Senior Advisor, Indigenous Research Governance (Identified Role - Indigenous)

CSIRO; Australia; On-site; AUD 118,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

CSIRO in Australia is seeking a Senior Advisor – Indigenous Research Governance to advance respectful, ethical Indigenous science across CSIRO.

You will provide specialist advice on governance, data sovereignty, IP, and research ethics, and build capability through internal guidance and forums.

The role requires lived experience as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and the ability to collaborate with researchers, communities and partners.

Qualifications

• Cultural capability grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.
• Strong community connection and credibility with Indigenous communities.
• Relevant tertiary qualification and/or HDR in STEM with Indigenous science experience.
• Experience in Indigenous research methodologies.
• Experience engaging with Indigenous peoples from remote, regional and urban communities.
• Knowledge of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, Governance of Indigenous Data, and Indigenous Data Sovereignty.
• Ability to provide specialist advice and influence policy and strategy.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert Indigenous governance and ethics guidance to CSIRO researchers and units.
• Lead and maintain forums and initiatives strengthening respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples.
• Support Indigenous determination mechanism for Indigenous science projects.
• Provide culturally appropriate guidance to ethics committees and units.
• Develop strategies to build capability of non-Indigenous researchers and Indigenous early career researchers.
• Contribute to policy development, review and implementation across CSIRO.
• Monitor trends in Indigenous science and data governance for organisational responses.
• Develop and implement monitoring/reporting for Indigenous science performance.
• Represent CSIRO on internal and external committees and forums.

Skills

Cultural capability

Indigenous governance

Policy development

Research ethics

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's or higher in STEM or related field

Higher Degree by Research (HDR) in a relevant area

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

• Help shape respectful, ethical and culturally informed Indigenous research across CSIRO.
• Provide specialist advice and build capability in Indigenous research governance, methodologies, data and ICIP.
• Join CSIRO – Australia’s national science agency.

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge. Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity

CSIRO’s Indigenous Research Governance team is seeking a Senior Advisor – Indigenous Research Governance to help strengthen the organisation’s capability to conduct Indigenous science respectfully, ethically and with integrity.

In this role, you will provide specialist advice and practical support to Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers. You will contribute to culturally appropriate policies, processes and practices; support research ethics and governance; build capability through internal forums, guidance and initiatives; and help monitor emerging developments in Indigenous science, research, data governance, data sovereignty and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.

Reporting to the Executive Manager, Indigenous Research Governance, you will collaborate with CSIRO researchers and Research Units, Indigenous communities and stakeholders, and national and international research partners to support best practice in Indigenous science.

You will bring cultural capability grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, developed through lived experience as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, together with strong community connection and credibility.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Provide research methodological knowledge, Indigenous knowledge, expertise and perspective to support research that respects Indigenous rights, sovereignty and self-determination.
• Lead and maintain forums, tools and initiatives that strengthen respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations.
• Support the Indigenous Research Governance team with the Indigenous determination mechanism for Indigenous science projects across Research Units.
• Provide culturally appropriate guidance and research advice to CSIRO research ethics committees and Research Units.
• Develop and implement culturally appropriate strategies and mechanisms that build the capability of non-Indigenous researchers and Indigenous early career researchers.
• Contribute specialist advice to the development, review and implementation of policies, procedures and systems supporting Indigenous science.
• Monitor emerging trends and developments in Indigenous science and research and contribute to appropriate organisational responses.
• Develop and implement a monitoring and reporting framework for the performance of Indigenous science at CSIRO.
• Represent CSIRO on relevant internal and external committees and forums.

Role particulars

Location: Open to all Australian capital cities. Other locations may be considered.

Salary: AU$118,102 – AU$127,808 per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Indefinite; Full-time. Part-time, job-share and flexible work arrangements may be considered based on the needs of the role and individual circumstances.

Reference: 104410

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A high level of cultural capability grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, developed through lived experience as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
• Strong Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community connection and credibility along with demonstrated cultural authority appropriate to the communities, contexts and responsibilities relevant to the role.
• A relevant tertiary qualification and/or Higher Degree by Research, or equivalent relevant work experience in a STEM related field with experience and understanding of Indigenous Science from research or Industry background.
• Demonstrated experience in and understanding of research with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and Indigenous research methodologies.
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from remote, regional and urban communities to deliver outcomes defined by community.
• Experience in, or knowledge of, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, Governance of Indigenous Data Governance, and Indigenous Data Sovereignty, with the ability to apply these principles in research or organisational contexts.
• Demonstrated experience representing an organisation respectfully in Indigenous-led forums and using sound judgement, initiative and influence to engage internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to provide specialist advice and contribute to the development, implementation and review of policy and strategy.
• Strong relationship-building, collaboration, written communication, presentation, negotiation, judgement and problem-solving capabilities.

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 [e-mail] and let us know how we can support you.

Eligibility

CSIRO considers the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Citizenship.

The successful applicant will be required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

The successful candidate will be required to provide contact details of at least one Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Referee to confirm their ability to work and communicate respectfully with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

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 .

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

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

15 November 2026, 11:00pm AEDT