About the role:
As our Technical Officer (Nutrient Cycling) you will:
• Actively participate as a member of a multidisciplinary team and provide research/technical support for the coordination, planning, organising and conduct of field, laboratory, and glasshouse experimental aspects to support industry-funded research projects in soil, manure and related greenhouse gas management systems.
• Physically undertake and apply rigorous and precise field, greenhouse and laboratory sampling, preparation, and experimental skills on a day-to-day basis and under the guidance of the principal scientist, to:
o Establish, conduct, and maintain glasshouse, plant accelerator, plot, field and laboratory experiments in soil and manure management systems, and mechatronics.
o Establish and maintain field measurement and sample collection of greenhouse gas emissions, soils and emission source materials, effluent, and conduct analysis using experimental and analytical techniques. These include testing of mechatronic platforms, flow-through non-steady state chambers, headspace trials, soil solution sampling via micro dialysis, data logging, cavity ring-down spectrophotometry for gas concentration and carbon isotopes, exogenous enzyme activity, microbial biomass, phospho-lipid fatty acid extraction, and a range of other colorimetric/fluorescence plate reader techniques.
o Collect, collate and analyse experimental results of research, via excel and R programming language, and communicate them to the responsible scientist in a timely manner.
• Maintain and calibrate research equipment, apparatus construction, and purchase of chemicals, media, reagents, and other consumables.
• Build effective working relationships with project team members, stakeholders, professional networks, and Departmental staff; and liaise and coordinate project activities with commercial cooperators.
• Assist in the preparation of material for project reports for departmental, commercial client and funding body publications; peer-reviewed publications and assist with compilation of relevant industry extension material.
• Communicate details of the research and results to visiting groups.

What we are looking for:
We are seeking the best suited candidate for the role. We will achieve this by:
• assessing your eligibility and suitability to fulfill the role requirements (including, where relevant, the way you carried out previous roles).
• evaluating your potential contributions to the department and how your involvement would uphold our commitment to equity, diversity, respect and inclusion.

Mandatory qualifications:
• It is a mandatory requirement for a technical officer in this role to possess an Australian Diploma level qualification or higher, in Agricultural Science, Environmental Science or Environmental Engineering from a recognised tertiary institution.
• For international qualifications, the applicant will need their qualification assessed, to determine comparability with the Australian Qualifications Framework. The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training can assist with these assessments for Queensland residents.
• Vaccination or immunity to Q fever will be required. Commitment to obtain vaccination or evidence of prior vaccination will be required prior to starting with Agri-Science Queensland.

Why work for us:
Learn why our people choose DAF and more importantly why they stay.
• Work with passion and purpose.
• Have a tangible impact, for today and tomorrow.
• Enjoy interesting, diverse work.
• Follow your path wherever it leads.
• Get the flexibility and support you need to thrive.
• Be part of our one, diverse.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

Job Ad Reference: QLD/638136/25

Closing Date: Tuesday, 03 June 2025