Senior Project Officer

National Health and Medical Research Council; Alba-la-Romaine; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible workplace culture

Dynamic, diverse team across Melbourne

Wellbeing programs incl. up to 6 free

Generous recreational leave and study

Opportunities to lead high value

Job summary

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is seeking an experienced Senior Project Officer to drive policy-engaged program delivery and strategic engagement with internal and external stakeholders. The role focuses on translating research into health policy and clinical practice through partnerships and grant schemes.

The successful candidate will coordinate evaluation programs, contribute to grant development, and lead cross-functional teams across Melbourne or Canberra, with a

Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communication with ability to draft complex briefings.
• Experience in program or project management across multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to work with tight timeframes and strategic planning.
• Background in science, health, public health or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement evaluation programs and reporting.
• Lead policy improvements while engaging diverse audiences.
• Provide timely advice on legislation, policies and guidelines.
• Maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Draft agenda papers, briefs, ministerial submissions, and reports.
• Manage grant programs and NHMRC reporting systems.
• Support staff and contribute to planning.

Skills

Program & project management

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Written communication

Strategic thinking

Education

Science/health-related degree

Job description

• Canberra or Melbourne

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is seeking an experienced and high performing candidate to fill the role of Senior Project Officer. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, organised strategic planner with a strong understanding of policy implications and excellent people skills for effective engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

About the Branch

The Research Partnerships Branch is responsible for driving the translation of evidence into health policy and clinical practice through partnerships and strategic engagement. We manage grant schemes focused on translating research into policy and practice through the Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies, Targeted Calls for Research, Partnership Projects and Centres of Research Excellence grant schemes. We implement priority-driven health and medical research initiatives and bilateral and multilateral funding opportunities with international funders and manage grant opportunities for the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) working closely with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The Branch is also responsible for NHMRC’s International Engagement Strategy, Research Translation Strategy, our health priorities, consumer and community involvement and manage a range of advisory committees.

About the Section

The Translation Programs section is responsible for the delivery of the Targeted Calls for Research (TCR), Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies (CTCS) schemes.

TCR grants fund research to advance knowledge on health issues benefiting Australians. CTCS Grants support clinical trials and cohort studies addressing knowledge gaps for human health benefits. Development Grants aim to translate health and medical research into commercial outcomes, improving health and medical knowledge.

This section also engages with a variety of stakeholders, including government agencies, health and medical researchers, peak bodies and consumer and/or community organisations in the development of funding calls, when conducting improvements to policy and processes and when delivering its outcomes. This team also manages the development of a priority-driven framework for NHMRC and leads the consumers in peer review work through the TCR and CTCS grant schemes. The team is a source of significant scientific and policy advice through the broad expertise of the team and engagement with national and international entities in relation to cancer, clinical trials, data management, infectious diseases preparedness and others.

What we offer

What truly makes us a great place to work? It is our people and the culture we have built together. With an 87% response rate in the 2026 APS Employee Census, NHMRC employees reported high levels of pride (90%), commitment (94%) and connection to our purpose (95%). NHMRC scored above the APS average across key employee experience measures, including wellbeing, innovation, communication and speak up culture. At NHMRC, you will find meaningful work, supportive leadership, flexible ways of working, and a collaborative environment where people can thrive and make a difference.

Our roles come with broad responsibilities and minimal hierarchy, making it easier to get things done. You will be part of a small, inclusive, and high performing team with a strong, supportive culture.

We offer

• A truly flexible workplace culture.
• A dynamic, diverse and supportive team across Melbourne and Canberra.
• Wellbeing programs including up to 6 free counselling sessions per year and a workplace that genuinely cares.
• Generous recreational leave, personal leave, cultural leave, parental leave and paid end-of-year shutdown.
• Study assistance and professional development opportunities that align with your career goals.
• Opportunities to be trusted to lead high value projects with the freedom to innovate and the support to grow.
• Strategic exposure where you can engage directly with senior leaders and contribute to decisions that shape our future direction.

Job specific duties

• Developing and implementing evaluation programs and contribute to reporting requirements.
• Contributing and lead process and policy improvements while interacting and communicating with a diverse range of audiences.
• Analysing and interpreting legislation, regulations, policies and guidelines, and provide appropriate and timely advice and information.
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
• Drafting high-quality agenda papers, minutes, briefs, ministerial submissions, public correspondence, media responses, reports, research papers and other written work.
• Contributing to the development, management and implementation of grant programs.
• Being a subject matter expert in the use of NHMRC grant management and related reporting systems.
• Managing communication, procurement and peer review committee activities.
• Contributing to section, branch and organisational business and strategic planning.
• Being flexible in contributing capacity and expertise to different programs during busy periods.
• Supervising staff if required.

Core capabilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to draft complex briefings and papers to a consistently high standard.
• The ability to work in small teams with limited direction and flexibility across different projects.
• The ability to identify and work through process and policy improvement activities involving multiple stakeholders.
• The ability to contribute to complex work with tight timeframes.
• The ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Experience in program and project management.
• Good judgement and strategic-thinking skills, including problem solving.
• Experience in science, research, health, public health, nutrition, environmental health, social science or related fields.

Highly desirable

• Tertiary qualifications in science, research, health, public health, nutrition, environmental health, social science or related disciplines.
• An understanding of the way the Australian health care system operates.
• An understanding of the health and medical research environment.
• Grants management experience.

Location

The role is available in either Canberra or Melbourne.

Further information

For further information contact Sarah Hazell on 02 6217 9350 or email [e-mail]

Eligibility

To be eligible for a position at NHMRC, you must be an Australian citizen and be able to provide evidence of this. If successful, you will be required to undertake a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

Applications close

11:30 PM AEDT Sunday, 22 November 2026.

If you experience any difficulties accessing or submitting your online application, please email NHMRC Recruitment team at [e-mail]

NHMRC is an inclusive and diverse employer that supports gender equity and diversity in leadership. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including People with Disability, First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, mature age people and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.

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Candidates should familiarise themselves with the Australian Public Service Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment as they guide the ethical, responsible and transparent use of AI tools by candidates engaging in APS recruitment processes. These principles are designed to ensure that the use of AI tools by candidates aligns with the expectations outlined in the APS Values and Employment Principles and maintains the integrity of recruitment decisions and outcomes.