Here is an exciting opportunity for an experienced research leader to shape and deliver nationally significant longitudinal research that informs policy and improves outcomes for Australian families and communities.

As Senior Research Manager for Longitudinal Delivery at the Australian Institute of Family Studies, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across complex longitudinal studies, oversee high-quality policy-relevant research and data assets and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, government stakeholders and research partners to strengthen the use, impact and future direction of the institute’s longitudinal research.

About us

The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is the Australian Government's key research body in the area of family wellbeing. It is an independent statutory authority established in 1980 under the Family Law Act 1975. It is also home to the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC), established under the Gambling Measure Act 2012 which builds the evidence base on gambling-related harm. The Institute is an agency within the portfolio of the Department of Social Services (DSS).

Our mission is to conduct high-quality, impartial research into the wellbeing of Australian families, to inform government policy and promote evidence-based practice in the family services sector. We conduct research, provide independent advice and communicate findings to government policymakers, service providers, researchers and the community about factors affecting family wellbeing. Through our research, we contribute to developing policy and practice to promote the wellbeing of families in Australia.

Our teams

The AIFS Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) program team consists of researchers, statisticians, data managers, and survey methodologists who work across all parts of the LSAC study, including participant recruitment and retention, survey design, data management and linkage and research and analysis. The team is structured around 4 primary areas of expertise: survey methodology, data management, research and analysis and project management.

The AIFS Ten to Men: The Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health (TTM) program team is responsible for the end-to-end management of the TTM study. This includes methodology and content development, respondent engagement, fieldwork supervision, data management and linkage, data analysis and preparation of study outputs.

Position requirements

• Senior expertise in survey methodology within longitudinal or lifecourse or similarly complex studies, with the ability to apply subject matter expertise to guide research design, ensure scientific rigour, and deliver high impact outputs and an enduring national data asset. 
• Drives methodological innovation to ensure the surveys relevance, scientific rigour, and AIFS status as managers of significant longitudinal data assets 
• Demonstrated understanding of the policy environment, and ability to deliver longitudinal survey content and evidence that is timely, relevant, and aligned with government priorities in the short and long term. 
• Demonstrated experience in leading the operational delivery of complex and/or multi-year research projects and surveys including scoping, planning, implementation, analysis and report writing within a policy-relevant context. Includes proven experience in managing complex surveys using contemporary project management frameworks and methods, adhering to relevant ethical, privacy, and other relevant national study obligations, sensitive issues around findings and reputational risk and ensuring that work runs to time, cost, quality, and scope requirements. 
• Strong strategic skills, with the ability to contribute to project-level strategy and provide high-level analysis of policy issues to inform research direction and survey development and outputs. 
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary and distributed study teams, coordinate across the groups, and foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that supports professional development and high performance.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, including the demonstrated ability to liaise, consult, and negotiate with senior officials in government, industry, and community sectors to support organisational business development priorities.
• Experience in business development, including supporting the preparation of funding proposals, identifying future research opportunities aligned to organisational priorities, and building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders. 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to represent their organisation externally, build relationships, leading through others, stewardship and integrity, managing risk and ambiguity, driving organisational improvement, exercising sound judgement under pressure and convey complex research findings to diverse audiences. 
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and culturally safe practices, with demonstrated experience in embedding these principles into research design, team leadership, and stakeholder engagement. 

Position duties

• Managing major research projects, large scale surveys, programs and contracts, including setting clear direction, monitoring progress, managing risks, reporting to senior leaders and funders, responding to changes and delivering high-quality results
• Building and managing stakeholder relationships by providing information, survey methodological expertise and specialist advice to key stakeholders, including funding bodies, policy makers (in government and service provision agencies), governance and advisory groups, fieldwork providers and other contractors
• Leading and managing a team of researchers, survey methodologists, and data specialists responsible for delivering research projects, overseeing the roll out of the survey, and data processing including managing performance, guiding development and providing feedback
• Leading or contributing to the development of research proposals including collaborating with other AIFS groups, external organisations, and providing survey methods expertise for cross-team responses
• Managing relevant budgets and other resources in line with AIFS’ obligations and procedures
• Undertaking research to contribute to the achievement of organisational goals
• Communicating research findings and representing the Institute at relevant conferences, webinars, workshops, teleconferences, meetings and other events
• Contributing to the senior leadership and strategic direction of OneAIFS.

Key capabilities

• Strategic Leadership
• Policy Engagement
• Research Excellence and Innovation
• Operational Oversight
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Business Development
• Team Leadership
• Functional Management

For a comprehensive overview of the key capabilities, please refer to the Job Description.

Position eligibility requirements

To be eligible for engagement, applicants must be Australian citizens unless special approval is provided in exceptional circumstances. For example, applicants with permanent resident status who have applied for Australian citizenship may be considered for engagement.

Conditions of engagement including probation, health and character clearances (including police records check, Working with Children Check and security clearance) may apply to this position.

Terms

The Senior Research Manager role may be offered as a full-time, ongoing or non-ongoing position at the EL2 level in the LSAC or TTM teams. This will be with an annual salary range of between $141,787 to $166,223 depending on the skills and experience of the successful candidate, plus 15.4% superannuation. Our salaries and conditions of employment are set out in our Enterprise Agreement.

Application information

To submit your application, please click ‘Apply Now’ by the closing date.

For your application to be considered, please: 

1. Complete the application form (click 'Apply Now' and click the link under 'Application Information')
2. Submit a current resume/CV detailing your recent employment history.
3. Submit a cover letter addressing the key capabilities required as outlined on the Job Description (maximum 2 pages).

Important to note: Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment

Please refer to the: Job description* [PDF, 191 KB] and Job pack* [PDF, 236 KB].

*also attached below

Applications for this position close at 11:30 pm AEST on the closing date.

Contact: Human Resources

Phone: 03 9214 7888

Email: [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Research Manager - Longitudinal Delivery enquiry via EthicalJobs

Position notes

AIFS is committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, mature age people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and people with parenting and/or caring responsibilities. Veterans are also encouraged to apply.

We provide a collaborative and family-friendly work environment that supports the wellbeing and professional development of our diverse workforce. Benefits include workplace health and wellbeing initiatives and events, a hybrid flexible working policy, a good health promotion allowance and Christmas closedown period with no deduction from leave credits.