Senior Research Administration Officer, Qaafi

• Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI)
  
• Support world class research providing specialist research administrative support
  
• Advise on and coordinate grant applications, contracts & agreements across QAAFI
  
• Join a high-performing team with a meaningful purpose and impact
  
• Based at our vibrant St Lucia Campus
  

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.

Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• 26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave
• 17% superannuation contributions
• 17.5% annual leave loading
• Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options, flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight
• Health and wellness discounts - fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family
• On campus childcare options
• Cheap parking (from just $5.75 a day)
• Salary packaging options

This opportunity is within QAAFI's Commercial and Grant Office, where you will provide specialist high-level research administrative support and information regarding competitive research funding and research outputs relevant to QAAFI. You will also be responsible for providing day-to-day administrative support to the Senior Commercial Manager and the Research Partnership Officer to ensure the effective administration of research projects within the QAAFI portfolio.

Key responsibilities will include:

Research Advisory and Grant Administration

• Be familiar with the research performance and grants profile of QAAFI, including grants administration processes and requirements, and be part of the team forming the primary point of contact for all research pre-award and post-award contracting administration matters in the Institute
• Triage research contracts and agreements to assess requirements for legal and administrative review in accordance with specified criteria and guidelines and with guidance of relevant staff including the Senior Commercial Manager and the Research Partnership Officer

Grant Application Support and Management

• Coordinate internal and external research funding application processes, including, interpreting research grant guidelines, checking applications for eligibility and compliance with granting body terms and conditions, as well as ensuring appropriateness and compliance with UQ and QAAFI requirements prior to arranging certification and submission.
• In conjunction with Finance staff, assist academic staff with research grant budget preparation, and provide support to ensure appropriate research secondary gains credit splits and recovery of indirect costs are considered and applied.
• Support the administration of projects as required across the research lifecycle, such as grant establishment, account establishment and other post-award matters
• Provide support in scoping and preparing for research grant applications, including research data management tasks and industry collaborations
• Liaise with key sections of the University such as Research Office, Research Commercial Management Office, Graduate School, UniQuest, Global Engagement, Human Resources, Legal Services, Finance and Business Services and School/Centre/Institute financial managers concerning pre- and post-award research grant management

General Administration

• Maintain research-related databases, records and electronic documentation and ensure completeness and accuracy of research proposal, project and contract data within QAAFI shared files and tracking systems
• Provide technical support to QAAFI staff requiring assistance and guidance with online research grant application and management systems or redirect them to a relevant UQ unit for further advice
• Plan, organise and participate in research funding seminars, and workshops for QAAFI researchers and staff
• Undertake independent projects and provide administrative support to the QAAFI Commercial and Grants Office as directed

​Communication and engagement

• Source and disseminate information on relevant internal and external research funding opportunities to academic staff and students
• Establish strong and effective networks across UQ to develop consistent approaches to Research Administration

Other

Ensure you are aware of and comply with legislation and University policy relevant to the duties undertaken, including but not exclusive to:

• The University's Code of Conduct.
• Requirements of the Queensland occupational health and safety (OH&S) legislation and related OH&S responsibilities and procedures developed by the University or Institute/School.
• The adoption of sustainable practices in all work activities and compliance with associated legislation and related University sustainability responsibilities and procedures.
• Requirements of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000, the National Code 2007 and associated legislation, and related responsibilities and procedures developed by the University.

This is a full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to 12 months.

At HEW level 6, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $88,099.39 - $94,512.08, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $103,076.28 - $110,579.13 annually. As these roles are covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases in line with the Enterprise Agreement.

You will enjoy working in a highly-engaged and supportive team environment and be passionate about ensuring positive relationships and communication leading to excellent outcomes for and with our Institute's stakeholders. You will also have:

• A degree with subsequent relevant experience; or equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training
• Experience in Research Administration with a sound knowledge of research policies and procedures or the demonstrated capacity to rapidly gain that knowledge
• Knowledge of/or administrative experience in research contracts (Funding Agreements/ CRA/NDA/MTA etc) would be considered an advantage
• Advanced skills in the use of computer applications for word-processing, data storage and retrieval, and spreadsheets
• Experience with using University reporting systems and granting body systems such as for example, the ARC's RMS, Community Grants Hub and SmartyGrants
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain confidentiality
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships with colleagues internal and external to the University including professional and academic staff engaged in research
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team or independently as necessary and exercise judgement and initiative
• Excellent organisational skills with demonstrated ability to manage and prioritise competing tasks and meet deadlines

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.
• Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to a criminal record check. Please note that people with criminal records are not automatically barred from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact QAAFI Senior Commercial Manager Vanessa Stott at *******@uq.edu.au

For application queries, please contact ******@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Cover letter addressing the 'About You' section
• Resume

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion. We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in the broader community, whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to ******@uq.edu.au.

If you are a current employee (including casual staff and HDR scholars) or hold an unpaid/affiliate appointment, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.

Applications close 19 May 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-37849). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for late May.