Security Assessments Advisor

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.

Role highlights

• Build networks across government, research, and industry.
• Shape the future of secure, world-leading science.
• Join a supportive, inclusive team that values your expertise and perspective.

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

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The opportunity

Join CSIRO's National Security team and help safeguard Australia's science. As a Security Assessment Advisor, you'll apply your expertise in national security, whether in foreign interference, espionage, insider threat or research security, to protect world-class research and partnerships.

This is a role where your judgement, communication skills, and ability to influence will make a real impact. You'll work with diverse stakeholders, shape smart security solutions that enable collaboration, and provide clear, actionable advice that informs decisions across the organisation.

If you're motivated by purpose, impact, and the chance to strengthen Australia's research security, this role offers the opportunity to do it all.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Identify and assess threats using your deep knowledge of national security issues to protect CSIRO's research and partnerships.
• Lead incident response processes, ensuring risks are mitigated with proportionate, effective, and respectful outcomes.
• Handle sensitive and classified information with discretion and professionalism.
• Deliver independent, high-quality assessments that underpin decision-making at tactical and strategic levels.
• Engage and influence stakeholders, building trust while shaping innovative, practical security solutions.
• Build networks across government and research sectors, keeping CSIRO at the forefront of security awareness.
• Other duties as directed

Role particulars

• Location and office arrangements: Canberra (Black Mountain), ACT, Ngunnawal Country. Other CSIRO locations considered.
• Salary: AU$114k – AU$123k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation
• Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite, full time. Options for part-time, job-share and flexible work arrangements can be discussed based on needs of role and individual circumstances.
• Reference: 101040

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential

• Demonstrated experience working in National Security, with deep expertise in at least one of the following: foreign interference, espionage, insider threat, or research security.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, with a track record of negotiation and persuasion in the face of divergent views, while continuing to foster trust.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to communicate your expertise to people who are not experts in your field, with a focus on tailoring communication to the audience respectfully and effectively.
• A demonstrated ability to break down complex issues, conduct detailed analysis, and use good judgement and critical thinking to deliver clearly written and easy to understand assessments, advice or reports.
• A track record of being a positive team player, promoting inclusive and welcoming team culture and values, and encouraging others' skills and experience in a diverse team.

Desirable

• Experience or cultural understanding in other languages, especially Mandarin, would be highly desirable.

For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the Position Description.

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don't let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please Vicki Ferrar ) and let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens only.

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and you must be willing be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Negative Vet 2 level. Existing higher security clearances can be maintained.

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

How to apply

Please apply online and submit a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) and CV that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the essential requirements of this role.

Applications close

Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 11:59pm AEST