Research Manager

• Full time, fixed-term position until April 2030. Located at our Camperdown Campus.

• Exciting opportunity to manage fieldwork, translation and extension for a major precision agriculture research initiative

• Base Salary HEO 8 $131,108 - $147,858 per annum + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The successful applicant will work on the Precision Nutrition Initiative, a large multi-organisation project led by the University of Sydney in collaboration with CSIRO, Precision Cropping Technologies and the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC). The Research Manager position will be based in the Precision Agriculture, Hydrology and Geoinformation Science Laboratory (PAHGISL) at the University of Sydney.

The Research Manager will manage the operational aspects of the project’s fieldwork, translation and extension activities. A key component of the role will be engaging with a network of growers, agronomists and precision agriculture service providers. The role will report to Professor Thomas Bishop and manage a small operations team to deliver the project.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• manage the operational delivery of the Precision Nutrition Initiative, including fieldwork coordination, experiment delivery, project documentation and milestone reporting

• provide technical oversight and agronomic guidance to ensure experiments are well designed, successfully implemented, and translated into meaningful research and industry outputs

• train and liaise with precision agriculture consultants to support the delivery and analysis of on-farm experiments

• provide technical advice on experimental protocols, agronomic sampling, data collection and interpretation to support robust project outcomes

• lead stakeholder engagement with growers, agronomists, precision agriculture service providers, project partners and funders, representing the project at meetings, workshops and industry events

• support the translation and extension of project findings through presentations, workshops, written reports, industry engagement and research outputs

• manage a small operations team and work with the project lead to ensure effective project governance, compliance, communication and delivery against agreed milestones.

About you

• postgraduate qualifications or equivalent experience in precision agriculture, agronomy, crop science, soil science, agricultural systems or a related field

• demonstrated experience in agronomy, precision agriculture, on-farm experimentation or applied agricultural research

• strong project coordination skills, including the ability to manage fieldwork, operational timelines, documentation and reporting requirements

• experience engaging with growers, agronomists, consultants, industry partners or research funders

• ability to support the translation and extension of research findings through workshops, presentations, reports or industry-facing communication

• sound skills in experimental design, agronomic sampling, data collection, data analysis and interpretation

• ability to work collaboratively with academic, technical, industry and operational teams, including experience supervising or coordinating staff, consultants or project teams.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations 

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University.  Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to have engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement 

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion. 

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.  

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard.  Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Nicole Feain and Liam Newson, Recruitment Operations by email to [email protected]

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The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Thursday 16 July 2026 11:59 PM