Job Ad

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.

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.

The Opportunity

• Apply your lab skills and analytical knowledge into a varied role
• Play a key role in managing the operations of state-of-the-art laboratories
• Grow your career with our diverse team at CSIRO – Australia’s National Science Agency!

Our Mineral Resources’ Materials Characterisation Program has analytical and characterisation expertise in areas from spectroscopy & chromatography to microscopy & X-ray science, and it is home to advanced multiscale analytical facilities that are a key part of our research to ensure a sustainable resources industry for Australia.

Joining this wider program, you will bring your skills and knowledge to ensure the smooth operation of the state-of-the-art Drill Core and Microcharacterisation Laboratories, and their instruments. You will play a key role in assisting our researchers in managing samples, data collection, as well as undertaking practical aspects of drill core analysis to help deliver impact for our customers. Your strong focus on safety, including all aspects of manual handling, radiation, and forklift operation, would also be useful in this position.

If you are an early-career research technician with strong attention to detail, enjoy participating in experimental and laboratory work, interested in building your career with an esteemed R&D organisation, and have a positive attitude towards working in a multi-disciplinary team, we would love to hear from you! Here at CSIRO, we provide a diverse and inclusive culture, and offer you excellent professional development opportunities to grow your skills & career!

Your duties will include:

• Assisting in performing routine laboratory analyses, and at times adapting existing techniques and components to meet special circumstances or undertaking modifications to methods requiring some innovation.
• Performing some non-routine analyses or technology development activities using a range of techniques, often working on a number of parallel and competing tasks.
• Being responsible for maintaining laboratory consumables and upkeep. (Once trained, you’ll also be instructing staff in the use of shared equipment).
• Managing sample receival, storage and scheduling for large volumes of drill core to ensure customers receive data in a timely manner.
• Undertaking practical aspects of drill core analysis including sample handling, measurements, core cleaning and sorting, tracking, storage, pallet wrapping, strapping and labelling, forklifting in tight spaces, data QA/QC.
• Optimising scanning electron microscopes for a range of routine imaging and microanalysis tasks (training provided).
• Scheduling, analysing and delivering automated mineralogy datasets ensuring that geological libraries are used appropriately.

Location: Kensington, WA

Salary: AU$68K – AU$86K pa + up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Specified Term of 2 years; Full-time

Reference: 95034

To be considered you will need:

• A relevant bachelor’s degree in physical sciences including but not limited to geosciences, physics, materials science, etc, OR demonstrated relevant work experience.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to closely follow processes and procedures.
• Demonstrated strong focus on safety.
• Good verbal and written communication skills and an ability to work with a variety of internal and external customers.
• Have a forklift operator’s licence, or be willing to be trained (covered by CSIRO).

For full details about this role, and the desirable criteria, please review the Position Description.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this role, you must be either an:

• Australian or New Zealand Citizen;
• Australian Permanent Resident; or
• Australian Temporary Resident, currently residing in Australia, with an existing valid visa and unrestricted work rights for the duration of the term (at least until mid-2026) and no requirement for visa sponsorship. Please note this does not include bridging visas or other visas that are dependent upon the approval of future visas.

CSIRO is an Equal Opportunity employer working hard to recruit world-class talent that represents the diversity across our society. As part of our commitment to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employment outcomes, preference will be given to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates who meet the role criteria. CSIRO conscious inclusion practices are intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8 (1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).

Appointment to this role is also subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements. Due to the nature of this position, the successful candidate will also be required to undertake a pre-employment medical examination prior to commencement.

Flexible Working Arrangements

Our roles at CSIRO are varied. However, depending on the nature of the role and its requirements, we can work flexibly, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. Please refer to the Position Description for further information around the nature of this role and what’s required.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply online, and provide a CV and detailed cover letter responding to the selection criteria, that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role. Please note that we strongly encourage you to respond to each of the selection criteria in detail, and attach it to your cover letter as one document.

Applications Close

2 April 2024, 11:00pm AEDT

We strongly encourage you to apply early as we will be reviewing applications as they come through. CSIRO reserves the right to withdraw this ad prior to the closing date if required.