Department of Agriculture & Water Resources Hiring for Research Officer – Science Job at Canberra Full Time

• APS 6 – $85,833 – $97,454 per annum plus superannuation
• ABARES Division
• Canberra, ACT

• Are you passionate about science?
  
• Do you enjoy delving into complex problems, and using spatial data analysis to investigate the sustainable management of natural resources and terrestrial ecology of forests?
  
• Do you want to apply your scientific and analytical skills to support and influence management of Australia’s natural resources especially our forests?
  
• Then, a research position at ABARES is waiting for you…

Who we are
The Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) represents a unique combination of economic and scientific expertise in Australian government. Most of our staff – including those in senior executive roles – are trained economists and scientists. We are an important link between research and policy, and at ABARES you will be interpreting and advising on real-world problems. As an APS6 employee, you will be advancing your scientific career, with the potential under professional guidance to support junior staff, collaborate widely, assume responsibility for parts of projects, and be proactive in planning and undertaking research.

The Forest and Land Sciences program within ABARES has a vacancy at the APS6 level (Research Officer–Science). The section prepares scientific advice and information products to support sustainable forest management, national policy development and meet national reporting requirements. The section leads national coordination in forest reporting, including for Australia’s five-yearly State of the Forests Report, undertakes international forest reporting, and generates and manages key forest-related datasets including those published on the Forests Australia website.

The Job
The successful candidate will have strong spatial data analysis skills, especially as applied to forest sciences and/or land management or natural resource management, and strong oral and written communication skills, with an ability to prepare high-quality analyses, maps and reports to support evidence-based policy and national reporting requirements. The role involves both individual work and work within a project and team environment. The role would benefit from a sound general knowledge and understanding of Australia’s forests. The successful candidate will work with other scientists and spatial analysts within ABARES and other government agencies to provide integrated research and advice. The successful candidate will undertake spatial and non-spatial analyses of forest-related data including forest species and forest fire, prepare maps and other spatial data products, compile literature reviews, and contribute to the production of various reports.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Undertake and coordinate high-quality professional scientific data acquisition, assessments, analysis and curation, working primarily with spatial data relating to Australia’s forests and land management, including forest ecology and forest fire, and prepare maps, graphics, tables and other data products relating to these themes.

• Assist in the preparation of scientific advice, briefings, reports and papers on a wide variety of scientific issues on forest management including sustainability assessment and industry development issues, often in a time-constrained environment, including for the ABARES Executive, policy advisers, industry and the public.

• Liaise and collaborate with scientists, policy advisers and researchers from ABARES, the department and from other Commonwealth, state and territory agencies, and non-government organisations.

• Represent ABARES and the Department at meetings and conferences as required.

• Contribute to the planning and coordination of team operations to ensure goals and objectives are met, including identifying broader influences that may impact on the team’s work objectives.

Skills and Capabilities
The successful candidate will possess the following attributes, skills, and capabilities:

What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• experience in undertaking complex scientific spatial data analyses using geographic information systems (ArcGIS), in interpreting and advising on natural resource matters, and in written and oral science communication
• experience in a relevant scientific area, including but not limited to forest science, natural resource management, terrestrial ecology, fire or forest assessment
• experience in scientific communication, including writing technical and other reports for a variety of audiences, and giving scientific presentations
• experience in spatial data management and data curation, the preparation of metadata, and the production of high-quality maps and scientific graphics using ArcGIS and Microsoft software
• a history of successful contribution to project delivery.

Eligibility and other requirements
Citizenship – To be eligible for employment with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry you must be an Australian citizen.

Security Clearance – This position requires a Baseline Vetting security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Pre-employment Check – Your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period of 6 months.

Mandatory Qualifications
Relevant tertiary qualifications in an appropriate science discipline (e.g. forest science, environmental science, natural resource management, agricultural science). Qualifications with spatial data units/components are an advantage. Honours or postgraduate qualifications may be an advantage.