THE OPPORTUNITY
The Operations & Projects Officer provides high-level operational and administrative support to ABR management, specifically assisting the Director, ABR. This role plays a key part in driving operational effectiveness across the facility by coordinating strategic and operational special projects, supporting financial and budgetary projects, and assisting with quality control and audit frameworks.
While the role does not have direct personnel reports, the incumbent acts as a key leadership conduit, coordinating cross‐functional processes and supporting ABR supervisors to optimise workflows.
Salary: Up to $135,000 (Prorated: $81,000) + 12% superannuation + salary packaging
Employment Type: 6-month fixed‐term, part‐time
SNAPSHOT OF BENEFITS
* Generous salary packaging to save you income tax on your wages thereby boosting your monthly take home pay (max. $15,900 general expenses + $2,650 meals/accom)
* Ample opportunities for on‐going training and development
* Stimulating, diverse and highly international research environment
* Flexible work arrangements e.g. start / finish times
* 18 weeks paid parental leave for both parents including paid superannuation
* A range of additional leave types to meet your personal needs including cultural leave, conference leave, community service and study leave
* Discounted Health Insurance
* Lifestyle discounts with our community partners
WHAT YOU WILL DO
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
* Audit readiness- assist the Director ABR and Quality coordinator in preparing to meet external and internal audits: JAX, NATA, ACEC, OGTR, DAFF and others. This will involve ensuring all appropriate licenses and certificates are in place and that documentation is prepared with sufficient lead time to ensure ABR is compliant.
* Assist Director ABR and Facility manager in delivery of special facility improvement projects eg: finance forecasts and pricing modelling.
* Regulatory compliance- ensure all operations align with the Animal Research Act, Gene Technology Act, and Biosecurity Act.
* SOP and Policy management- draft, update and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and compliance documentation.
* Managing ABR contracts and services agreements- Develop, implement and utilise tools for tracking, negotiating and executing ABR contracts and services agreements so that all are maintained current.
* Proactively identify, assess, and report operational, financial, and safety risks associated with the duties of this role. The incumbent is required to adhere to the organization's Risk Management Framework, ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with established policies and procedures, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by suggesting mitigation strategies for identified hazards or inefficiencies.
* All staff are required to comply with Garvan's workplace polices (as amended from time to time) and especially Garvan's Work Health & Safety (WHS) Policy, including working in accordance with the WHS management system at all times, as safety is Garvan's number one priority.
ABOUT YOU
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
The key skills and experience include:
* Education: Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Business Administration, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience.
* Experience: 3–5 years of experience providing high‐quality operational or project support, ideally within a medical research, veterinary, or higher education setting.
* Financial Aptitude: Demonstrated experience with database management systems (e.g., Workday), budget tracking, and financial modelling and reconciliation.
* Quality & Regulation: Exposure to NATA auditing processes, SOP management, or strict regulatory compliance frameworks (such as animal research regulations) is highly desirable.
* Core Skills: Strong independent problem‐solving skills, exceptional attention to detail,and a proven ability to deliver within tight timeframes while managing diverse stakeholders.
ABOUT GARVAN
Garvan Institute of Medical Research is an independent Medical Research Institute (MRI) in Sydney, delivering scientific and clinical impact on a global basis and in partnership with organisations that share our vision. We are proud to be one of Australia's largest and most highly regarded MRI's.
Our vision is global leadership in discoveries to impact and our enduring purpose is to impact human health, by harnessing information encoded in our genome.
We seek to see our world‐class discovery research achieve life‐changing impacts, not only for individual patients with rare diseases, but for the many thousands affected by complex, common disease.
Garvan promotes a diverse workplace and is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. We are always looking for culture 'add', not culture 'fit' and are building diverse teams with great sets of complementary styles and skills to help deliver our important work effectively.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for this position, please submit your application with a CV and cover letter as one document, stating why you are interested in this role. We are reviewing applications as they are received. If you think you're the right person for this role, we'd love to hear how your capabilities, achievements and experience set you apart. Only applicants with full working rights in Australia are eligible to apply for this role.
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