Senior New Product Development Officer at University of Queensland

Hinchinbrook Shire, Queensland, Australia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

31 May, 26

Salary

102302.92

Posted On

02 Mar, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

New Product Development, Grain-based Formulation, Food Regulation Interpretation, Product Safety Evaluation, Processing Solutions, Industry Engagement, Commercial Application, Technical Leadership, Pilot-scale Production, Sensory Evaluation, Experiment Supervision, Regulatory Compliance, Team Mentoring, Research Documentation, Project Coordination, Troubleshooting Equipment

Industry

Higher Education

Description

Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator’s (FaBA) Program: Based in the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation Full-time fixed-term position for up to 12 months Base salary will be in the range $95,361.62 - $102,302.92 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 6) Based at our Long Pocket Campus About This Opportunity We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Senior New Product Development Officer to apply their subject matter expertise and advanced knowledge of grain-based new product development to a growing industry project focused on advancing premium Australian oat-based products. As part of the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) Trailblazer initiative, this role offers the opportunity to work at the interface of research, industry engagement and commercial application — delivering solutions that strengthen Australia’s food and beverage capability and global competitiveness. You will apply your technical expertise to develop new products and innovative processing solutions, interpret food regulations, and evaluate the safety and quality of premium food products and ingredients, contributing to impactful outcomes for industry and research alike. In this role, you will: Lead end-to-end product innovation – Drive and coordinate new product development across food and beverage categories, from formulation through to lab and pilot-scale production, ensuring technical excellence and industry impact. Provide advanced technical leadership – Apply and guide specialist expertise in food regulation, processing technologies, formulation, testing, and sensory evaluation while supervising complex experiments and troubleshooting equipment. Partner with industry for impact – Collaborate with industry stakeholders and senior staff to co-design research initiatives that deliver commercially relevant outcomes. Champion safety, quality and operational excellence – Ensure safe laboratory practices, regulatory compliance, and effective maintenance and use of facilities and infrastructure. Strengthen capability and research delivery – Support research documentation, reporting, and funding processes while mentoring junior technicians and building a high-performing, collaborative team culture. About the Food and Beverage Accelerator Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) is a $160 million initiative to boost growth and innovation in the food and beverage manufacturing sector. Part of the Federal Government’s Trailblazer Program, FaBA leverages $50m of government investment with more than $110m from universities and industry. Partners work across four areas: the research programs ‘Innovative Ingredients’ and ‘Premium Food and Beverage Products’, and the enabling programs ‘Innovation Pathways’ and the ‘FaBA Training Centre’. A national initiative, FaBA provides F&B manufacturers access to research teams, next generation industry professionals, state-of-the-art equipment and pilot facilities. FaBA is proudly hosted by The University of Queensland, in collaboration with participants QUT, UniSQ and UniQuest. Join the UQ FaBA community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as: Up to 26 weeks paid parental leave/paid primary care leave 17% superannuation contributions + 17.5% annual leave loading 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 Career development opportunities –access to exclusive internal-only vacancies and our Study for Staff program Salary packaging options About You Qualifications: Completion of a Master’s or PhD in Science, Food Science and Technology, Food Engineering or a closely related discipline. Essential – New Product Development Expertise: Demonstrated and substantial experience in grain-based new product development and formulation is critical for success in this role. Applicants must have proven experience delivering new food and/or beverage products from concept through to commercialisation across diverse applications. Experience in developing oat-, grain-, cereal-, rice- or noodle-based products will be highly regarded. Proven ability to lead and grow a new product development team, building capability, fostering collaboration and driving performance outcomes. Strong collaborative skills, with experience working effectively with multidisciplinary colleagues and industry partners to deliver commercially relevant outcomes. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information for both technical and non-technical audiences. Demonstrated capacity to work independently across routine and complex technical processes, exercising sound judgement and initiative. Highly organised, methodical and self-motivated, with exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to delivering work of the highest quality and accuracy. Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of relevant pre-employment checks, which may include verification of the right to work in Australia and qualifications. 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. Questions? For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Jiahua Shi (jiahua.shi@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. Want to Apply? We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload: Resume A cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the 'About You' section Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent, particularly from Australia’s First Nations Peoples. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact talent@uq.edu.au. Other Information UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role. Applications close Sunday 15 March 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-60993). The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million). Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries. UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals. Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way. UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Whether you are a recent graduate, an Academic, or an experienced professional, UQ offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow and succeed. Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work. For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.

Responsibilities

This role involves leading end-to-end product innovation, driving new product development from formulation through to pilot-scale production, and providing advanced technical leadership in food regulation, processing, and testing. The officer will also partner with industry stakeholders to co-design commercially relevant research initiatives and champion safety and quality excellence.