Full-time, fixed-term position until June 2028
Base salary will be in the range $93,491 - $100,296 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 6)
Based at our Long Pocket Campus
Join a national research infrastructure initiative shaping Australia’s environmental knowledge and future. As part of TERN, Australia’s ecosystem observatory, you will support the delivery of high-quality biodiversity, carbon, water and land-cover data that underpins research and informs decision-makers across the country.
As the Research Data Officer, you will help ensure TERN’s environmental datasets and metadata are expertly managed, published and made FAIR. Working within the Data Services and Analytics team, you’ll collaborate with observing platforms and researchers nationwide to uphold best-practice data stewardship and maintain the integrity of TERN’s national data assets.
If you’re passionate about research data that drives real environmental insight and impact, this is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to work that matters.
Key responsibilities will include:
Ensure high-quality publication of TERN’s ecological and environmental datasets by creating, editing and maintaining accurate metadata and contextual information.
Perform data cleansing, validation and quality checks to uphold best-practice research data and metadata management standards.
Collaborate with data producers, observing platforms and stakeholders across Australia to support consistent data delivery and access.
Contribute to the storage, preservation and FAIR accessibility of TERN data, including responding to data access support requests.
As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.
Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.
Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:
Up to 26 weeks paid parental leave/paid primary care leave
17% superannuation contributions + 17.5% annual leave loading
Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options, flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight
Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family
Career development opportunities –access to exclusive internal-only vacancies and our Study for Staff program
Salary packaging options
Holds a relevant degree in ecology, environmental science, spatial science or eco-informatics, information science, with relevant experience in research data management.
Skilled in describing, storing, sharing and accessing research data, with a strong understanding of best-practice data management principles.
Confident working with datasets using tools such as SQL, R, Python, QGIS or XML.
Adept at building relationships, with strong communication and liaison skills across diverse professional and disciplinary groups.
Familiar with current data and metadata standards, controlled vocabularies, archival practices and research data technologies.
Brings strong writing, editing and attention-to-detail capabilities, with experience working with spatial data or tools such as Jira and Confluence considered an advantage.
The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including written test, right to work in Australia and a criminal check.
You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Siddeswara Guru, Data Srvs & Analytics Platform Lead at s.guru@uq.edu.au.
For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.
We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:
Resume
A cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the 'About You' section
Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact talent@uq.edu.au.
UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.
Applications close on Friday 16 January 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-58781). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for 27/1/2026.