Full time, 2 year fixed-term position based at the City Campus, Salary Level HEW 7
This role will support the strategic growth of the STEM College, focusing on the Centre for Opto-Electronic Materials and Sensors (COMAS)
You will work across research management, engagement, and communications, the Coordinator will strengthen COMAS’s national and international impact. The position plays a key role in driving collaboration, securing opportunities, and supporting the College’s ambition to be a global STEM research leader.
The Centre Coordinator will be integral to advancing the STEM College’s strategic research priorities, with a primary focus on supporting the Centre for Opto-Electronic Materials and Sensors (COMAS). This role will strengthen RMIT’s national and global standing in optoelectronic materials research, driving innovation in smart devices and surfaces. As part of the College’s Leading Research Centres initiative, the Coordinator will provide operational and strategic support to foster excellence, collaboration, and impact across COMAS and other emerging research centres. Furthermore, this role will see you:
Provide research management and operational support to advance COMAS’s strategic objectives.
Coordinate research events, outreach activities, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
Develop and implement communication, marketing, and branding strategies for the Centre.
Identify funding and partnership opportunities to support research growth and innovation.
Manage reporting, performance monitoring, and Centre review processes.
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to enhance the Centre’s national and international reputation.
To be successful for this position, you will have:
Essential:
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across diverse stakeholder groups, including academics, researchers, industry partners, and professional staff, to deliver strategic research outcomes in complex organisational environments.
Highly developed communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills, with experience managing sensitive issues, producing high-quality written materials (e.g., reports, publications, and grant applications), and using digital platforms (websites, social media) to promote research activities.
Proven experience in supporting research activities within academic or research-intensive environments, including coordination of grant applications, preparation of journal submissions and project reports, and facilitation of research team operations across institutions.
Demonstrated organisational and project management skills, including the ability to coordinate high-profile events, manage competing priorities, and deliver complex outputs such as strategic reviews, financial reports, and multi-partner project documentation.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proven ability to interpret and apply policy and procedures, identify risks and opportunities, and implement practical, creative solutions to support research operations.
Experience in supporting multi-institutional research initiatives, including mechanisms to share information, coordinate across research systems, and act as a central point of contact for cross-institutional collaboration.
Understanding of the research and innovation landscape, including academic research processes, technology translation, publication and IP, funding mechanisms.
Demonstrated experience working with high-performing teams, with the ability to work proactively and support the development of research talent, including HDR candidates and postdoctoral researchers.
Qualifications
The appointee will have:
● Undergraduate qualifications and extensive, relevant experience; or
● Extensive management experience and proven management expertise; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.
Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children Check and other checks as required by the specific role. Maintaining a valid Working With Children Check is a condition of employment at RMIT.
To Apply
Please submit your CV, cover letter and separately addressed Key Selection Criteria for this position by clicking on the ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page.
For more information, please refer to the Position Description below or contact Senior Advisor, Aleks Besia at Aleksandra.besia@rmit.edu.au or Cara Jordan, Senior Manager, Innovation Hubs and Leading Research Centres at cara.jordan@rmit.edu.au
Position Description - Leading Research Centre Coordinator
RMIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a child safe organisation. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.
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