Research Advisor

PHF Science; Porirua; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

4 weeks annual leave

Sick leave 15 days after five years

Volunteer day

Flu vaccinations

Life insurance

Insurance discounts

EAP access

Job summary

PHF Science seeks a proactive Research Advisor to join our Office of the Chief Scientist, reporting to the Head of Research. You will support scientists and managers across the research lifecycle, focusing on identifying funding opportunities and preparing competitive proposals, budgeting, and post-award administration to ensure timely funder obligations.

You will collaborate with Legal and Finance, help set up documentation, and maintain portfolio tracking to enable researchers to focus on

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in research administration, science or a related field.
• Experience in a research, science, health or public sector environment, providing practical support with proposal preparation, internal approvals and post-award administration.
• Knowledge of research funding processes and requirements, assisting researchers to identify opportunities and prepare proposals.
• Ability to support research budget preparation using templates and costing approaches, collaborating with Finance.
• Experience setting up project documentation, deadlines and reporting, with portfolio tracking familiarity.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills with clear, service-focused communication.

Responsibilities

• Help researchers identify funding opportunities and prepare competitive proposals, including drafting narratives, gathering evidence and ensuring alignment with funder priorities.
• Assist researchers to prepare budgets using standard templates and costing models, supporting internal approvals for submission.
• Work with Legal and Finance to assist with research agreements, contracting and compliance requirements.
• Provide post-award support by setting up project documentation, tracking, reporting schedules and risk flagging.
• Maintain consistent research portfolio information to support reporting on PHF Science’s activity.

Skills

Research administration

Proposal development & editing

Budgeting & costing

Internal approvals process

Contracting & compliance support

Post-award administration

Portfolio tracking & reporting

Organisational & time management

Clear communication

Education

Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in research administration/related field

Job description

Research Advisor

Te tūnga | The role

PHF Science is seeking a proactive and organised Research Advisor to join our Office of the Chief Scientist, reporting to the Head of Research. Working alongside the Senior Research Advisor, you will provide practical support to scientists and managers across the research lifecycle, with a key focus on helping researchers identify funding opportunities and prepare competitive proposals. This is an opportunity to help researchers focus on their research and deliver science that makes a difference for New Zealand.

We are looking for a Research Advisor to provide practical support across the following areas:

• Help researchers identify relevant funding opportunities and prepare competitive proposals, including drafting and editing narratives, gathering supporting evidence and ensuring alignment with funder and organisational priorities.

• Assist researchers to prepare accurate budgets using standard templates and costing models that account for staff time and overheads, and support internal approvals so managers and the General Manager have the information needed before submission.

• Work with Legal and Finance to assist with research agreements, contracting and compliance requirements, supporting timely handling of funder obligations.

• Provide post-award support by helping set up project documentation and tracking, managing reporting schedules and flagging risks early, enabling researchers to focus on the science.

• Maintain consistent, accessible research portfolio information to support the Head of Research and Senior Research Advisor with reporting on PHF Science’s research activity.

We are open to receiving applications from across Aotearoa New Zealand, and the role can be based in either Tāmaki Makaurau, Pōneke or Ōtautahi.

Kia angitu koe | About you

To be successful in this role, you will have the following:

• A relevant postgraduate tertiary qualification or equivalent experience in research administration, science or a related field.

• Experience in a research, science, health or public sector environment, working as part of a small research support or coordination team and providing practical support with proposal preparation, internal approvals and post-award administration.

• Working knowledge of research funding processes and requirements, with experience helping researchers identify suitable opportunities and prepare proposals through drafting or editing, gathering evidence and following application guidelines.

• The ability to support research budget preparation using established templates and costing approaches, alongside researchers, senior advisors and Finance, and familiarity with working with Legal and Finance on research contracting, compliance and funder obligations.

• Experience setting up project documentation, tracking deadlines and assisting with reporting, with an understanding of research portfolio tracking, databases or reporting systems.

• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines under guidance, and clear, service-focused communication to respond to researcher and manager queries accurately and professionally.

Ngā painga | The benefits

• Flexible working options to support balancing work and non-work commitments.

• Four weeks annual leave, plus two additional annual leave days and three additional PHF Science days (usually the three days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve)

• 15 days sick leave and service leave provisions after five years

• Annual volunteer day to support an organisation or issue you care about in the community.

• Free annual flu vaccinations

• Life insurance and physical loss benefit

• Subsidised Southern Cross insurance & access to special retail discounts.

• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a confidential and free counselling service.

Mō mātou | About Us

Established in 2025, formerly ESR, PHF Science is a New Zealand Government-owned research organisation dedicated to the health, wellbeing and safety of our communities. Specialising in public health and forensic sciences, we monitor disease, help ensure safe food and water, reduce harm from drugs, support the justice system and more. Our science powers innovations and solutions to help New Zealand prosper and grow.

With 4 locations across Aotearoa New Zealand from Auckland to Christchurch and Wellington (Kenepuru and Wallaceville), we use world-leading science to monitor disease, test food and products, safeguard our water, and support the justice sector. By joining forces with experts and iwi, we’re tackling critical issues to ensure a better Aotearoa New Zealand for all.

We are an accredited Living Wage employer and value our people, providing excellent environment for fostering and developing our people in a values-driven, flexible, and ever evolving landscape. We are committed to sustainability and are proud to have received our Toitū Carbonreduce Certification.

We encourage applications from those with an understanding of or a willingness to develop their capability in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori, and/or te reo Māori.

If you would like to request a full position description, please get in touch with [e-mail]

Applications close 12pm Wednesday 25 November 2026

We will be back in touch once advertising closes and applications have been reviewed.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing

At PHF Science, the health, safety and wellbeing of our people is our highest priority. Depending on the role and exposure risks, mandatory vaccinations may include Tetanus, Typhoid, Meningococcal, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, and Polio. In some roles you may need to confirm your vaccination status in accordance with health and safety advice before you commence employment. Participation in PHF Science’s vaccination programme is a condition of employment for new staff. We choose to share this information early in our hiring process so candidates can make an informed choice and are happy to discuss further at interview stage if you have any questions.

PHF Science is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Your unique talents and experience will help us deliver exceptional services to New Zealand. We look forward to your application.

If you don’t meet every requirement in this position description, please don’t exclude yourself. Studies indicate that women and other individuals from under-represented groups often only apply when they satisfy all the criteria. We focus on recruiting individuals who share our core values of Mahi Rangatira (Our quality counts), Mahi tahi (our team spirit), Mahi Auaha (we push boundaries), Mahi Pono (we do the right thing). If these values resonate with you, we encourage you to submit your application.

PHF Science is committed to developing a diverse, inclusive, equitable workplace where people feel they belong. We believe this is the right thing to do, but we also believe it is a worthwhile commitment that makes our organisation stronger and more capable through building on our diversity of thinking, enabling us to better understand the needs of our stakeholders and people and respond effectively to them. An inclusive environment means the diverse perspectives we have are more likely to be expressed, heard, and acted on.

_ Please note the successful applicant will be required to complete a pre-employment drug-screen and police records check as conditions of employment. _