Research Talent Development Officer - [Archived Advertisement]

Research Talent Development Officer

The Women & Infants Research Foundation is Western Australia’s leading not-for-profit institution dedicated to improving the lives of women, mothers and babies. Our mission is to bring together innovative researchers to produce impactful research that benefits communities here in WA, and around the world. For more than 40 years our research and programs have directly contributed to a number of improved clinical practices and health outcomes. The Foundation has a specific objective to promote and enable high-quality research and foster new researchers.

The Foundation is delighted to announce an exciting opportunity for a motivated, self-directed individual with outstanding interpersonal skills and a strong sense of initiative, to join the growing Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF) Team. 

We are seeking a Research Talent Development Officer (RTDO) to serve as the main liaison function between researchers, the Foundation’s Scientific Committee, and its Expert Mentor Panel (including the scheduling of meetings and reports). 

In this role you will:

• Be responsible for creating and managing a career support and development ecosystem that evolves to meet the needs of our researchers. The RTDO will work with the CEO, the Chief Scientist and the Scientific Committee to develop this program, integrating the work of WIRF-supported researchers (including applicants to WIRF funding schemes) into the Foundation’s promotional, community engagement, education, and philanthropy pipelines. 
• Assist WIRF researchers with their career and research program development (including review of grant applications, publications, and presentations), and will identify further funding opportunities for promising work. 
• Be responsible for planning and/or assisting with community outreach/engagement events, major WIRF events, and also the provision of secretarial support to the WIRF Scientific Committee and Grants Sub-Committee.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with collaborators across Australia, Singapore, Japan, Chile, and the US. The role will allow the development of a broad range of skills that can be transferred to any research environment.

Selection Criteria

• Very high level of written and oral communication skills in English.
• Completion of a relevant degree.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, as well as effectively as part of a team.
• Engaging people-person with the ability to work well with students and staff from differing academic disciplines, and with the wider community.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Strong sense of initiative and responsibility for task completion.
• Experience in authoring successful grant applications, scientific papers, conference abstracts.

Desirable Criteria

• Community engagement experience.
• Media experience.

Appointment Prerequisites

• Provision of the minimum identity verification requirements.
• Successful Criminal Record Screening Clearance.
• Ability to work outside of normal office hours when required.
• Working with Children Approval.
• Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. 

Applicants are advised to write a statement addressing the selection criteria in no more than 2-3 pages and provide a detailed resume which summarises your experience and how you are able to meet the position requirements.  Your resume should include the contact details of at least two referees.

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Vanessa Walker at vanessa.walker@wirf.com.au.