Senior Manager, Technical and Scientific Services

• School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability.
• Full-time, continuing position.
• Base salary will be in the range $140,766 to $148,862 plus 17% super (HEW Level 9).
• Based at our St Lucia and Gatton Campus – take a virtual tour! 

The Senior Manager, Technical & Scientific Services provides strategic leadership across two critical service streams within the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability. You will lead a diverse, multidisciplinary team delivering scientific, laboratory, technical and operational services across UQ’s St Lucia and Gatton campuses. Working collaboratively with academic leaders, researchers and professional colleagues, you will shape a coordinated, whole-of-School approach to laboratory operations, field services, teaching support, research infrastructure, equipment investment and service improvement. This is a purposeful leadership opportunity to strengthen operational excellence while enabling high-quality teaching and research outcomes.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Provide strategic leadership and operational management for the School’s Technical and Scientific Services teams, building a positive, inclusive and accountable culture.
• Develop and implement a coordinated, whole-of-School approach to technical and scientific services, including teaching support resources, research infrastructure, fieldwork planning and equipment investment.
• Drive continuous improvement across laboratory access, safety, compliance, quality assurance, service delivery and sustainable scientific operations.
• Provide strategic and operational advice to the School Executive, oversee portfolio budgets and build effective relationships with academic, professional and external stakeholders.

• Postgraduate qualifications together with significant relevant experience in scientific, laboratory or research service delivery, or an equivalent combination of relevant education, training and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in organic and/or inorganic chemistry analytical laboratories and broad technical, analytical and scientific knowledge across a range of disciplines, with exposure to agricultural, food, plant, soil, animal and environmental sciences.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams in complex teaching, research, laboratory or field-based environments.
• High-level people, project and resource management capability, including the ability to motivate staff, strengthen team cohesion and foster clear communication.
• Strong operational judgement and the ability to translate strategic priorities into practical, coordinated and sustainable services.
• Experience in budget planning, financial oversight, quality assurance, compliance, risk management and workplace health and safety.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to build collaborative relationships with academic, professional and external stakeholders.
• A commitment to client service, continuous improvement, research integrity, ethics, openness, respect and inclusion.

• Capacity to work across both the St Lucia and Gatton campuses, including travelling between locations.

As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, working together to create a better world. Join a visionary and collaborative community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• Free parking and an intercampus bus - Gatton Campus
• On-campus childcare, a medical clinic and a post office.
• Up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave or paid primary care leave.
• 17% super and 17.5% annual leave loading.
• Health and wellness discounts, including Fitness Passport access, free annual flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance and access to the Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family.
• Career development opportunities, including access to exclusive internal-only vacancies and the Study for Staff program.
• A 25% discount on eligible UQ Vets services.
• Access to the $4.1 million UQ Sports facility.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Felicity Ray at f.ray@uq.edu.au. For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number below in the subject line.

When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume and cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the ‘About You’ section. Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.

Pre-employment checks may include verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, criminal history checks and mandatory immunisations. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer-sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

We’re dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criterion but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623.

Applications close Sunday 18 October 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-69406).