Industry Liaison Officer, Executive Level 2, Science Division

• Perth
• Job closes 31/1/2024

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:

• Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
• Investing in science and technology
• Strengthening the resources sector.

The Science Division delivers policies and programs that help inspire, connect and empower Australian science to be world leading. Our teams do this by helping to solve problems and address barriers to the science and research system, growing opportunities for Australians. The Astronomy Branch is one of five branches in the Science Division.

The Astronomy Branch is responsible for managing and delivering the Government’s investments and activities in relation to radio and optical astronomy. This includes a focus on developing and managing astronomy policy and programs with both the domestic astronomy sector and through a number of international treaty level partnerships or arrangements (such as overseeing the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project and the Australia-European Southern Observatory (ESO) Strategic Partnership).

See here for further information about the department’s global astronomy projects including the SKA project and the ESO.

https://www.industry.gov.au/science-technology-and-innovation/space-and-astronomy/optical-astronomy-australia

An opportunity exists for a motivated self-starter to be involved in a role that connects industry to the Australian astronomy community, with a focus on our engagement with the SKA Project and the ESO Strategic Partnership. You will liaise with multiple stakeholders in Australia and offshore with the primary aim of generating economic outcomes linked to world class science.

This role will build on the knowledge and experience you currently have in relation to major project and high-profile customer environments, business engagement and support (from large international organisations through to small regional businesses) and complex stakeholder management. You will be exposed to the world of radio and optical astronomy that is both fascinating and exciting, and will be part of a dynamic team that supports the growth of the Australian Big Science ecosystem.

The ideal candidate for this position would have held facilitation roles that connected government, research and industry. They would be comfortable engaging with procurement teams and all tiers of relevant supply chains in a major project/customer environment. They would be highly proficient at establishing and maintaining relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.

To be successful in this position, our ideal candidate will:

• Support a culture of achievement and has experience in driving and delivering quality outcomes
• Have the ability to interpret and decipher technical requirements, and convey this to an industry audience in a meaningful manner
• Use initiative to learn and respond to challenges in a fluid environment, and have the ability to deal with ambiguity, manage risk and uncertainty, and pivot quickly if priorities change
• Have sufficient business acumen and experience to provide capability development, coaching and support to a range of small to medium businesses
• Have significant major project knowledge and experience and the ability to apply skills and commercial experience at a functional and technical level
• Have the ability to collect, analyse and share information required for timely and accurate decision‐making across a range of scenarios
• Have the ability to maintain and optimise workflow, through effective use of workplace systems and processes
• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to establish and maintain constructive and effective stakeholder relationships, including with First Nations Peoples, in a variety of contexts.

Note:  An astronomy or broader science background is not a prerequisite for this role.  However, an interest and willingness to learn more about radio and optical astronomy would be a definite advantage.

Our department recognises the First Peoples of this Nation and their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to the lands, waters, seas, skies, and communities. The department is also party to an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Wajarri Yamaji, the traditional owners of the SKA site. Strong cultural awareness and competence, particularly around First Nations business development, or a desire to develop these skills would also be of benefit to this role.

Our department has a commitment to inclusion and diversity, with an ambition of being the best possible place to work. This reflects the importance we place on our people and on creating a workplace culture where each and every one of us is valued and respected for our contribution. Our ideal candidate adds to this culture and our workplace in their own way.

As the Industry Liaison Officer, you will be responsible for:

• raising awareness of astronomy-related supply opportunities to Australian industry
• communicating within SKA and ESO partnerships about Australian industry capability and expertise that can contribute to project and supply needs
• assisting businesses to understand and respond to commercial opportunities and supporting them throughout the procurement process
• being able to relate, add value and provide support to industry across a range of levels, from small business to corporate
• establishing and maintaining strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, nationally and internationally; including with the Mid-West and First Nations partners, and within government, research and industry
• attending local and regional industry forums to promote Australian industry opportunities
• working with First Nations, Mid-West and Western Australian businesses to develop capability and cultivate research-industry collaboration relative to the major project environment
• monitoring, reporting and helping to mitigate various forms of risk in the major project environment that may impact on current projects and partnerships
• assisting the research sector to identify industry suppliers with suitable technical capability and interest relative to radio astronomy or science infrastructure opportunities
• being cognisant of and operating in a manner consistent with the Commonwealth’s obligations under various domestic and international agreements relative to the SKA and ESO partnerships.

Experience operating in a major project environment with associated commercial knowledge would be highly regarded, as would experience in a facilitation capacity involving industry, government and research. 

The ability to support and develop capability within small regional businesses would also be highly regarded.

The position will be based in Western Australia, preferably in Perth. 

To be eligible for employment in the APS and the department, candidates must be Australian Citizens.

Positions require a Baseline security clearance and successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

The successful applicant will need to be available to travel.

The work location for this vacancy is based in Western Australia.

This is a Non-ongoing role with potential for extension or permanent filling.

A merit pool may be established and used to fill future vacancies within 18 months from the date the vacancy was first advertised in the Gazette. 

Your application must not contain any classified or sensitive information. This includes in your application responses, CV and any other documents. The selection panel may not consider applications containing classified information.

Please provide a pitch explaining how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role and why you are the best candidate for the position. Your pitch can contain no more than 1000 words and should align to the key duties listed above.

Please complete your application online and provide your current CV with your application. (CVs must be in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format).

Accessible application documentation is available in other formats on request. Please contact ***********@industry.gov.au or (02) 6276 1*** if you require assistance with your application.

Please refer to our Applying for a position information for additional information on how to apply.

For more information regarding this opportunity, please contact Caroline Quan on 02 6243 7*** or via email on *************@industry.gov.au