Senior Technical Officer Australian Grains Genebank

We are seeking a motivated and experienced Senior Technical Officer to join the Australian Grains Genebank (AGG) team. The AGG is the national centre for grain crop genetic resources, with a mandate to acquire, conserve and distribute these resources to underpin the development of more resilient and productive grain crop varieties. Funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Agriculture Victoria Research, the AGG aims to unlock the genetic potential of plant genetic resources to accelerate cereal, oilseed and pulse crop improvement for the benefit of the Australian grains industry. The AGG utilises a range of digital and genomic technologies to enhance curation efficiency, preserve biodiversity, and facilitate the informed selection of its plant genetic resources for use in research and breeding.

As Senior Technical Officer you will provide technical leadership and oversight of daily genebank conservation operations to ensure the accurate storage, management and distribution of plant genetic resources. You will coordinate team activities, workflows, and system processes to maintain data integrity, optimise efficiency, and meet operational targets. The role requires demonstrated experience across seed inventory management systems and working with a range of grain crop species.

The position is located at Horsham (an innovative agricultural research smart farm) within the Plant Sciences branch of Agriculture Victoria Research, which has 70+ scientists and technical staff who specialise in the fields of plant genetic resources, plant genetic improvement, plant functional genomics, grain crop quality, and applied genomics and predictive plant breeding.

Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in managing and coordinating seed conservation activities within a genebank or similar technical environment, including seed preparation for long-term storage, viability testing, regeneration, safety duplication, and client distribution in accordance with international genebank standards.
• Proven ability to develop, implement and maintain standard operating procedures and quality assurance protocols to support efficient, accurate and consistent delivery of technical operations, drawing on research and innovation to improve practices.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate, high-quality records using specialised data management systems and electronic data capture tools, with attention to detail and data integrity to support traceability and compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to lead, coordinate and motivate a technical team in a collaborative, customer-focused environment, setting clear expectations, promoting knowledge sharing, recognising contributions, and fostering a positive and productive workplace culture.
• Demonstrated capability to provide timely operational data, analysis, and progress updates to support senior staff in developing annual operating plans, tracking milestones, and contributing to informed decision-making.
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple tasks, allocate resources efficiently, and adapt to changing priorities while maintaining attention to detail and operational standards.

This is a fixed term position available until 30 June 2027. The work location for this position is Horsham.

To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to address the Key Selection Criteria and submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience.

Please refer to the Key Selection Criteria provided in the Position Description, including the mandatory requirements.

How to Apply:

If you are a current DEECA employee, please apply via DEECA Careers.

Click the ‘Apply’ button and you'll be redirected to a new platform and create an account.

Applications close 11.59pm on Thursday, 07 May 2026.

All applications must be submitted through the online portal. We are unable to consider email or manual applications at this time.

Having trouble applying? Recent Microsoft updates may affect Outlook or Hotmail email accounts. If you encounter issues, try using another email address when creating your account or contact your account domain provider.

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

DEECA welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and we focus on the essential requirements of the job and being consistent and fair in our treatment of all applicants. We also understand that a balanced life is important to our employees. Talk to us about our flexible options such as working some days from home, starting early or late, working part time, job sharing or accessing paid or unpaid leave. For more information visit applying for a role with us.