Field Officer

Classification: ANU Officer 5/6 (Research)
Salary package: $83,351 - $97,929 per annum plus 17% superannuation
Terms: Full time, Fixed Term (up to 2 years)
(flexible arrangements, job share, or part time hours will be considered)

• Protect Australia’s Unique Biodiversity
  Monitor key species like the Leadbeater’s Possum, Greater Glider, and Yellow-bellied Glider as part of a world-renowned long-term monitoring project.
• Diverse, Impactful Research
  Undertake forest and biodiversity surveys, assess carbon dynamics and habitat health, and measure the ecological effects of fire and logging.
• Collaborate and Engage
  Work with Traditional Owners, land managers, citizen scientists, and community groups to support research with real-world conservation outcomes.
• Work Where It Matters Most
  Be based in or near the Victorian Central Highlands, conducting hands-on ecological fieldwork in one of Australia's most iconic montane Ash forest ecosystems.
• Adventure with Purpose
  Spend your days in the field, including nocturnal surveys, across spectacular forest landscapes—ideal for those who thrive in remote and challenging environments.

About the College

The ANU by 2025 Strategic Plan calls for the University to serve society through transformational research and education. As one of the great universities of the world, ANU is driven by a culture of excellence in everything we do. Our lived experience is increasingly one of large-scale systems of people, whose actions and interactions are influenced by our digital, physical and biological environment. The ANU College of Systems and Society (CSS) hosts three of the key disciplines necessary to help us design, build, regulate and secure the future.

CSS brings together expertise in social, technical, computational, ecological and scientific systems to build a new approach to systems design and build new national capabilities in data-driven policy and business development. The work we do in the College directly supports one of the four pillars of ANU by 2025: to strengthen our national mission and meet our unique responsibilities as Australia’s national university. We will deliver on our mission by building a strong community, providing transformative educational experiences, conducting high-impact research, seeking meaningful engagement, and becoming a resilient organisation post COVID-19.

We welcome and openly acknowledge differences in expertise, research / education / professional focus, experience and perspective.

CSS is a vibrant and diverse community of more than three thousand students, staff, and visitors. Our College is comprised of the School of Computing, School of Cybernetics, School of Engineering, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Mathematical Sciences Institute, and the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, supported by the Professional Services Group.

The Fenner School of Environment and Society undertakes world-class, nationally distinctive interdisciplinary research and education on complex environment-society systems.

About the opportunity

This position is a fixed term for a period of 2 years appointment to support ecological monitoring and research objectives within the montane Ash forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria.

Professor David Lindenmayer leads a research group within the Fenner School that conducts cutting-edge research on conservation and landscape ecology, with a particular focus on long-term monitoring of biodiversity in south-eastern Australia. Working closely with a postdoctoral researcher and other team members, this position requires a high level of autonomy to conduct empirical field studies, manage data, and contribute to applied research focusing on biodiversity, forest regeneration, and landscape dynamics.

The role is based near the Victorian Central Highlands, with a significant portion of time dedicated to fieldwork in the region. Please refer to the attached Position Description for a more detailed description of the duties and selection criteria for this role.

Enquiries

To enquire about this role, please contact Karen Brock, Executive Officer, via phone at +61 2 6125 7800 or email karen.brock@anu.edu.au

Our commitment to diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity

ANU is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community, and particularly welcomes applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and candidates from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, it is practice in the ANU College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics to actively seek a gender mix of shortlisted candidates for interview. For more information about staff equity at ANU, visit https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources/respect-inclusion   

We welcome and develop diversity of backgrounds, experiences and ideas and encourage applications from individuals who may have had non-traditional career paths, who may have taken a career break, had career disruptions or who have achieved excellence in careers outside of the higher education sector. We support applicants who require flexible arrangements in their work environments or patterns. If your experience looks a little different to what we’ve described, but you’re passionate and motivated by this position, we welcome your enquiry and application. 

What we offer

The ANU provides attractive benefits and excellent support to maintain a healthy work/life balance and offers generous remuneration benefits, including four weeks paid vacation per year, assistance with relocation expenses and 17% employer contribution to superannuation. We also offer generous parental leave, the possibility of flexible and part time working arrangements, a parental and aged care support program, dual career hire programs, staff and family tuition fee discounts, ANU school holiday programs, and childcare facilities on campus. For more information, visit: https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources  

How to apply

Applicants must apply online via the ANU recruitment portal and should upload the following separate documents: 

• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) including the names and contact details of at least three referees (preferably including a current or previous supervisor). If your CV does not include referees, you can complete these online when prompted in the application form. 
• A 2-page statement addressing the selection criteria. 
• Other documents, if required. 

Please note: The successful candidate must have rights to live and work in this country and will be required to undergo a background check during the recruitment process.  An offer of employment is conditional on satisfactory results.