIS facilities, universities, government agencies, research organisations and opportunities for shared capability, collaboration or co-investment.
• Experience leading or contributing to national procurement, supplier engagement, lifecycle planning, utilisation reporting or investment prioritisation processes for high-value research infrastructure, scientific equipment, or complex technical assets .

For full details about this role, including all selection criteria and duties, please review 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 ***email_hidden*** to discuss.

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 .

Our commitment to inclusion, safety and cultural respect

CSIRO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. At CSIRO, inclusion is about more than who is represented. It is about creating environments where people feel safe, respected and a strong sense of belonging. We value the richness that comes from different cultures, experiences, identities and ways of thinking, and we are committed to culturally safe workplaces, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

By fostering inclusion, belonging and safety, we strengthen innovation and ensure our work reflects the communities and Country we work with.

CSIRO holds Platinum 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 .

Applications close

Sunday 18th October 2026, 11:00pm AEST/AEDT