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
- Work closely with colleagues, managers and clients to ensure effective information transfer under quality management framework
- Help make a difference in the unique environment at the ACDP
- 12 month fixed term role to enable increased capacity for emergency animal disease testing, thereby increasing ACDP’s preparedness to respond to an emergency animal disease event.
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.
Visit CSIRO.au for more information.
The opportunity
As the Laboratory Diagnostic Technician you will be responsible for assisting with the delivery of outputs across a range of quality assured laboratory diagnostic services. In particular, the work will include disease surveillance testing for exotic and infectious diseases of veterinary significance, and associated laboratory housekeeping activities. You will also provide assistance to other diagnostic teams within the program, as required. The testing conducted primarily involves the use of antibody detection techniques such as Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and virus neutralization tests (VNTs).
In this role, you will work in the biologically secure laboratories at physical containment level 3. The position forms part of the Diagnostic Serology team within the Diagnosis, Surveillance and Response (DSR) program.
The DSR program at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) provides diagnostic and research capability required to investigate and respond to newly emerging diseases affecting livestock and other animals.
Please note that, due to the nature of the role, you will be required to meet ACDP’s microbiological security and any other additional security assessment requirements, as well as be appropriately vaccinated.
Your high-level duties will include:
- Work in a microbiologically secure laboratory as part of a multi-disciplinary team with responsibilities and outputs, supporting and delivering quality assured diagnostic testing services (NATA/ISO 17025) for a broad range of viral pathogens, as well as the exclusion of emergency animal diseases, routine surveillance and biological sample testing.
- Contribute to quality assurance requirements, including reporting test results, maintaining up-to-date and accurate test methods, and proficiency testing.
- Undertake and complete tasks under technical direction, working with discretion to decide on the timing of operations within the work team’s plan, and planning to meet diagnostic testing demands.
- Assist the Serology Team Leader, Technical Manager and Veterinary Investigation Team by providing oral and written advice upon request.
- Provide general laboratory support for housekeeping and maintenance activities.
- Complete assigned tasks in a timely and professional manner whilst maintaining an awareness of team diagnostic testing priorities, with the flexibility to assist team workflow as required.
- As required, work independently or collaboratively with colleagues on assigned activities, including support for research projects, implementation and timely completion of work.
- Independently and proactively test possible solutions to resolve identified problems.
- Perform other duties as directed.
Role particulars
Location and office arrangements: Geelong, VIC - Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP)
Salary: AU$76k – AU$96k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation
Tenure & work schedule: 12 month specified term, full time.
Reference: 102819
As the successful candidate, you will bring:
Essential
- A Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree or equivalent relevant work experience in Biological Sciences or a related discipline.
- Experience conducting and coordinating laboratory‐based experiments or tests, with a demonstrated ability to plan and schedule laboratory workflow.
- Demonstrated ability to address underlying issues of complex and ill-defined problems in a timely and technically sound manner.
- Experience working both independently and co-operatively as a member of a larger project team, with a demonstrated ability to form and maintain effective and respectful relationships with a range of colleagues and collaborators.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document results and communicate effectively with colleagues and other stakeholders.
Desirable
- Experience working in a diagnostic lab conducting and coordinating laboratory‐based diagnostic tests, including experience using a LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) within a quality management system.
- Experience working with infectious viruses in a PC3 laboratory environment.
- Demonstrated ability to perform and troubleshoot serology testing such as ELISA, HI and virus neutralization assays.
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 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 may be subject to other security/medical/character clearance requirements.
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
Wednesday 6th May 2026, 11:59pm AEST
