Senior Technical Officer, Controlled Environments, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

• Full-Time, Fixed-Term Position for 4 Years
• Based at Western’s Hawkesbury Campus

About Western 
Western Sydney University is a modern, forward-thinking, research-led institution committed to excellence in education, research, and community impact. We are proud to be ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide and hold the top position in the Times Higher Education Impact rankings, with 85% of its research being at or above world standard. At Western Sydney University, we recognise that unlocking your true potential is the key to your success, just as we do for our students. Our core values - Boldness, Fairness, Integrity, and Excellence – serve as guiding principles for our organisational culture and influence the work we do. With a team of 3,500 dedicated staff members, we foster a dynamic, inclusive, and innovative culture deeply rooted in research and dedicated to student-centred excellence. It's the perfect environment for you to thrive professionally. If you are a dedicated and forward-thinking academic seeking a career that can make a meaningful difference, we invite you to discover the abundant opportunities, innovation, and impact that await you at Western Sydney University.

About the Institute 
The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University is host to the Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN), a National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program, supported by the Commonwealth Government. The APPN is a nationwide network of research facilities whose mission is to provide open access to advanced technologies for digital phenotyping of horticultural and agricultural crops. The APPN node at Western encompasses three primary research platforms: the National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre; the whole-tree chamber facility; and the pastures and climate extremes facility.
For information about The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, please visit our webpage www.westernsydney.edu.au/hie. 

The Opportunity
Are you passionate about plant science and cutting-edge technology? Do you thrive in dynamic research environments? The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment is seeking a dedicated Senior Technical Officer to support the Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN) node at Western. This role is pivotal in advancing digital phenotyping applications in horticulture and agriculture crops grown in controlled environments.

As the Senior Technical Officer you will support, maintain and manage experiments in various plant growth facilities operations, assist researchers and partners in the development and use of image-based phenotyping applications, and operate and maintain advanced phenotyping equipment. You’ll provide technical support and training to users, track equipment usage, and ensure proper documentation and safety practices. Additionally, you’ll manage facility maintenance, initiate service requests, and act as a backup contact for critical research equipment. A key aspect of your role will include building positive relationships with stakeholders such as facility users, collaborators, industry contacts, government agencies, regulatory authorities, and APPF network partners. You will also represent the university in expert working groups.

This is a full-time, fixed-term position for 4 years based at Hawkesbury Campus, although travel to other campuses of the University may be required.
Please review the position description for further information.

About You
We are seeking a candidate with a tertiary qualification in science, technology, engineering or mathematics with experience in a research environment or equivalent training and experience in industry or government. The ideal candidate will have experience in establishing plant experiments and experience in methods and techniques for growing plants in glasshouses growth rooms or field facilities. The position requires someone with excellent analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving expertise who has the ability to exercise judgement, prioritise tasks and keep accurate records.

If you are ready to make a significant impact in the field of plant phenomics, we want to hear from you!

Remuneration Package: HEW Level 6 $107,358 to $115,073 p.a. (comprising Salary of $90,719 to $97,238 p.a., plus Superannuation and Leave Loading)

Position Enquiries: Please direct enquires about the role to Dr Dominque Wilson, Business Manager on (02) 4570 1024 or via email at Dominique.Wilson@westernsydney.edu.au 

Recruitment Enquiries: Specific enquiries or issues with your application may be directed to the Recruitment Team at recruitmentpartnerships@westernsydney.edu.au 

Closing Date: 8:30pm, Monday 7 October 2024

How to Apply

Please use the following link to be directed to Western Sydney University’s website, to submit your application: https://uws.nga.net.au/?jati=5D097B9C-C751-6851-867E-DB0472EEC9F1

Working Rights in Australia - Eligibility 
You must provide evidence of your fulltime working rights in Australia at time of application.

Click here to view Position Description

Please note, only those applications submitted via the WSU online recruitment system will be accepted.