Senior Technical Officer
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
- Join CSIRO Agricultural Research at Boorowa Agricultural Research Station, NSW
- Great opportunity to actively foster a collaborative culture, empowering teams to achieve research excellence
- Work with a dedicated and supportive team of operations staff and leading researchers
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
CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food Research Unit applies world class multidisciplinary science and technology to create healthier, trusted, safer and more sustainable food and fibre for the future. With partnerships that span across both Australia and twenty-five countries internationally, CSIRO is fostering a shared vision to create measurable economic, environmental, and social impact.
At Boorowa Agricultural Research Station (BARS), Agriculture and Food’s research themes include developing crops adapted to future environments, creating mixed farming systems that are productive, enduring and thriving and designing technologies and interventions that transform sustainable farm production.
We are seeking a Senior Technical Officer – Farm Operations to join the team, where you’ll play a pivotal role in supporting cropping field research at the Boorowa Agricultural Research Station (BARS).
In this hands-on, senior technical role, you will be responsible for the establishment and management of field trials both at BARS and nearby trial sites. You'll also support the day-to-day farm operations, ensuring the station is well-prepared to meet upcoming research requirements.
We’re looking for someone with the capability to plan and carry out farm operational tasks and provide specialised technical support for field trials with a high degree of autonomy, while working collaboratively as part of a small, dedicated team. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
Your high-level duties will include:
General Duties
- Plan and conduct field operational tasks (both cropping and grazing) at BARS including operation of farm plant and machinery.
- Work as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research farm operations team, to carry out tasks autonomously in support of field based scientific research.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues within your team, the business unit and across CSIRO, to achieve research and continuity objectives.
Research Station Farm Operation Duties
- Work as part of the farm operations team at BARS delivering timely and quality field farm management to be ready for upcoming field trials. This includes tasks such as land preparation, fertiliser application, pesticide application, livestock management, harvest and other activities using farm machinery and equipment according to safe work practise and consistent with farm operational plan.
- Conduct repairs and maintenance on farm machinery and equipment and facilities, including the field research digital capabilities of the research station.
- Conduct livestock management activities as required at station with a strong focus on animal welfare.
Research Support Services Duties
- Liaise closely with researchers to understand field trial service needs.
- Work as part of the farm operations team at BARS delivering timely and quality field research trial service operations to meet required trial needs to leading practise standard. This may include land preparation, fertiliser application, pesticide application, grazing, and harvest of field trials.
- Ensure site plant and equipment including farm machinery and field based digital capabilities are maintained and utilised on site.
- Contribute to regular meetings of representative research groups/users of BARS to ensure optimum site capability and supply of farm technical services to meet research needs.
- Other duties as directed
Role particulars
Location: Boorowa, NSW
Salary: AU$96k – AU$109k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation
Tenure: Indefinite
Reference: 99975
As the successful candidate, you will bring:
Essential criteria
- Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science, or Diploma in Agriculture and /or equivalent relevant work experience in Agricultural Field Research. Direct work experience conducting agricultural field research cropping trials according to leading practise.
- Experience in operation farm machinery (tractors, sprayers, harvesters).
- Experience with Digital Ag Technology (e.g. GPS guidance, field sensors, drones).
- Current Drivers Licence.
Desirable
- Heavy Vehicle Licence
- Forklift Licence
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 contact your TA Partner 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, New Zealand Citizens, and Australian Permanent Residents only. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character 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
16 July 2025, 11:59pm AEST
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
- Join CSIRO Agricultural Research at Boorowa Agricultural Research Station, NSW
- Great opportunity to actively foster a collaborative culture, empowering teams to achieve research excellence
- Work with a dedicated and supportive team of operations staff and leading researchers
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
CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food Research Unit applies world class multidisciplinary science and technology to create healthier, trusted, safer and more sustainable food and fibre for the future. With partnerships that span across both Australia and twenty-five countries internationally, CSIRO is fostering a shared vision to create measurable economic, environmental, and social impact.
At Boorowa Agricultural Research Station (BARS), Agriculture and Food’s research themes include developing crops adapted to future environments, creating mixed farming systems that are productive, enduring and thriving and designing technologies and interventions that transform sustainable farm production.
We are seeking a Senior Technical Officer – Farm Operations to join the team, where you’ll play a pivotal role in supporting cropping field research at the Boorowa Agricultural Research Station (BARS).
In this hands-on, senior technical role, you will be responsible for the establishment and management of field trials both at BARS and nearby trial sites. You'll also support the day-to-day farm operations, ensuring the station is well-prepared to meet upcoming research requirements.
We’re looking for someone with the capability to plan and carry out farm operational tasks and provide specialised technical support for field trials with a high degree of autonomy, while working collaboratively as part of a small, dedicated team. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
Your high-level duties will include:
General Duties
- Plan and conduct field operational tasks (both cropping and grazing) at BARS including operation of farm plant and machinery.
- Work as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research farm operations team, to carry out tasks autonomously in support of field based scientific research.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues within your team, the business unit and across CSIRO, to achieve research and continuity objectives.
Research Station Farm Operation Duties
- Work as part of the farm operations team at BARS delivering timely and quality field farm management to be ready for upcoming field trials. This includes tasks such as land preparation, fertiliser application, pesticide application, livestock management, harvest and other activities using farm machinery and equipment according to safe work practise and consistent with farm operational plan.
- Conduct repairs and maintenance on farm machinery and equipment and facilities, including the field research digital capabilities of the research station.
- Conduct livestock management activities as required at station with a strong focus on animal welfare.
Research Support Services Duties
- Liaise closely with researchers to understand field trial service needs.
- Work as part of the farm operations team at BARS delivering timely and quality field research trial service operations to meet required trial needs to leading practise standard. This may include land preparation, fertiliser application, pesticide application, grazing, and harvest of field trials.
- Ensure site plant and equipment including farm machinery and field based digital capabilities are maintained and utilised on site.
- Contribute to regular meetings of representative research groups/users of BARS to ensure optimum site capability and supply of farm technical services to meet research needs.
- Other duties as directed
Role particulars
Location: Boorowa, NSW
Salary: AU$96k – AU$109k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation
Tenure: Indefinite
Reference: 99975
As the successful candidate, you will bring:
Essential criteria
- Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science, or Diploma in Agriculture and /or equivalent relevant work experience in Agricultural Field Research. Direct work experience conducting agricultural field research cropping trials according to leading practise.
- Experience in operation farm machinery (tractors, sprayers, harvesters).
- Experience with Digital Ag Technology (e.g. GPS guidance, field sensors, drones).
- Current Drivers Licence.
Desirable
- Heavy Vehicle Licence
- Forklift Licence
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 contact your TA Partner 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, New Zealand Citizens, and Australian Permanent Residents only. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character 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
16 July 2025, 11:59pm AEST
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