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

• Do you want to be part of the team that facilitates radio astronomy projects on Country that will revolutionise our understanding of the Universe?
• Lead CSIRO’s engagement with the Wajarri Yamaji, Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders of the Observatory where one of the SKA telescope is being built.
• Help CSIRO in preservation and protection of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and delivery of commitments in the Indigenous Land Use Agreement.

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 plays a leading role in one of the world’s largest radio astronomy projects: the SKA (Square Kilometre Array). The SKA telescopes will revolutionise our understanding of the Universe and the laws of fundamental physics. Enabled by cutting‐edge technology, the SKA promises to have a major impact on society, in science and beyond.

Join CSIRO and assist in their management of the Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, on Wajarri Yamaji Country in Western Australia, where world-leading science is being shaped in partnership with Traditional Owners and communities.

As the ILUA Manager, you will play an important role in strengthening and nurturing CSIRO's relationship with the Wajarri Yamaji people and the Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation (WYAC). Working at the intersection of culture, community, stewardship and science, you will help ensure commitments under the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) are delivered with respect, integrity and lasting impact.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the world's most significant astronomy projects while helping protect and celebrate Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, supporting positive outcomes for Country and community, and fostering strong partnerships across CSIRO, government and industry. This role requires a high level of cultural capability, including the ability to work respectfully with Wajarri Yamaji, understand obligations of the ILUA and Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP), and recognise the cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts in which CSIRO operates on Country.

We warmly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. At CSIRO, you'll be supported by dedicated Indigenous employment, capability and engagement teams, and join an organisation committed to creating a culturally safe, inclusive and respectful workplace where Indigenous knowledge, perspectives and leadership are valued and celebrated.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Build respectful, trusted partnerships with the Wajarri Yamaji community, WYAC, Traditional Owners, government, SKAO and CSIRO stakeholders.
• Lead the delivery of CSIRO's commitments under the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA), Project Agreement and Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP).
• Support the preservation and protection of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, ensuring activities on Country are undertaken respectfully and responsibly.
• Work collaboratively to translate agreement commitments into practical projects, programs and community outcomes.
• Partner with Indigenous businesses and organisations to support procurement, service delivery and economic participation opportunities.
• Facilitate open communication and help resolve issues constructively, fostering strong relationships and positive outcomes for all parties.
• Represent CSIRO in meetings, forums and community engagement activities, advocating for respectful partnerships and shared success.
• Provide trusted advice and leadership while upholding cultural protocols, confidentiality, and CSIRO's values of inclusion, respect and integrity.

Role particulars

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Kensington), Whadjuk Noongar Boodja and/or Geraldton/Jambinu, Western Australia.

Salary: AU$135,571 ‐ AU158,863 pa (pro‐rata for part time) plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Duration: Specified Term of 3 years; Full-time / Part-time (no less than 30hr/week)

Reference: 103572

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential criteria

• High-level cultural capability, moulded by Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, and developed from lived experience as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
• Strong Indigenous community connection and credibility along with cultural authority as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline, and/or equivalent experience in areas such as consulting, law, policy, heritage management and complex stakeholder engagement.
• Experience and knowledge, or a willingness to acquire knowledge of cultural heritage obligations under Indigenous Land Use Agreements and relevant Commonwealth and Western Australian Legislation.
• A proven ability to establish and maintain co-operative relationships in a complex, multifaceted and dynamic environment, anticipating potential issues and using sound judgement to deliver effective resolutions to complex problems.
• Experience managing financial budgeting, forecasting and reporting activities.
• An ability to travel to remote locations within Western Australia on a regular basis (anticipated as monthly).
• Possession of an Australian Class ‘C’ driver’s license (or equivalent).
• This role has child safety obligations. Accordingly, the successful candidate will be required to obtain or provide evidence that they hold a working with children check prior to confirmation of appointment.

For details about who to contact and for more information, please view 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 the Talent Consultant, Shree Chattopadhyay via email at shree.chattopadhyay@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.

Eligibility

CSIRO considers the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Citizenship.

The successful applicant will be required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

The successful candidate will be required to provide contact details of at least one Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Referee to confirm their ability to work and communicate respectfully with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

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

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

25 October 2026, 11:00 pm AEDT

We strongly encourage you to apply early as we will be reviewing applications as they come through. CSIRO reserves the right to withdraw this ad prior to the closing date if required.