Senior Research Officer, Research Development

• Full-time, 1-year fixed-term opportunity with the possibility of extension. Located at the Brain and Mind Centre

• Be part of a collaborative and purpose-driven research institute where you’ll coordinate impactful projects, deliver high-profile events and build meaningful stakeholder relationships within a leading university environment

• Base Salary $117,133 - $127,610 (HOE7) + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Brain and Mind Centre (BMC) is the University of Sydney’s multidisciplinary hub for brain and mind research, bringing together researchers, clinicians and partners to tackle some of the most complex challenges in brain and mental health. As the BMC accelerates delivery of its new strategy, the Senior Research Officer – Research Development will play a key role in turning strategic priorities into high-impact research opportunities.

Working across the Centre’s strategic pillars, you will help build a strong pipeline of major funding opportunities, multidisciplinary collaborations and research partnerships that support the BMC’s continued growth and impact.

Reporting to the Clinical Research Manager, you will work at the intersection of research development, strategic partnerships and clinical research enablement. You will identify emerging grant, industry and philanthropic opportunities; coordinate major and multidisciplinary funding applications; map research capability and potential partnerships; and provide project management across the clinical research lifecycle. You will also support effective research governance, quality and continuous improvement across the Centre.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and grow a new function within the BMC, with the scope to influence how research opportunities are identified, developed and delivered. Working closely with pillar leads, Chief Investigators and senior stakeholders across the University and external partners, you will connect ideas, expertise and opportunities to help ambitious research move forward. This role is ideally suited to someone with strong research operations and project management experience, excellent stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to move confidently between strategic thinking and hands-on delivery.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Guide research direction and priorities, ensuring projects align with broader university goals and the Brain and Mind Centre's strategic pillars

• Identify and coordinate grant management processes and pre-award activities, ensuring maximum funding opportunities and successful grant acquisitions

• Champion best practices in research, driving the adoption of innovation and ensuring stringent compliance

• Build and manage internal and external partnerships, fostering collaborations that elevates research stature and impact

• Monitor risk across research development and project activities, promote workplace health and safety, ensure alignment with university policies, and proactively address potential challenges.

About you

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with equivalent combination of relevant training and experience.

• Well-developed analytical and strategic problem solving skills to deliver project outcomes while being flexible and adaptable in an evolving environment

• Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to communicate to academic and non-academic audiences, to write in plain English, and to prepare complex documents, concise reports, competitive grant and proposal content, and effective agendas

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and support large-scale and/or multidisciplinary research funding applications, proposals and partnerships

• Ability to work with broad supervision, act independently, use initiative and exercise sound judgement.

• Well-developed organisational, planning and time management skills including the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities and meet deadlines

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and a proven ability to maintain effective collaborative working relationships in diverse environments and with a diverse range of stakeholders and partners

• Experience working in higher education, research or a clinical research or healthcare environment, including direct communication with clinicians

• Demonstrated experience developing and managing complex projects, with an understanding of the project lifecycle preferably in a scientific or medical environment and a familiarity with medical and scientific terminology

• Knowledge of the clinical research environment, including ICH GCP and the ethical and regulatory frameworks governing clinical trials (desirable).

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement 

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion. 

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.  

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard.  Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Nicole Turle, Recruitment Operations by email to nicole.turle@sydney.edu.au

© The University of Sydney

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Tuesday 20 October 2026 11:59 PM