Graduate Research Assistant

Posted: 13/10/2025

Closing Date: 30/11/2025

Salary: $66, $66,000.00

Job Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Melbourne

Job Category: Research & Consulting

Position Title

Graduate Research Assistant

Division

Quantitative or Data Analytics

Streams

Professional

Locations

Melbourne (Collingwood)

Start Date

January 2026

Salary

$66, % superannuation

Benefits

• Interesting research projects
• Comprehensive on-the-job training
• Buddy program with previous Graduate
• Learn from skilled, qualified professionals wanting to help you grow (ORIMA has more Qualified Professional Researchers (QPR) than any other firm)
• Regular social events and celebrations
• Access to Employee Assistance Program
• Annual off-site conference/retreat

After 12 months employment and subject to manager assessment of performance, progression to Associate Research Consultant or Associate Data Analyst

The Role

Do you have an analytical mind? Are you curious?

Do you enjoy problem solving using quantitative data?

Do you get excited by telling a meaningful story from data?

Are you interested in understanding and measuring how people think, feel and behave?

If your answer is 'yes' to any of the above, then you may be interested in our 2026 Graduate Program. We're looking for high-performing graduates who take pride in the quality of their work, who want to learn and be intellectually challenged, who want to develop a strong professional foundation, and who seek to thrive in their workplace.

The Company

ORIMA Research is an Australian-owned company that specialises in market and social research, data analytics and advisory services. We work primarily with government clients – over 90% of our work is for the public sector – helping them make informed decisions that benefit the community. Since starting in 1996, we have grown to a team of around 80 professionals, with offices in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane.

ORIMA is a values-driven organisation, and we take pride in our service ethos, high-performance culture, innovation, integrity and commitment to helping our staff thrive. We are:

• People who believe in the importance of evidence-based approaches to support government decision-making for the improvement of communications, policies and service delivery;
• Lateral thinkers and problem solvers who work to find the best solutions for our clients; and
• A team with diverse qualifications and professional backgrounds, bringing unique perspectives to everything we do.

ORIMA Graduate Program

ORIMA Research is committed to training and developing young Australians. Our formal graduate program provides high-potential graduates with a pathway to a rewarding career in research, data analytics and consulting, through transparent and clear career progression during the graduate program and beyond.

This is a career growth opportunity to be part of an expanding, high-performance, award-winning private research consultancy firm with a supportive and strengths-based culture, underpinned by positive psychology principles, with a strong focus on scientific and intellectual rigour, and collaboration and development.

Our graduate program is underpinned by a Competency Framework and a clear progression pathway. The program provides the opportunity and support to learn and develop quantitative and/or qualitative research skills, as well as the technical and non-technical skills required for a successful career in the private sector and the market and social research industry.

Successful applicants will work primarily within a Quantitative or Data Analytics team but have the opportunity to collaborate across a variety of public sector projects and research disciplines to develop and hone their technical and professional skills, as well as take part in a graduate project with peers. We have a very strong, collaborative culture that is enhanced by our staff being co-located in our offices.

Graduates in the professional stream will be exposed to a broad range of research and consulting skills including:

• understanding and designing quantitative research methodologies such as survey design
• analysing and interpreting quantitative data (using SPSS, Q, R, and Excel and other tools)
• producing, understanding and analysing charts and descriptive statistics in meaningful ways
• organising and conducting research fieldwork, such as quantitative surveys
• project management and co-ordination
• problem solving, drawing insights from findings and report writing.

We have 1 Quantitative and 1 Data Analyst graduate positions available for our 2026 intake of Quantitative Graduates in Canberra / Melbourne.

Residency Status

• Australian Citizen, New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident

Qualifications

• Graduate or postgraduate qualification/s in a relevant area with data applications, including but not limited to Psychological Sciences, Statistics, Business and Commerce, Actuarial Studies, Marketing, etc.
• Studies in Research Methods would be well regarded
• HD average in graduate/ postgraduate course (WAM of over 80)

General Technical Skills

• Experience with Word, PowerPoint and comfortable with Excel
• Knowledge of research methodologies

Additional Quantitative Technical Skills

• Experience with statistical software (e.g. SPSS, Q)
• Understanding of basic descriptive and inferential statistics (including regression, factor analysis)

Additional Data Analysis Technical Skills

• Experience with data visualisation tools (e.g. Tableau, Power BI)
• Experience with statistical software (e.g. SPSS, Q)
• Experience with programming languages (e.g. R, Python, SQL)

Professional Skills

• Strong skills and mindset for professional success – attention to detail, problem-solving, time management and organisation skills, combined with a positive, resilient and 'can do' attitude;
• Effective communication and interpersonal abilities – advanced verbal and written communication skills (including clear spoken English) and strong interpersonal skills to build relationships and collaborate effectively;
• Adaptability and teamwork – ability to work autonomously and as part of a team, remaining humble, versatile and willing to contribute wherever needed to support projects, clients and team goals;
• Thrives under pressure – capable of working constructively under pressure, meeting short timeframes and maintaining a helpful and professional approach; and
• Motivated by growth and purpose – driven by excellence, continual learning and intellectual rigour, with an interest in the public sector environment and a focus on building a career in commercial social research/consulting.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will ONLY be accepted via our website.

Applications close 30 November 2025. We strongly advise prospective candidates to submit their applications promptly, as interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis with suitably qualified candidates.

Positive Police check and Working with Vulnerable People checks required. Able to work at the office as we have a collegiate, supportive office based working culture.

If you have any questions, please email

Applications must include the following. Applications that do not include the following will not be considered.

• CV

• Academic records (including transcripts of tertiary qualification/s)

• Cover letter (of no more than 2 pages) addressing whether you would like to join our Quantitative or Data Analytics team, the key job requirements and outlining how well you align with ORIMA's corporate values.

PLEASE NOTE

Our selection process involves five stages as follows:

• First Round interview

• In-office skills assessment

• Psychometric testing

• Second round interview

• Final checks and offers

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for Stage 1.