Job description:

Role Type: part time, casual - 2.5 years contract
Salary: $147,643 p.a plus super (pro rata)

• Lead national research program advancing equitable early years outcomes
• Build collaborative partnerships across academia, government & communities
• Shape strategic research agenda with high-performing team & stakeholders

The opportunity:

As the Senior Research Fellow, you will lead the design and delivery of a strategic research agenda that strengthens the evidence base, supports the development and refinement of lead indicators, and ensures their effective translation into practice across services, communities, and systems.

You will play a pivotal role in building and sustaining collaborative research partnerships across Australia, working with implementation partners, academic institutions, governments, and communities to co-produce evidence that drives more equitable early years outcomes. This is a key leadership position within the RSTO program, with responsibility for shaping long-term research objectives, managing a high-performing team, and ensuring the relevance, rigour, and influence of RSTO's research and data work nationally and internationally.

Your responsibilities include:

• Design and lead a multi-year research strategy aligned with RSTO's goals for national scale and impact, with potential for global reach.
• Support joint projects, funding proposals, and collaborative research external parties, that align with RSTO's strategic priorities.
• Represent RSTO at key forums, contributing to national and international discussions on evidence-informed early years reform.
• Support team members and contribute to ensuring that components of the project (e.g., indicators) remain up-to-date with the latest evidence and research developments (and refining as required) by maintaining a strong knowledge base and following refinement protocols.
• Oversee project delivery, budgets, timelines, reporting, and compliance requirements for existing and future aligned programs of work.

What we need from you:

• PhD in a relevant field (e.g. Psychology, Public Health, Social Sciences).
• At least 7 years postdoctoral experience (relative to opportunity) and appropriate level of expertise gained from a combination of experience, training or professional accreditation.
• Evidence of postdoctoral research outputs and impact as evidenced by publication records (including first or senior author papers), conference attendance and speaking invitations
• Proven track record of leading impactful research and evaluation programs, particularly in applied or translational settings.
• Ability to work across systems and with a range of stakeholders including government, community organisations, researchers, and philanthropic partners.
• (Desired) Experience with place-based, community-led, or systems change initiatives.
• (Desired) Familiarity with the Australian early years service and policy landscape.
• (Desired) Experience working in or alongside advocacy or implementation teams to embed research in practice.

For full viewing of responsibilities and requirements please refer to the position description.

Any specific questions related to this position should be directed to Olivia Hilton at [email protected]

What's in it for you?

• Maximise Your Pay: Benefit from salary packaging, including entertainment and novated leases
• Flexible Working Options: Enjoy a variety of flexible work arrangements.
• Join a Reputable Organisation: Take advantage of a unique opportunity to be part of a respected research institute
• Make a Difference: Collaborate with a team passionate about making a positive impact
• Supportive Environment: Work in a dynamic and energetic setting with our expanding team.
• Career Development: Access ongoing training and career development programs.

Who we are

Murdoch Children's Research Institute envisions a transformative future for child health. Our institute is a hub of impactful scientific breakthroughs, particularly in early interventions, enhanced diagnosis, prevention, and potential cures. We thrive on collaborative, multidisciplinary problem-solving to address challenging queries in child health. Committed to inclusivity and respect, we foster a positive working environment that values diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a proud member of the Australian Network on Disability and a dedicated supporter of Science Australia Gender Equity (SAGE), we uphold principles of equal opportunity and diverse representation.

We are committed to the safety of children and young people and takes a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse, exploitation and harm. Child safety is prioritised in our decision-making at all levels of the Institute.

Join Us!

If you believe this role is a good fit for you, please apply by submitting:

• Your resume
• A cover letter addressing the selection criteria
  
  

Ensure these documents are combined into a single PDF file.

We welcome individuals of diverse genders, ages, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, abilities, religions, and sexual orientations in our workplace. We actively encourage talented individuals from all walks of life to apply for our job openings. Our commitment lies in fostering a workplace that is barrier-free and inclusive, aiming to attract the most skilled candidates.

For any questions related to the recruitment process, feel free to reach out to our Recruitment team at [email protected]. Ensure that you include the position number and job title in the subject line. Please refrain from sharing your application to this email address.

Please note, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

No recruitment agencies please.

Position Description

Applications close: Wednesday 30 July 2025 AUS Eastern Daylight time