Research Officer - UNSW Innovation Hub

• Employment Type: Full Time (35 hours per week)
• Duration: Contract until 31 December 2027
• Remuneration: Level 6 $108,021 - $115,233 (depending on experience) + 17% super + leave loading
• Location: UNSW Kensington Campus, NSW (hybrid)

About UNSW:

UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It’s the reason we’re one of the top 20 universities in the world and a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.

Why Your Role Matters:

At the UNSW Innovation Hub, we bring people, ideas and expert knowledge together to tackle complex societal challenges through design-led methodologies. As Research Officer, you'll play a vital role in supporting research and innovation projects that create meaningful impact across the University and beyond.

Working alongside multidisciplinary researchers and professional staff, you'll provide technical, research and administrative support to the Innovation Hub Director and broader Hub team across a diverse portfolio of projects. You’ll contribute to research, analysis and the development of project outputs, while supporting workshops, stakeholder engagement and design-led collaboration. If you’re highly organised, enjoy working across varied projects and are motivated by design-led problem solving, this is an opportunity to contribute to research that strengthens design-led innovation capability and generates insights to inform decision-making, practice and future ways of working.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct literature reviews and qualitative research, synthesising findings into clear, evidence-based insights.
• Support the creation of academic outputs including journal articles, reports, ethics applications, grant submissions and stakeholder facing materials.
• Coordinate research activities, timelines, documentation and research administration to ensure research projects are delivered effectively.
• Analyse qualitative and quantitative data, with a strong emphasis on interpreting qualitative insights to inform project outcomes.
• Maintain research databases, manage data quality and support project evaluation activities.
• Build strong relationships with researchers, industry partners and stakeholders while contributing to a collaborative, multidisciplinary team.
• Support the delivery of a diverse portfolio of design-led research and innovation projects from planning through to completion.
• Support the design and facilitation of workshops, co design sessions and stakeholder engagement activities.

Who You Are:

You're a curious and adaptable researcher with a background in design or a related discipline who enjoys working across a variety of projects. Comfortable moving between research, written communication, research and project coordination and stakeholder engagement, you bring structure and research rigour to complex ideas and contribute to innovative, design led work. You're particularly interested in qualitative research and can confidently translate evidence into meaningful insights that support decision making.

• A degree in design or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Strong skills in literature reviews, academic writing and synthesising qualitative research findings.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce high quality reports, publications and stakeholder materials.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
• A collaborative approach, excellent interpersonal skills and the confidence to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Confidence using digital research and collaboration tools such as Miro, Qualtrics and AI enabled platforms, with the ability to quickly learn new technologies.
• Exposure to design led methodologies such as design thinking, co design or participatory research.
• Experience supporting research or innovation projects in project-based environments.
• Experience supporting workshops, stakeholder engagement and collaborative project activities (not essential).

For further details on role responsibilities and skills & experience required, refer to the position description found under the position listing on Jobs@UNSW

Benefits and Culture:

People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world.

Our benefits include:

• Flexible working options.
• Career development opportunities.
• 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments.
• Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period.
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness).

For further details on the benefits, please visit https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/lifestyle-benefits

How to Apply: Submit your CV & Cover Letter by 11:55pm, 30^th July 2026

Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role, valid Australian working rights are required on application.

Contact: Amy Denney a.denney@unsw.edu.au - Talent Acquisition Team
Please apply directly through the website, applications sent to the contact above will not be accepted.

Pre-Employment Checks 
As part of our recruitment process candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment screening, which may include reference checks, qualification verification, right-to-work verification, and criminal history screening where relevant to the role.

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.