Research Fellowship Indigenous Graduate Program (Identified Role – Indigenous)

Join CSIRO, where we make the impossible happen 

Acknowledgement of Country

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.

About CSIRO 

CSIRO (Common ealt  Scientific and Industrial Researc   rganisation) is Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst and one of t e  orld’s largest and most successful pu licly funded research and development organisations.  

CSIRO is one of the largest and most multidisciplinary mission-driven research agencies in the world. With 53 locations and over 5,600 people across Australia and internationally, CSIRO solves the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology to deliver world-class economic, environmental, and social benefits for Australia in a global context.  

Many of CSIRO’s innovations  ere once considered impossi le  Fast WiFi, Aerogard insect repellent and the plastic Australian banknote, to name a few. Until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.   

We’re recruiting t e next generation of enterprise services professionals. See what is possible for your career.

 We are committed to developing and supporting a diverse workforce in its broadest sense and know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes for science.  

We know that to create a better future for Australia, we need Australia’s first scientists, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, across every aspect of our organisation.

CSIRO invested in a new Indigenous Science program in 2021 to deliver a whole of organisation strategic approach to partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The vision of the program is: 

A science landscape in respectful partnership with Indigenous Australia delivering innovative, sustainable, holistic solutions to meet our greatest national challenges. 

This vision requires disruptive and sustainable organisational change that will enable CSIRO to lead our Nation’s science t roug  an Indigenous  no ledge and science lens.

The Indigenous Science and Engagement program (ISEP) works with colleagues across CSIRO to influence and initiate changes in their own teams, enhancing engagement with Indigenous communities and cultivating more Indigenous-led science projects.  

CSIRO’s Indigenous Graduate Program  as  een developed to support t e Indigenous Science and Technology Sector by developing an Indigenous pipeline of future leaders and researchers of the innovation system.  

For more information on our work, visit csiro.au and csiro.au/research/indigenous-science. 

Research Development Indigenous Graduate Program

Build your career with CSIRO

Our program offers more than just technical training in your discipline. The program is intended to enhance your capability through a strong focus on professional development so you can become a future leader in your field.

This 18-month program gives you the opportunity to learn from leaders in their field, connect with other Indigenous graduates across Australia and work on projects and build skills that are of interest to you.  

You will be supervised by project and team leaders and have a dedicated Indigenous Graduate Program Coordinator. They will oversee the management of your development and placements to ensure you receive the best level of support, leadership, development and suitable work assignments that best match your career aspirations.  

You will have access to time away from your day-to-day activities to engage and network with other Indigenous staff and participate in program events and activities as well as cultural events such as NAIDOC week. 

Program Placements

CSIRO will match you to a team or project to provide you with the desired experience, training and development that aligns with your studies and meets your career aspirations.  

You will have the opportunity to either work on a project for your entire program or undertake multiple placements.  

Your placement is designed to build your capability so you can pursue a career either with CSIRO or beyond. If you have any placement preferences, we welcome you to include this in the application process.

Successful candidates will receive:

• An individual learning, development and training plan tailored to your career aspirations.
• Career training and coaching suited to your learning style.
• Opportunities to develop skills and experience in a collaborative and supportive environment where our team members flourish and thrive.
• Opportunities to build your network and connect with Indigenous staff and our broader communities at CSIRO.
• Pastoral care and career support from a dedicated program coordinator.
• A competitive salary with generous leave entitlements and flexible working conditions.
• Experience  or ing  it  Australia’s national science agency. 

Successful candidates will be provided up to 4 days a week of paid study leave undertake a HDR program while working as part of the broader team on research related activities. 

Position Details

Job Reference: 94100

Tenure: Full-time, Specified term of 3 to 5 years

Salary Range: AU$ 77,459pa to AU$ $82,096 (pro-rata for part-time) + up to 15.4% superannuation 

Location(s): Any Australian CSIRO Site may be considered

Relocation Assistance: Will be provided to the successful candidate if required

Applications are open to: The position is only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples with Australian Citizenship who have completed at least an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 7 qualification (a Bachelor’s degree), or higher equivalent in any field by 31 December 2023 and who would like to work in an Enterprise Services area.
CSIRO considers the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).  
Successful candidates are required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person

Special Requirements

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a pre-employment background check and may be subject to other security/medical/character clearance requirements.

• The successful candidate will undertake a pre-employment background check. Please note that individuals with criminal records are not automatically deemed ineligible. Each application will be considered on its merits.
• The successful applicant is required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
• The successful candidate is required to provide evidence that they have attained or will soon attain at least an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 7 qualification (a Bachelor’s degree), or higher equivalent in a Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics (STEM) field by 31 December 2023 and is eligible to enrol or currently enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research program at an Australian University. 

Role Overview

Our research units include Agriculture and Food, Manufacturing, Health and Biosecurity, Environment and Mineral Resources and more.  

Successful candidates will participate in program activities and events, complete and maintain their learning and development plan and undertake role specific duties as part of their placements under the direction of a project or team leader with support from the Indigenous Graduate Program Coordinator. 

Duties and Key Result Areas

While in the program, graduates will:  

• Under general direction, contribute to research and/or technology through the development of original and adapted experimental methods, equipment or software.
• Undertake a wide variety of tasks or tasks with a high degree of specialisation.
• Show initiative to seek new approaches to meet experimental or technological needs when encountering new problems where methods are not defined.
• Participate in the identification and definition of research and/or technological problems with colleagues.
• Liaise with clients to determine their needs and take personal responsibility for their satisfaction.
• Address problems promptly and in a constructive manner.  
• Participate in planning projects and accept responsibility for scheduling and completion of major parts of the project, including evaluation of options, experimental design, data collection and analysis, user and customer research, user experience and/or software design, implementation and delivery.
• Make significant contributions to the interpretation and communication of research or technological results and may collaborate on drafting presentations to, and/ or detailed written reports for, clients and the scientific and/or technology community.
• Communicate openly, effectively and respectfully with all staff, clients and suppliers in the interests of good business practice, collaboration and enhancement of CSIRO’s reputation  
• Work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research team to carry out tas s in support of CSIRO’s scientific objectives. 
• Adhere to the spirit and practice of CSIRO’s Values  Code of Conduct  Health, Safety and Environment procedures and policy, Diversity initiatives and Zero Harm goals.
• Other duties as directed.

Competencies

Teamwork and collaboration: Proactively seeks and considers the ideas and opinions of others from within and outside the team to help form decisions, plans or actions.  

Influence and communication: Puts forward ideas by presenting factual information supported by data, definitions, examples, illustrations or other aids which will assist in conveying meaning.

Resource management/leadership: Provides instruction and assists other staff to complete allocated tasks and activities.  

Judgement and problem solving: Identifies and considers the implications of a range of available alternatives in order to select the most appropriate response to problems of a familiar or recurring nature.

Independence: Recognises and makes immediate changes to improve performance (faster, better, lower cost, more efficiently, better quality, improved client satisfaction).

Adaptability: Willingness to change ideas or perceptions based on new information, contrary evidence or ot er people’s points of view. Prepared to try out different approaches.

Selection Criteria

Essential

Under CSIRO policy only those who meet all essential criteria can be appointed.

1. To have completed or will soon complete at least an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 7 qualification (a Bachelor’s degree), or higher equivalent in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics field by 31 December 2023 and is eligible to enrol or currently enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research program at an Australian University.
2. Experience undertaking research and/or working in a research environment.
3. Demonstrated experience participating and contributing to the goals and objectives of a team.  
4. Ability to communicate openly, effectively and respectfully with a diverse range of people using a range of communication methods (i.e. verbal, written, report, presentations).
5. A desire to build a career with CSIRO with an interest in pursuing a research or scientific career

Flexible Working Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. Talk to us about how this role could be flexible for you. Work life balance.  

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit diverse people and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.

How to apply

If you are interested in CSIRO’s Enterprise Services Indigenous Graduate Program and meet the requirements of the program, please apply online via csiro.au/careers/impossiblewithoutyou.  

To appropriately assess your application, we ask that candidates provide the following:

• Cover Letter – outlining the motivation for applying and aligning capabilities and experience relevant to the selection criteria. This document should not be longer than two pages.
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume – outlining relevant experience, and education to the program.
• Contact details for two Referees – Referees will only be contacted after prior consultation with the candidate. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that their referees are willing to provide reports when contacted by CSIRO.

Interview process  

Your first interview will be with the Indigenous Talent Acquisition Team to determine suitability and eligibility for the program.  If successful in the first interview, candidates will then be interviewed by relevant team and project leaders to access suitability on specific projects of work which will determine a candidate’s placement as part of the program.

Further Information

For more information about the program or if you would like a confidential conversation about this opportunity, please contact the Indigenous Graduate Program Coordinator, Tommy Zeaiter at [email protected]

Applications close 11:59pm AEST, 09 Ocotber 2023