Partnerships Lead

Job Description:

• BASE Facility, based in the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN)
• Full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to 12 months
• Base salary will be in the range $104,616.68 - $113,920.12 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 7)
• Based at our St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity

The BASE Facility at The University of Queensland is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Partnerships Lead to drive strategic partnerships and external engagement that support the development of new mRNA-LNP medicines.

In this role, you will focus on building and managing collaborations with academic, industry, government, and clinical partners across Australia. You will also lead BASE’s external profile, including marketing, conferences, communications, and social media.

Working closely with BASE scientists and operational teams, you will help translate BASE’s technical capabilities into strong partnerships, valuable services, and national impact. The role requires scientific literacy, strong communication skills, sound judgement, and the ability to manage relationships, contracts, and strategic initiatives in a fast-moving research environment.

Key responsibilities will include:

Research Partnerships

• Develop research collaborations and strategic partnerships with academic, industry, government, and clinical partners.
• Support partners and clients to access BASE mRNA-LNP services and products.
• Develop and implement partnership, business development, and engagement strategies to promote BASE services nationally.
• Build strong long-term relationships with existing and prospective partners.
• Represent BASE in discussions, negotiations, and meetings with partners and stakeholders.
• Work closely with BASE scientists and production teams to match partner needs with appropriate technical capability and service delivery.
• Communicate technical and project information clearly and accurately to partners and clients.
• Identify new partnership opportunities that support BASE’s research, service, and translational goals.
• Develop BASE’s external profile and engagement activities, including marketing, digital communications, social media, and conference participation.
• Develop and implement strategies to raise the profile of BASE within the national and international mRNA sector.
• Ensure marketing and communication materials are clear, scientifically accurate, and aligned with the BASE brand and strategy.
• Represent BASE at conferences, workshops, and industry events.
• Work with internal UQ stakeholders to align communications and external engagement with AIBN and UQ priorities.

General

• Contribute to a high-performing, collaborative team culture focused on service, quality, impact, and continuous improvement.
• Provide supervision and people management in line with the UQ Leadership Framework.
• Help set team priorities, performance measures, and development plans aligned with BASE strategic objectives.
• Prepare reports, presentations, business cases, briefing notes, and partnership proposals.
• Work closely with scientific and operational teams to understand emerging capabilities and translate them into partnership and engagement opportunities.
• Travel interstate, and occasionally internationally, as required to meet partners and represent BASE.

About the BASE Facility

The BASE Facility is located at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) at the University of Queensland. BASE is one of Australia’s leading national facilities for mRNA research and manufacture, providing end-to-end services that enable scientists to design, manufacture, and validate mRNA -LNPs. We have experience developing a range of mRNA medicines, including vaccines, antibodies, cell- and gene-therapies. Our research laboratories at AIBN, UQ, St Lucia, drive an innovative research program in new mRNA technologies and medicines, and our dedicated manufacture facilities located at the Translational Research Institute (TRI) produce high-quality, custom mRNA-LNPs.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.

Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• Up to 26 weeks paid parental leave/paid primary care leave
• 17% superannuation contributions + 17.5% annual leave loading
• Access to flexible working arrangements
• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family
• Career development opportunities –access to exclusive internal-only vacancies and our Study for Staff program
• On campus childcare options
• Affordable parking (from just $6.40 a day)
• Salary packaging options

About You

• Postgraduate qualification (Master’s or higher level) and relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.
• Experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating strategies in collaboration with diverse internal and external stakeholders, and facilitating ongoing monitoring of the strategy to ensure achievement of stated goals.
• Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with academic, government, clinical, and industry stakeholders.
• Commitment to delivering high‑quality client experience across the full engagement lifecycle.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to represent organisational capabilities to diverse external audiences.
• Ability to establish, lead, and develop sales, marketing, or client‑facing functions.
• Ability to lead marketing and engagement activities with the goal of increasing organisational visibility
• Willingness and ability to travel interstate to represent the organisation, attend conferences, and meet partners.
• Ability to prepare clear, high‑quality reports, presentations, and strategic documents that effectively communicate partnership, marketing, and commercial performance insights
• Commitment to upholding the University’s values, and with the outstanding personal qualities of openness, respectfulness and integrity

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of relevant pre-employment checks, which may include verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, criminal history checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Timothy Mercer t.mercer@uq.edu.au or Natasha Chaudhary n.chaudhary@uq.edu.au

For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

Want to Apply?

We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:

• Resume
• A cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the 'About You' section

Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent, particularly from Australia’s First Nations Peoples. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact talent@uq.edu.au.

Other Information

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

Applications close 5 May 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-61712). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for mid-May.