Senior Technical Officer (Soil Science) at The University of Queensland

, , Australia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

15 Feb, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

17 Nov, 25

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Soil Science, Environmental Science, Agricultural Science, Laboratory Techniques, Field Techniques, Safety Compliance, Data Analysis, Technical Support, Experimental Design, Equipment Maintenance, OHS Guidance, Procurement, Teaching Support, Microsoft Office, Statistical Software, Record Keeping

Industry

Civil Engineering

Description

About This Opportunity Play a key role in shaping hands-on learning and research excellence in soil and environmental science. As the Technical Officer, you’ll ensure our students and researchers have access to safe, well-managed, and fully equipped laboratory and field environments. You’ll support practical classes, operate and maintain a wide range of laboratory and field equipment, and provide specialist technical and OHS guidance to staff and students undertaking research. You’ll also oversee facilities used by the Soil Science group, helping to keep teaching and research running seamlessly. While part of the Agronomy, Plant and Soil Science technical team, you’ll also have the opportunity to support related discipline areas—keeping your work varied, collaborative, and impactful. Based at St Lucia, the role may involve occasional travel to Gatton or other field sites for training or operational needs. Key responsibilities will include: Support Teaching & Learning: Plan and deliver technical support for undergraduate and postgraduate practical classes in soil, agricultural and environmental sciences. Develop and update practical materials, support tutor training, and induct students in laboratory and field settings. Guide Student Research: Provide high-level advice on experimental design, method development, and laboratory, analytical and field techniques. Maintain consumables, reference materials and specimens, and assist with organising excursions and field activities. Manage Facilities & Equipment: Oversee Soil Science teaching and research facilities, ensuring safe, efficient operation. Coordinate equipment calibration, repairs and maintenance, manage cost-recovery processes, support procurement and asset audits, and assist with minor works and contractor coordination. Ensure Safety & Compliance: Promote a strong safety culture across labs and field sites, monitor work practices, support chemical and equipment safety compliance, and ensure adherence to UQ policies, procedures and relevant legislation. This is a full-time fixed-term position through to May 2026 at HEW Level 6. About You Qualifications & Technical Expertise: Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in soil science, environmental science, agricultural science or a related discipline, with relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Broad knowledge of soil, environmental and agricultural sciences, particularly soil chemistry and analysis. Laboratory & Field Skills: Demonstrated capability in laboratory and field techniques, including operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of soil chemistry and soil physics equipment, and experience in designing and conducting experiments. Ability to quickly learn new methods, instruments and analytical techniques. Facility & Teaching Support: Experience, or the proven ability to develop skills, in managing teaching and research laboratories and field sites in line with policies, standards and safety requirements. Skilled in supporting undergraduate and postgraduate students with technical advice, training and practical supervision. Data & Digital Capability: Proficiency with Microsoft Office and scientific/statistical software for data entry, analysis, reporting and visualisation. Ability to maintain accurate records and present data in a range of formats. Safety, Compliance & Licences: Understanding—or the ability to acquire knowledge—of OHS requirements, UQ policies, risk assessment processes and online purchasing systems. Ability to hold or obtain a forklift licence. The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: right to work in Australia. 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 Ms Kerry Vinall at k.vinall@uq.edu.au. For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job requisition ID 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. 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 Monday November 24th 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-58072). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for Monday December 1st 2025. #LI-DNI 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

The Senior Technical Officer will support teaching and learning by planning and delivering technical support for practical classes in soil and environmental sciences. They will also manage facilities and equipment, ensuring safety and compliance across laboratory and field environments.