Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

Child Safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

The Opportunity

• Use your strong coordinating and prioritising skills to plan and schedule laboratory work-flow
• Work closely with colleagues, managers and clients to ensure effective information transfer under a quality management framework
• Help make a difference in the unique environment at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness

As a Laboratory Diagnostic Technician at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), you will be a a part of the Diagnostic Laboratory within the Diagnosis, Surveillance and Response (DSR) program. The Diagnostic Virology team at ACDP responsible to undertake laboratory-based virology tasks associated with diagnostic testing for animal diseases, including sample processing, virus isolation, antigen detection and innocuity testing (to demonstrate the absence of adventitious agents in vaccines, cell lines. etc).

Using classical virology techniques, Laboratory Diagnostic Technicians are responsible for the delivery of outputs across a range of quality assured laboratory diagnostic services. The Laboratory Diagnostic Technician will primarily work in the mammalian virology section of the Diagnostic Virology team but may also provide assistance to other diagnostic sections or teams within the program, as required.  Diagnostic Technicians work in the biologically secure laboratories at physical containment Level 3 hence the appointee must be able to meet ACDP’s microbiological security and security assessment requirements and must pass additional security checks, and be appropriately vaccinated. This role will require you to be in the laboratory within a very structured hours of work.

Your duties will include:

• Working in a microbiologically secure laboratory supporting and delivering quality assured diagnostic testing services (NATA/ISO 17025) for a broad range of viral pathogens, as well as the exclusion of emergency animal diseases, routine surveillance and biological sample testing.
• Providing general laboratory support for housekeeping and maintenance activities.
• Contributing to quality assurance requirements, including reporting tests, maintaining up-to-date and accurate test records, and proficiency testing.
• Under technical direction of the team leader and senior scientists, working with discretion to decide on the timing of operations within the work team’s plan, and planning ahead to meet diagnostic testing demands.
• Assisting the Virology Team Leader, Technical Managers and Veterinary Investigation Team by providing oral and written advice upon request.
• Completing assigned tasks in a timely and professional manner whilst maintaining an awareness of team diagnostic testing priorities, with the flexibility to assist team workflow as required.

Location: Geelong ACDP

Salary: AU$68k - AU$86k plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Specified term up to 7, Nov 2025.

Reference: 95113

To be considered you will need:

Essential

• A Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent relevant work experience in Biological Sciences or a related discipline.
• Prior experience conducting and coordinating laboratory‐based experiments or tests, with a demonstrated ability to plan and schedule laboratory work.
• Demonstrated ability to address underlying issues of complex and ill-defined problems in a timely and technically sound manner.
• Prior experience working both independently and co-operatively as a member of a larger project team, with a demonstrated ability to form and maintain effective and respectful relationships with a range of colleagues and collaborators.
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document results and communicate effectively with colleagues and other stakeholders.

Desirable 

• Experience working in a diagnostic lab conducting and coordinating laboratory‐based diagnostic tests, including experience using a LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) within a quality management system (e.g. ISO17025).
• Experience working with infectious viruses in a PC3 laboratory environment.
• Demonstrated experience in virus culture and/or antigen detection techniques.
   

For full details about this role please review the Position Description.

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens only. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Flexible Working Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications Close

17, January 2024, 11:00pm AEDT.