Senior Leader - Central Microscopy Facility

• Level 10: Attractive executive remuneration package available
• Fixed term (5 years) / Full time appointment

The University of Wollongong Research Infrastructure Division is a newly centralised unit marking UOW's commitment to transforming and optimising its major research infrastructure assets. This newly centralised division significantly improves the accessibility, efficiency, manageability, and financial sustainability of these critical resources, with a future view to incorporating additional research capabilities under its unified oversight. It achieves this by providing strategic leadership, university-wide coordination, and expert oversight of key operational teams and facilities including the Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility, Electron Microscopy Centre (EMC), and Fluorescence Analysis Facility. Ultimately, this re-envisioned division ensures that UOW's world-class research infrastructure directly underpins and accelerates the University's research strategy and priorities for both internal researchers and external partners.

About the role:

We are seeking a senior leader to provide strategic and operational oversight of the University’s central microscopy facility, including advanced technologies such as cryo‑electron microscopy. This role leads specialist scientific and technical teams, ensures efficient and compliant operations, and drives innovation by maximising facility performance, utilisation and access for the University and external research community.

This position suits a leader with deep technical expertise and strong operational capability, including those with an academic research background looking to transition into senior management of a world-class microscopy facility.

About you:

You hold a PhD or equivalent qualification in a relevant scientific discipline and bring extensive experience in advanced microscopy, including high‑level technical expertise in cryo‑electron microscopy. You have strong experience across instrumentation, sample preparation, and data and image processing, alongside a solid background managing complex research facilities.

You’re an experienced leader who can grow and support diverse user communities, manage specialist scientific and technical teams, operate within compliance‑driven laboratory environments, and oversee budgets and cost‑recovery models. You have an enthusiasm for enabling world-class research, communicate effectively with researchers, academics, industry partners and suppliers, and foster a strong culture of safety and collaboration.

How to apply

Applicants are required to submit a cover letter detailing their skills, qualification and experience in relation to this position, along with an up-to-date CV.

For a confidential discussion or further information regarding this opportunity, please contact Heath Ecroyd, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) via email: heathe@uow.edu.au

Position description

Closing date: 11.55pm 24 May 2026