Strategic Development works alongside AIMS research teams to assist AIMS maintain its position at the frontier of future research. Strategic Development invests time in developing and establishing new program themes and capabilities required to achieve our Strategy, and in delivering major research and reef intervention projects, to deliver positive and lasting impacts for Australia’s tropical marine ecosystems and for dependent people and industries and ensure AIMS remains the #1 marine science agency in the world.
The Risk team contributes to targets for Science Excellence, Trusted Advisor, Impacts and Enhanced Capability under the AIMS strategy, and this scientific researcher position is responsible for intervention risk work across multiple projects. AIMS and the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) have developed a unique capability and expert group process on intervention risk; this position plays a central role.
About this opportunity
As our Researcher – Risk Team you will lead studies on intervention risks and pathways of priority reef intervention options to support an improved understanding of these options. You will also contribute to all steps in the intervention risk assessment including risk analysis and supports a high-profile expert group process that is focused on reviewing the potential risks associated with proposals to deploy at-scale reef interventions.
Key responsibilities of this role include:
- Leading the development of content for the risk assessment process and preparing and editing outputs such as reports and publications;
- Collaborating with the team at AIMS, RRAP researchers/experts and others on risk assessments.
- Conducting background research, prepare scientific materials, and deliver work packages into the risk assessments; and
- Assist with facilitating expert elicitations and other approaches for risk analysis.
This role contributes to a body of science-rich work to improve the understanding and assessment of the priority reef interventions. This includes work to consolidate, advance and document the conceptual understanding of identified intervention risks/outcomes, such as to coral genetics and adaptive potential or aerosol / cloud interactions (depending on the intervention being assessed).
About you
Underpinning your suitability for this role is your tertiary qualification(s) in a scientific or engineering field along with your equivalent knowledge and skills gained through extensive experience that allows you to undertake the role. Your extensive experience in analysis, research, synthesis and translating large amounts of information across research disciplines and sharing it in an accessible, balanced policy-relevant manner will allow you to succeed in this role. Your highly developed communication and interpersonal skills will allow you to maintain internal and external relationships and be an effective member of the team. You are highly organized and are able to effectively manage competing priorities.
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Possession of a tertiary qualification in a scientific or engineering field, or demonstrated equivalent knowledge and skills gained through extensive experience in a similar position
- Extensive experience in analysis, research, synthesis and translating large amounts of information across research disciplines and sharing it in an accessible, balanced policy-relevant manner.
- Strong program/project management and coordination skills, including delivering on objectives, highly organized, and ability to solve problems and work to deadlines.
- Ability to collate, read and comprehend complex material, and prepare high quality and effective writing including meeting papers and publications.
- Highly developed communications and interpersonal skills including proven ability to build and maintain internal and external relationships and to be an effective member of a team.
Desirable
- Current C Class Open Drivers License (or equivalent) or the willingness to obtain.
- Post-graduate degree and / or advanced knowledge of science, technical or policy issues in a related field.
- Experience in reef interventions science and technology, assessing and managing risk and/or informing regulatory or stakeholder decision-making.
Salary range: AIMS AOF Level 4 salary ($97,503 to $110,957 per annum) plus 15.4% superannuation
Application deadline: July 25, 2025
