Research Projects Senior Advisor

UTS; Broadway; On-site; AUD 126,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work practices

Generous parental leave

Salary packaging opportunities

Job summary

UTS is seeking a Research Projects Senior Advisor to provide strategic guidance and practical support for high‑value research projects across Science, Engineering and IT. You will work with senior researchers and internal teams to shape opportunities, plan budgets, pricing, milestones and risk management.

Based in Sydney, this role requires strong stakeholder engagement, policy interpretation and ability to navigate complex research environments with national security considerations.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline with substantial experience in a complex research institution.
• Experience in planning, costing and pricing of research projects across multiple disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to build professional networks and manage stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Shape and progress high‑value science, engineering and IT research opportunities.
• Provide strategic and operational support for planning, costing and milestones.
• Review project plans and advise on risks, deliverables and pathways to impact.
• Coordinate resources for complex, potentially high‑risk projects.
• Advise researchers on research management systems and processes.
• Collaborate with finance, risk and industry engagement teams for end‑to‑end support.

Skills

Strategic advisory

Research management

Stakeholder engagement

Budgeting & pricing

Policy interpretation

Communication skills

Independent & team work

Education

Postgraduate qualification in relevant discipline

Tools

Research management systems

Job description

About UTS
At UTS, we're a young, globally recognised university known for doing things differently. Based in the centre of Sydney, we work closely with industry, government, and the community to focus on outcomes that matter. Our strength lies in how we bring creativity, technology and innovation together to make a practical difference.

We're Australia's leading young university and consistently sit within the top 100 universities globally, a reflection of the scale of our ambition and the contribution of our people.

When you join UTS, you become part of a community that values inclusion, supports access to education, and works towards positive change in society.

About the Team
The role sits within the UTS Research Office, which provides specialist research advisory and support services across the research lifecycle. The Research Office works with researchers, faculties and divisions to support high value and impactful research initiatives.

Job Purpose
The Research Projects Senior Advisor provides strategic advice and practical support to researchers in the planning, development, establishment and delivery of high-value, high-impact research projects primarily across Science, Engineering and Information and Technology disciplines. A particular focus is supporting strategically important, complex and higher-risk research pathways, including defence, space and projects involving critical and emerging technologies. Working closely with senior researchers, industry engagement and research leaders, the role helps shape and progress these opportunities and coordinates the involvement of specialist Research Office and University teams.

Role Responsibilities

• Work closely with senior researchers and research leaders to shape and progress strategically important, complex and higher-risk Science, Engineering and IT research opportunities, including defence, space and projects involving critical and emerging technologies.
• Provide strategic and operational research support aligned with project complexity, risk and researcher needs for the planning, development, costing, pricing of research projects.
• Review project plans and provide advice on milestones, deliverables, risks and pathways to impact.
• Coordinate resources and support the establishment and delivery of complex research projects, including potentially higher risk projects.
• Advise and support researchers on UTS research management systems and related processes.
• Collaborate with Research Finance, Research Partnering, Research Risk and National Security, Industry Engagement and other stakeholders to provide integrated support across the research lifecycle.

Skills, Attributes and Knowledge

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build effective relationships with researchers and stakeholders.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, provide strategic advice and solve complex problems.
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong strategic, conceptual and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Understanding of the research lifecycle, funding mechanisms, intellectual property, costing, pricing and project management principles.
• Knowledge of the Australian higher education and research sector.

Experience

• Experience in research project planning and management across research project types including commissioned, contract or consulting projects.
• Experience in research project costing and pricing.
• Demonstrated experience establishing and maintaining strong professional relationships and networks.
• Experience working in a university or research-intensive environment is highly desirable.

Qualifications

• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline and substantial experience in a complex research institution, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education or training.
• Refer to the position description for more detail.

What We Offer

Base Salary Range: $125,718.00 to $143,175.00 (HEW 8) plus 17% superannuation.

The position is full time and will be made on a continuing basis.

UTS staff also benefit from a wide range of Employee Benefits, including flexible work practices, generous parental leave and salary packaging opportunities.

Australian citizenship is a requirement for this role as the position supports higher risk research pathways, including defence related projects, and may require appropriate national security clearance in the future. The successful applicant may also be subject to defence security screening.

UTS is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we encourage applicants to include a statement on career breaks or relative to opportunity where relevant.

UTS prioritises safety, respect, and inclusion for every member of our community. In support of this, and in line with our statutory obligations under the National Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence 2026, all prospective employees must declare any past investigations relating to gender-based violence. Employment at UTS is contingent upon completion of this declaration, and, where necessary, assessment of any identified risk factors. We appreciate your role in upholding the standards and behaviour expected of our community.

General enquiries or issues with your application may be directed to ******@uts.edu.au

Closing Date 02 December 2026 at 11.59 pm (AEST)

Accessibility

UTS Recruitment is committed to digital accessibility. If you experience any difficulty with the content of our advertising, please let us know so we can ensure our information is accessible to everyone.

In addition, if you have a disability that requires adjustment to the recruitment process or an alternative application pathway, please contact ******@uts.edu.au for assistance.

UTS is recognised widely as supporting inclusivity and diversity through our Wingara Indigenous Employment Strategy, Social Impact Framework and UTS Access and Inclusion Plan.

We welcome applications from women, Indigenous Australians, people with disability, those who identify as LGBTIQ+ and applicants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.