Research Officer

Part Time (14 hours per week) 10-month, fixed term opportunity. Located on the Darlington Campus

Opportunity to drive research on housing distress, and its interaction with political, historical and cultural factors in the UK and Australia.

Base Salary HEO6 $103,185 – 111,237 (pro rata) + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Sydney Policy Lab at The University of Sydney brings people together from different backgrounds to tackle complex social challenges through collaboration and research-driven solutions.

We are seeking a Research Officer - Housing Distress to support the Lab's Housing Distress collaboration with the Centre for Anthropology and Mental Health Research at SOAS, University of London. This collaboration uses anthropological, historical and participatory policymaking methods to explore experiences of distress as a result of poor housing, and the historical and cultural factors shaping housing outcomes.

In this role, you will contribute to research activities, support engagement efforts, and ensure effective data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Your key responsibilities will be to :

work closely with lead researchers, project staff, and external stakeholders including community representatives

conduct academic and grey literature reviews, including analysis and interpretation

write materials for diverse audiences across multiple platforms

support research and engagement activities by designing, implementing, and synthesizing insights

coordinate data management processes to ensure thorough analysis and reporting

oversee grant applications, including writing, coordination, and liaising with key stakeholders.

About you

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for a Research Officer - Housing Distress who has :

a tertiary qualification in anthropology or a related field

demonstrated experience in research administration and data management

advanced written communication skills, including writing for multiple audiences and platforms

proven ability to analyse, synthesize, and present complex data and research findings

experience managing research documentation, publications, and compliance requirements

ability to provide research direction by staying updated on methodologies and compliance standards

interest or experience working on transformative social initiatives

willingness to work flexibly, as required for collaboration with international partners.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

Please note : you must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

How to apply

Applications ( including a cover letter, CV, and 2 writing samples ) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.

Please address the following two questions in your cover letter :

Briefly share an example of a project you have supported where there are many different stakeholders. What was your role, what did you do, and what did you learn?

Briefly describe a time when you have engaged with people or groups who have little experience in formal research or policymaking settings (this could be through work, volunteering or other personal experience). What approaches helped make the engagement work well?

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Nicole Turle Recruitment Operations by email at

The University of Sydney

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Sunday 07 September : 59 PM