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. 

The Opportunity

• Do you have a PhD and are interested in sustainability?
• Want to join the Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform?
• Join CSIRO – Australia’s leading scientific research organisation!

The Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform (VS FSP) is a substantial new 5-year investment in cutting edge research by CSIRO that will recruit several post-docs who will be embedded in diverse inter-disciplinary research teams. The VS FSP aims to co-produce future pathways, measures and indicators to underpin sustainable innovation and prosperity for current and future industries and communities.

Within the VS FSP, the ‘Navigating Transitions’ project focuses on supporting the transformative shifts across Australian sectors, regions, corporate and consumer practices that will be needed to return within Earth system boundaries and to support diverse human values.  The project will have a focus on net zero transitions in regions and supply chains but will also take a broader view and learn from other transitions (climate resilience, sustainable diets etc). 

The successful candidate will focus on how sustainability transitions are initiated and led, the relationships between stakeholders, and what socio-technical innovation processes are feasible.

Your duties will include:

• Reviewing available literature across successful and less successful sustainability transitions to identify the role and forms of governance, information flows and transition risks and their management.
• Drawing on the literature review and case studies, design a diagnostic of key socio-ecological system capitals or advantages, challenges and barriers to effective transition governance.
• Working with team members and other FSP projects to design and implement test interventions that would improve information, risk management and/or governance of sustainability transitions.
• Supporting project development of a network of stakeholders and engage in workshops, conferences, community meetings that can identify and actualise desirable sustainable sector and regional development outcomes.
• Collaborating across the Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform, including projects running in parallel to the Navigating Transitions project and across CSIRO, as identified and appropriate.

Location: Canberra, ACT (Brisbane or Hobart considered)

Salary: AU$89k - AU$98k plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Specified term of 3 years

Reference: 81422

To be considered you will need:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as political science, policy studies, sustainability science, climate adaption, innovation policy, integration and implementation science, science and technology studies, or similar. However, disciplines of a wide range would be considered. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.
• Strong foundation in systems thinking, preferably as applied to socio-ecological systems.
• Experience designing and undertaking rigorous research including collecting primary data and managing fieldwork, developing and implementing experimental interventions.
• Experience blending qualitative and quantitative methods including evidence of proficiency in data analysis (e.g., behavioural experiments, statistical analysis, industrial organisation, system dynamics, etc.).
• Demonstrated capacity to lead research projects, conduct high-level workshops and conferences, and work productively with a range of external stakeholder groups with minimal supervision.

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

To be eligible to work in CSIRO you must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or either hold, or be able to obtain, a valid working visa.

The successful applicant will be required to obtain and provide a National Police Check or equivalent. Additional integrity checks may be required for specific roles which require security clearance for working with children, Australian Government cybersecurity requirements or other identified security roles.

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. 

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

27 February 2022, 11:00pm AEDT