Senior Research Development Officer

Usyd; Sydney; On-site; AUD 131,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Sydney is seeking a Senior Research Development Officer within the Office of DVC Research to support research funding performance. You will advise researchers on high-quality grant applications and conduct local development activities in partnership with Faculties and Schools.

The role involves contributing to policy development, reviewing procedures, and improving service delivery across multiple DVC Research areas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or higher qualification in a related research field or equivalent experience.
• Proven ability to provide strategic research development advice to researchers.
• Strong analytical, strategic and critical thinking skills for evaluating complex problems.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice to researchers to secure competitive funding and build research reputation.
• Support development of mechanisms to identify research opportunities.
• Manage research development services provided by the Pipeline and Pre-Award Team.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, activities and communications.
• Support a high-performing collaborative team and ensure safety requirements are met.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical ability

Team collaboration

Time management

Education

Related research field degree

Job description

• Full-time fixed term until 19th July 2029
• Opportunity to work across a diverse range of schemes and initiatives in Health and Medical Research Funding
• Base Salary $131,108 - $147,858 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Pipeline and Pre-Award team within the Office of DVC Research is looking for a Senior Research Development Officer to play a key role in supporting research funding performance at the University.

In this role, you will provide strategic advice to researchers to develop high quality, successful research grant applications, and deliver local research development activities in partnership with Faculties and Schools.

You will have the opportunity to support the continuous improvements for service delivery and contribute to drafting and reviewing policy and procedural documents and operational protocols across multiple areas of DVC Research.

Reporting

Reporting to the Research Development Manager (Health and Medical), your key responsibilities will be to:

• provide strategic advice to help researchers secure competitive research funding and build research reputation
• support the development of systematic mechanisms for identification of research opportunities
• manage the provision of research development services provided by the Pipeline and Pre-Award Team
• manage key stakeholder relationships, research development activities, and communications
• support a positive team culture for research development, together with Faculties across the University
• ensure Work Health and Safety requirements are met.

About you

• tertiary qualification in a related research field or equivalent working experience
• demonstrated ability to provide sound strategic research development advice and support to researchers
• excellent analytical, strategic and critical thinking skills with demonstrated experience in evaluating complex problems/information to make sound judgments
• knowledge, experience and appreciation of health and medical research and the research sector broadly
• excellent stakeholder engagement within the university, research or government sectors
• experience and commitment to operating as part of a high performing collaborative team
• excellent time management skills with the ability to pivot focus when needed

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

Contact

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Liam Newson, Recruitment Operations by email to [e-mail].

Applications Close

Sunday 11 October 2026 11:59 PM