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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

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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

• Work for Australia’s National Science Agency
• Ensure CSIRO’s Ag & Food Unit remains scientifically competitive and impactful globally
• We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work

About CSIRO & the Agriculture and Food Research Unit

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is Australia’s National Science Agency and a statutory corporation within the Australian Government’s Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) portfolio. CSIRO is one of the world’s largest and most multidisciplinary mission-driven research organisations, delivering transformative, positive impacts through science and technology to create a better future for Australia and the world.

Agriculture and Food (A&F) is one of CSIRO’s largest research units, employing approximately 680 FTE staff. We apply world class multidisciplinary science, technology and facilities, relevant IP and global networks across the value chain to create healthier, trusted, safer and more sustainable food and fibre. Our goal is to solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology to build a profitable, productive, trusted and sustainable agrifood sector for the future. Find out more here: CSIRO Agriculture and Food

Role Overview

Reporting to (and deputising for) the Director Agriculture and Food (A&F), the Deputy Director Science is a member of CSIRO’s leadership team. Responsible for leading the development and implementation of a strategic capability plan for people and scientific infrastructure and ensuring the appropriate evolution and matching of Research Unit capability both within A&F and within CSIRO’s other strategic science / research units, the Deputy Director Science ensures A&F remains scientifically competitive and impactful globally.

To be considered for this exciting leadership role, CSIRO is seeking a pragmatic, inspirational and engaging leader with the experience and the confidence to provide organisational wide strategic leadership. With a specialisation in agriculture and / or food and with a deep knowledge across the breadth of science, you will effectively contribute at Science Council, providing sound recommendations that contribute to CSIRO’s investment in science. Concurrently, you will display an inherent strategically focussed business mindset that is attuned to organisational needs and that drives sustainability for CSIRO.  

To ensure that productive relationships are established and maintained with relevant internal and external stakeholders (government, industry, science, academia), you will need to bring exceptional interpersonal, influencing and communication skills and the ability and confidence to lead discussions on behalf of CSIRO, domestically and internationally.

You bring demonstrated people leadership capabilities with high moral values around culture and a proven ability to empower, to innovate and to facilitate positive and collaborative team relationships within a multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed workforce.

Location:       Preference for Canberra, Brisbane or Adelaide. Other cities negotiable. 

Salary:            Attractive Salary plus Motor Vehicle Allowance plus 15.4% super

Tenure:          Specified Term of 3 years full-time
 

About You

We are seeking a strategic, innovative and collaborative leader with demonstratable experience:

• in applied research and development in the agriculture and / or food sectors and with an established reputation.
• executing a strategic vision and plan that supports the Agriculture and Food Research Unit, and the organisation’s, goals and sustainability focus.
• in staff leadership, including inspiring and empowering leadership that fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement across large multi-disciplinary, multi-site teams.
• in stakeholder management, with highly developed communication skills and with experience fostering effective and collaborative relationships internally and externally that grows science opportunities and supports commercial outcomes.  
• in change management and in leading transformations with proven outcomes.
• working in a highly regulated sector / industry akin to the size, scale and complexity of CSIRO and beneficial if you also bring experience working in the Commonwealth operating environment or a research organisation.

A post graduate degree in science, agriculture and or food (or a related discipline) from an Australian tertiary institution (or a comparable overseas qualification) is expected.

For a detailed overview and more information, please view the position description here

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens and New Zealand Citizens and Australian Permanent Residents only. Appointment to this role is subject to the provision of a national police check (and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements).

Flexible working arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

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 on-line with a cover letter or executive summary (of no more than 2 pages long) accompanied with your CV, both of which outline your motivations for applying and your key skills and experience to enable you to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications close

Please note that applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 19th January 2025 Australian Eastern Daylight Time.