Science Leader - Sustainability in Mineral Resources - [Archived Advertisement]

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

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.

The Opportunity

• Grow your own team and research program to deliver impact in Sustainability through the development of new technologies and platforms
• Develop a program focus based on your expertise in using data such as satellite or airborne geophysical data systems such as hyperspectral (e.g. ASTER, PRISMA), digital elevation models, radiometrics, magnetic susceptibility, gravity, electromagnetics to inform environmental management
• Join CSIRO and translate science to industry impact as part of a global research business

At CSIRO, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology by harnessing the incredible intellectual power and expertise of our people, collaborators and partners. We encourage a safe, diverse workplace ensuring our people are supported to do their best work and are empowered to flourish within, aligned to our Values principles.  CSIRO’s Science Leader program attracts the best researchers from across the globe to deliver outstanding translational science and engineering impact and captures new capability into areas which have been identified as strategic, to assist our business units to manage and develop their capability for the future. 

Water management, decarbonization and climate change rank as top environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns in the metals and mining sector. Poorly addressing these issues is adding to growing community concerns with respect to the effects of mining and mineral extraction processes in their ‘backyards’.

CSIRO Mineral Resources is seeking to engage a leader to focus on building and embedding ESG understandings into the extraction and reuse of various metals and consequent impacts on mineral exploration, mining and remediation settings. Tools will be co-designed with companies, investors and/or communities, including Indigenous Communities and Traditional Owner groups, to define a framework that determines how the minerals supply chain delivers differing forms of ‘value’ according to ESG measures. ESG assessments will commence at the earliest stage, with predictions cascading through exploration, discovery, mining, and remediation activities, while being updated dynamically as a project progresses.

As the Science Leader you will build and lead a team to tackle a cutting-edge 4D environmental prediction and modelling science agenda within the Mineral Resources Business Unit, drawing on inter-disciplinary capacity across CSIRO.  You will lead the development of novel systems and processes that support the mineral resources industry to proactively manage social, environmental, and/or economic and governance issues through a combination of excellence in fit-for-purpose and context-appropriate process design, and development of cutting-edge digital tools and monitoring systems.

The Science Leader will contribute to business goals through scientific excellence and the translation of research outcomes into impact. 

Your duties will include:

• Develop a vision and 5-year plan for Sustainability in mineral resources: balancing environmental and social responsibility/value with resource extraction.
• Grow a team of post-doctoral researchers and students focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) research.
• Take a leadership role in collaborating with companies, investors and communities, and the broader Mineral Resources network.
• Identify and develop collaborations within CSIRO to maximise the benefits of existing capability and expertise in Sustainable Energy and Resources.
• Communicate research results to the CSIRO and global scientific community through oral and written reports.
• Lead and supervise staff, ensuring that experiments are established in accordance with the research design and completed within the agreed timeframes and budget.

Location: Perth, WA preferred; or Brisbane, QLD considered
Salary:  Attractive Salary package offered
Tenure: Indefinite, with the initial program of work being 5 years
Reference:  94005

To be considered you will need:

1. A PhD in Social or Earth science-related disciplines.
2. Experience using satellite platforms (e.g. ASTER, PRISMA, GRACE, EMIT, Landsat, Sentinel), geophysical data (e.g. radiometrics, magnetics, gravity, electromagnetics) and other remote-sensing systems. 
3. Understanding the application of remote-sensing or geophysical datasets to any of landform modelling and monitoring, hydrology, hydrogeology and mineral mapping applications.
4. Experience with integrating datasets across a range of scales – regional to local.
5. Knowledge of advanced data analytics and modelling techniques.
6. Ability to mentor a team of talented postdoctoral fellows/engineers and postgraduate students and attract distinguished visiting researchers.
7. Adept at using GIS packages such as QGIS or ArcGIS, and/or 3D or 4D modelling platforms. 
8. In-depth understanding of environmental management principles.
9. Strong communication skills, ability to build trust, collaborative, cultural awareness and strong stakeholder collaboration and management skills.

For full details about this role please review the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens and International Candidates. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Flexible Working Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs, whether we are undertaking research, engaging with the public or nurturing future scientists in person or online. Source – CSIRO Child Safe policy 2023

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter addressing each of the selection criteria and a CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications Close

10 October 2023, 11:00pm AEST