Project Officer

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is seeking an experienced and high performing candidate to fill the role of Project Officer. 

The successful candidate will be organised and adaptable, able to demonstrates initiative, sound judgement and a strong commitment to delivering quality outcomes that support research funding delivery.

Our ideal candidate will have well-developed organisational and communication skills, the ability to manage competing priorities, and a proven capacity to work collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders. You will be comfortable managing administrative and coordination activities, maintaining accurate records, supporting business processes and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives. You will take responsibility for your work, demonstrate attention to detail, and contribute positively to a team environment.

What we offer

What truly makes us a great place to work? It is our people and the culture we have built together. With an 87% response rate in the 2026 APS Employee Census, NHMRC employees reported high levels of pride (90%), commitment (94%) and connection to our purpose (95%). NHMRC scored above the APS average across key employee experience measures, including wellbeing, innovation, communication and speak up culture. At NHMRC, you will find meaningful work, supportive leadership, flexible ways of working, and a collaborative environment where people can thrive and make a difference.

Our roles come with broad responsibilities and minimal hierarchy, making it easier to get things done. You will be part of a small, inclusive, and high performing team with a strong, supportive culture.

We offer:

• A truly flexible workplace culture.
• A dynamic, diverse and supportive team across Melbourne and Canberra.
• Wellbeing programs including up to 6 free counselling sessions per year and a workplace that genuinely cares.
• Generous recreational leave, personal leave, cultural leave, parental leave and paid end-of-year shutdown.
• Study assistance and professional development opportunities that align with your career goals.
• Opportunities to be trusted to lead high value projects with the freedom to innovate and the support to grow.
• Strategic exposure where you can engage directly with senior leaders and contribute to decisions that shape our future direction.

About the Branch

The Research Foundation branch develops strategies for investing in health and medical research, leads on NHMRC's grant application and peer review processes for large scale schemes and post-award management for all NHMRC and MRFF schemes managed by NHMRC. 

Our work includes the continuous review and improvement of research policy, grant guidelines, peer review processes, monitoring and compliance along with evaluating the impacts of NHMRC funded research. The branch also leads NHMRC’s engagement in national and international networks aiming to improve research assessment, research data quality and open access to outputs of NHMRC funded research.

The branch is comprised of the Ideas Grants, Investigator Grants, Research Administration and Research Policy and Evaluation sections.

About the Section

The Ideas Grants section is responsible for delivering the Ideas Grant and Postgraduate Scholarship Grant schemes, developing, implementing and reviewing policies, recruiting and training peer reviewers, and administering the Community Observers Working Committee. The team also assists with the development of the annual "10 of the Best" publication. 

As a Project Officer, your duties will include: 

• Providing secretariat and administrative support for grant schemes and peer review processes.
• Supporting grant round activities, including application processing, workflow tracking, and quality assurance checks.
• Assisting with peer reviewer invitations, conflicts of interest processes, assessment and funding outcome activities.
• Preparing correspondence, briefing notes, meeting papers and procedural documentation.
• Responding to enquiries from applicants, Research Administration Officers (RAOs), peer reviewers and other stakeholders.
• Maintaining records and ensuring compliance with policies, guidelines and legislative requirements.
• Providing general administrative support to the section.

Core capabilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in work output
• Ability to work effectively in a team and independently
• Ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to use Microsoft 365 suite of software and other relevant applications.

Highly desirable

The following will be highly regarded:

• Experience in providing secretariat and administrative support.

How to apply

You will need to complete the online application form and provide:

• a short pitch (no more than 500 words) explaining how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to the role
• a current Resume
• contact details of two referees, one of whom should be your current supervisor or manager.

NHMRC is an inclusive and diverse employer that supports gender equity and diversity in leadership. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including People with Disability, First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, mature age people and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.

To be eligible for a position at NHMRC, you must be an Australian citizen and be able to provide evidence of this. If successful, you will also be required to undertake a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.