Knowledge Brokerage Team Lead – Climate – Sydney NSW

• One of Australia’s leading research & teaching universities
• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best

At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work.

This position is fully funded by the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (CLEX) and the role will contribute to and benefit from being a part of the CLEX community.

The Centre’s research agenda encompasses interconnected research programs focused on Weather and Climate Interactions, Drought, Attribution and Risk, Ocean Extremes and Coupled Modelling. CLEX is a major seven-year initiative funded by the Australian Research Council. The Centre is led by UNSW Sydney and partners with Monash, The University of Melbourne, The Australian National University and The University of Tasmania alongside a suite of national and international partner organisations.

The Knowledge Brokerage Team Leader will facilitate an ongoing dialogue and exchange between CLEX researchers and a range of external stakeholders. They will assume leadership of the Centre’s knowledge brokerage functions and steer the implementation of its science translation and outreach strategy.

Working alongside an assistant knowledge broker and a graphic designer at Monash University and a media manager at UNSW, the Knowledge Brokerage Team Leader will actively engage with our key partners in industry and government to understand their requirements for climate data and tools that facilitate policy development and business decision making. The Knowledge Brokerage Team Leader will further foster those relationships to enable the Centre to understand and deliver targeted research.

The role is also responsible for the compilation and production of regular science briefings for policy makers that are accessible to a non-scientific audience whilst maintaining rigour and accuracy. Working under advice of the Centre’s outreach committee, the Knowledge Brokerage Specialist will identify key personnel in the Centre or recruit project-based staff to contribute to outreach and science translation activities ranging from data provision, business and stakeholder engagement, outreach to school teachers and curriculum development.

About the role

• $99K – $107K plus 17% Superannuation and annual leave loading
• Fixed Term – 2.5 years (ending December 31 2024)
• Full time (35 hours per week)

The role of Knowledge Brokerage Team Leader reports to Professor Andrew Pitman and has no direct reports, but works closely with and leads a national team across CLEX.

Specific responsibilities for this role include:

• Work closely with the Centre Director, the media and communications manager and the Outreach Committee to refine and implement the Centre’s Engagement and Impact Strategy and the direction of the Centre’s Knowledge Brokerage activities
• Foster strong collaborative relationships with key external organisations
• Work with peers in key stakeholder organisations to deliver data, tools and training
• Work with stakeholders to generate tangible outcomes that might include position papers, industry briefings, academic papers etc.
• Produce regular Briefing Notes for policymakers and other key stakeholders in both government and private sectors based on ongoing CLEX research.
• Engage with CLEX Chief Investigators, research associates and doctoral students to gain a thorough working understanding of the four core research programs and sub-projects being undertaken by the centre and identify linkages and potential pathways to impact.
• Co-supervise the work and time allocation of the CLEX knowledge Broker and Graphic Designer at Monash University
• Oversee a range of simultaneous knowledge brokerage projects across multiple stakeholders and sectors
• Refine and deliver the CLEX engagement and impact strategy via face to face, print, multimedia and online channels
• Where internal capacity is lacking, put forward proposals and business cases for specific knowledge brokerage projects that require additional casual or project-based staff.
• Align with and actively demonstrate the UNSW Values in Action: Our Behaviours and the UNSW Code of Conduct.
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of yourself or others.

About the successful applicant

To be successful in this role you will have:
(Selection Criteria)

• An honours or postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline. This can include climate science, climate impacts, risk, economics, business etc
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to form and nurture strong relationships with a wide range of internal and external partners and colleagues.
• Previous experience in one or more of knowledge brokerage, scientific translation, science communication and data delivery
• Ability to set direction and strategy and lead teams collaboratively
• An ability to act with professionalism tact and discretion when working alongside senior executives in government, research institutes and industry bodies
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training

You should systematically address the selection criteria listed within the position description in your application.

Please apply online – applications will not be accepted if sent to the contact listed.

Contact:
Stephen Gray
E: Stephen.gray@unsw.edu.au

Applications close: April 29th, 2022

Find out more about working at UNSW at www.unsw.edu.au

UNSW aspires to be the exemplar Australian university and employer of choice for people from diverse backgrounds. UNSW aims to ensure equality in recruitment, development, retention and promotion of staff and that no-one is disadvantaged on the basis of their gender, cultural background, disability, sexual orientation or identity or Indigenous heritage. We encourage everyone who meets the selection criteria to apply.

UNSW partners with Australia’s leading diversity organisations, networks, and campaigns. Please refer to UNSW’s diversity offerings for further information on our flexible work and leave options, and support for carers (childcare, parent rooms, parental leave).