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

• Lead high-quality animal care and technical support for nationally significant research
• Build distinctive experience across animal studies and PC1–PC4 containment environments
• Join ACDP during major investment in modern facilities and animal research capability, several roles availavle

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.

Why join ACDP?

CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong is a nationally significant high-containment facility protecting Australia from serious and emerging animal and zoonotic disease threats. Our teams work across research, surveillance, diagnostics and emergency response, helping safeguard Australia’s animal industries, environment and communities.

This is a pivotal time to join ACDP. A major Part-Life Refit is modernising laboratories, infrastructure and animal research capability to support the Centre’s critical work for decades to come at the Geelong site. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to science with genuine national impact—helping Australia anticipate, detect and respond to serious biosecurity threats such as lumpy skin disease, African swine fever and avian influenza. Whether your role supports research, diagnostics, surveillance, animal care, laboratory operations or critical infrastructure, your work can strengthen Australia’s preparedness, protect animal health and industries, and help reduce risks to the environment and community. You’ll also build distinctive experience in a complex, highly regulated environment unlike conventional veterinary, animal-care or laboratory practice.

The role:

As a Senior Animal Technician, you’ll provide high-quality animal care and senior technical support across the lifecycle of research studies. Working with scientists, veterinarians and animal facility colleagues, you’ll contribute to study planning, husbandry, monitoring, biological sampling, animal welfare, data collection and maintaining accurate records. You may work across ACDP’s animal facilities and PC1–PC4 containment environments, while providing practical guidance and on-the-job training to technicians and facility users.

Animal research at ACDP takes place within rigorous animal ethics, biosecurity, safety and regulatory frameworks. Depending on the role, you may support animals throughout the research lifecycle, including infectious disease research. Candidates must be comfortable working in an environment where animals may not be able to leave the facility and where humane euthanasia may form part of approved research or biosecurity requirements.

Where you will make an impact:

• Plan and deliver animal husbandry, handling, monitoring, identification, biological sampling and other approved technical procedures.
• Provide senior technical support, guidance and on-the-job training to animal technicians and facility users.
• Work with scientists and veterinarians to support study planning, delivery and Animal Ethics Committee applications.
• Maintain high standards of animal welfare, biosecurity, facility operations, documentation and quality compliance.
• Resolve day-to-day operational issues and contribute to continuous improvement in animal care, monitoring and facility practices.
• Participate in weekend rosters and, when required, after-hours or on-call work.

A few important details:

• Location: Geelong, Victoria - Wadawurrung Country
• Salary: $100k - $113k plus 15.4% superannuation
• Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite, full-time preferred. Role is predominantly site-based
• Applications are open to Australian Citizens only.
• Appointment is subject to obtaining or holding an Australian Government Negative Vetting 1 security clearance and providing a national police check. Other security, medical or character requirements may also apply
• Job Reference Number: 104421

What you will bring:

We’re looking for people who combine a genuine commitment to animal welfare with strong procedural discipline, sound judgement and accountability. You’ll work calmly and constructively across disciplines, follow detailed procedures consistently, speak up when something isn’t right and adapt to a highly regulated, sometimes time-critical environment.

Selection criteria:

• A tertiary qualification in animal science or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience (+5 years) in animal science or a related field with demonstrated capability in research animal care and a strong commitment to animal welfare.
• Practical experience independently performing animal husbandry, monitoring and technical procedures with small animals, including identification, injections, biological sampling and humane euthanasia.
• A sound understanding of animal ethics, legislation and regulatory requirements, with disciplined record-keeping and consistent adherence to approved procedures and quality standards.
• The ability to provide technical leadership, training and direction, and to collaborate effectively with animal care, veterinary and scientific colleagues.
• Sound judgement and problem-solving skills, including the confidence to identify and escalate welfare, safety, quality or compliance concerns and remain effective under changing priorities.

For full details about this role and all criteria, please review 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’re happy to discuss what adjustments to our process may help you feel safe, respected and able to participate fully. Please contact careersonline@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.

Life, benefits and flexible work arrangements

Options for part-time, job-share and flexible work arrangements can be discussed based on needs of role and individual circumstances. 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

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

22 November 2026, 11:00pm AEDT

We strongly encourage early applications as we will be reviewing applications as they come through. CSIRO reserves the right to close the advertising early if we find our desired candidate.