Research Laboratory Manager

Oceans Institute
- Laboratory manager position for state-of-the-art DNA sequencing facility based in UWA
- Level 6 - 7, full-time appointment on a fixed term basis for 3 years
- Base salary range: Level 6: $84,665 - $89,477 p.a. plus 17% superannuation, Level 7: $92,679 - $102,830 p.a. plus 17% superannuation

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world and a member of the prestigious Australian Group of Eight research intensive universities. With a strong research track record, vibrant campus and working environments, supported by the freedom to innovate and inspire, there is no better time to join Western Australia’s top university.

**About the team**

Located in the Bayliss Building on the UWA Crawley Campus, the OceanOmics Centre combines a joint Ocean Genomes Laboratory, an OceanOmics/eDNA Laboratory, and Computational Biology Services. Equipped with the latest high-throughput sequencing technology, liquid handling robotics, flow cytometry, and computational infrastructure, the centre is staffed by a collaborative team of scientists (from both Minderoo and UWA) and UWA technical staff. Core centre operations support the Minderoo OceanOmics Program, under the direction of senior Minderoo employees. UWA staff, including this postholder, are part of the UWA Oceans Institute, a multidisciplinary research institution with core offices in the nearby Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre building, and liaise closely with Minderoo employees for day-to-day operations.

**About the opportunity**

As the appointee you will, under general direction, provide day-to-day operational support for the research activities developed at the OceanOmics Centre. You will have a particular focus on health and safety policies, risk management and safe working procedures, including high-level oversight of laboratory processes, and alignment of processes to organisational goals.

You will coordinate financial and general administration of the centre, including ordering equipment and consumables, and maintenance of necessary consumables and reagent stocks. You will be responsible for a range of state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring all equipment is appropriately used and maintained as well as regularly calibrated and serviced to maximise the output of the lab and ensure the highest possible data standards.

You will oversee and manage the administration of occupational health and safety, compliance, and control operational activities of the Centre, from laboratory inductions, through to safe working procedures, installation of new machinery and coordination with vendors.

You will work closely with a team of research technicians operating in the OceanOmics Centre and with the research staff, which comprises a collaborative team of UWA academics and Minderoo scientists working in the Centre in their capacity as Adjuncts and Visitors. You will integrate PhD students into the lab’s activities, ensuring that they are able to conduct their projects in a safe and effective manner.

You will liaise with UWA colleagues including staff from Campus Management regarding the fabric of the laboratory, installation and use of its infrastructure and equipment, with other molecular biology researchers across the University and Minderoo Foundation, and with the Director and other staff of the UWA Oceans Institute under which the OceanOmics Centre is placed in the UWA structures.

**About you**

You are a detail-oriented professional who possesses excellent organisational and managerial skills, ideally with a strong scientific background. Your operations experience will ensure smooth functioning of the laboratory, promoting a safe, productive and efficient working environment. As lab manager, you will work closely with the Lead Academic of the OceanOmics Centre to optimise operations to support the goals of Minderoo’s OceanOmics Program.

To be considered for this opportunity, you will demonstrate:

- Relevant tertiary qualification or demonstrated equivalent competency (Science-related degree is desirable but not essential) with a minimum of four years’ experience in a management or admin role
- Advanced project and team management skills, with experience working in a multiuser facility and ability to implement effective administrative systems and practices
- Substantial experience managing a team for the successful delivery of operational objectives
- Substantial knowledge of health and safety responsibilities, compliance control measures, and commitment to attending relevant training
- Substantial experience in financial management, accurate record keeping, and a working knowledge of data security practices
- Demonstrated experience in budget management and procurement
- Highly developed organisational, project management and time management skills
- Highly developed interpersonal and networking and negotiation skills, including the ability to consult and build rapport with people at all