Project Manager - Regional Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance

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The Opportunity

• Bring your extensive project management implementation experience in capacity-building projects in EID surveillance area
• Overseeing projects with regular travel to the Asia-Pacific region 4-6times a year
• Immerse yourself in an inclusive culture at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness

CSIRO is Australia’s National Science Agency and is one of the world’s largest and most successful publicly funded R&D organisations. The Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) Business Unit is located at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong and is one of nine impact science business units in CSIRO. Our goal is to protect a healthy, productive and prosperous future for Australia’s animals and people by delivering world-renowned science that will further our understanding, preparedness and management of infectious diseases. The ACDP International Program (ACDP-IP), partners with multiple organisations across the APAC to build laboratory capacity, improve the quality of laboratory diagnostic services, and laboratory biosafety and biosecurity in the region. To know more, click on ACDP- global and about our partnerships, like project BICOLLAB and our established partnership with PNG here.

As an experienced project manager, you’ll be managing two capacity-building projects, conducting laboratory capacity-building and emerging infectious disease (EID) surveillance in the Asia-Pacific region as part of the ACDP-IP portfolio. One project known as Wildlife Interface Viromic Regional Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance (WIViREIDS) is developing in-country and regional networks to conduct EID surveillance in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and the Philippines. The other project, known as Asia-Pacific Placements and Laboratory Leadership (APPLLe), is supporting laboratory placements across the Asia-Pacific and developing laboratory and regional leadership capacity in Vietnam. 

The successful candidate own the end-to-end project management responsibilities and liaise with key partner organisations in respective countries to ensure impactful and sustainable outcomes. Overseas work will involve regular travel (approx. 4-6 times per year) of 1-2 weeks duration, in countries primarily in the Asia-Pacific region. If you are keen to explore more about this position do not hesitate to reach out to our team. There are some amazing things we are currently doing that you can read here.

Your duties will include:

• Overseeing the implementation of the WIViREIDS and APPLLe projects in the Asia-Pacific region by ensuring project objectives and deliverables are met and conducting international travel and work in-country to support project implementation.
• Implementing and reviewing project planning and reporting documents and processes and regular internal and external reports.
• Leading and coordinating any technical support and training delivered by ACDP experts and contracted staff to support the implementation of the project activities and achievement of agreed outcomes.
• Developing and fostering relationships with valuable and influential stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the projects in alignment with the ACDP-IP strategy.
• Effectively contributing to the committees and governance arrangements that support the CSIRO’s health security partnership.
• In collaboration with CSIRO Finance, overseeing project budgeting, financial reconciliation and reporting.
• Willingness to travel and work in countries across the Asia-Pacific on a regular basis and enthusiasm to build laboratory capacity in low resource environments.

Location:  Geelong, Victoria preferred; Other Australian locations may be considered
Salary:  AU$121k – AU$142k plus up to 15.4% superannuation
Tenure:  Specified term until 30th June 2027
Reference:  94070

To be considered you will need:

1. A combination of qualifications and relevant work experience in either Veterinary (registerable in Australia), biological or animal health sciences or a PhD in these fields.
2. Proven experience managing, implementing and delivering capacity-building projects, including implementation of monitoring and evaluation and fulfilling reporting, logistical and financial management responsibilities.
3. Demonstrated ability to accept responsibility for research or capacity-building projects. This includes exceptional organisational skills, the ability to multi-task, coordinate complex scheduling and execute activities within required timeframes and to the client’s expectations.
4. High-level interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills including a demonstrated ability to prepare project reports, document and critique results and evaluation data, communicate effectively and build relationships with colleagues and clients from diverse cultural backgrounds in order to meet project goals and timelines.
5. Demonstrated ability to work both independently and co-operatively as a member of a larger project team and to form and maintain effective and respectful relationships with a range of colleagues and collaborators. 
6. Willingness and ability to regularly travel overseas, approximately 4-6 times per year for periods of between 1-2 weeks, to deliver project work and participate in relevant regional and international meetings.

Desirable

• Experience in the application of diagnostic veterinary virology to mitigate, detect and respond to transboundary and emerging infectious diseases.
• Experience and/or published literature in applied research in either international animal health, international development or epidemiology.

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens or Australian Permanent Residents. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements, including the requirement to meet ACDP microbiological security and security assessment requirements detailed in the position description.

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.

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs, whether we are undertaking research, engaging with the public or nurturing future scientists in person or online. Source – CSIRO Child Safe policy 2023

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

23 September 2023, 11:00pm AEST/AEDT