Queensland University of Technology

Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer (Microbiology)

Q: What is the Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer (Microbiology)?

This listing is for Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer (Microbiology) at Queensland University of Technology .

Q: Where is this role located?

The listed location is Kelvin Grove QLD, Australia .

Q: What is the salary?

The listed salary is A$103,811 – A$113,557 yearly .

Q: When do applications close?

Applications close on Oct 9, 2026 .

Closes: Oct 9, 2026

Salary: A$103,811 – A$113,557 per year

329

$103,811 to $113,557
Ongoing, full-time
Kelvin Grove
Reference number: 26528
Term: Ongoing, full-time
Remuneration: $122,852 to $134,385 pa (HEW7) (inclusive of $103,811 to $113,557 salary pa, 17% superannuation and 17.5% recreation leave loading).
Location: Kelvin Grove
Open to: Current staff members of QUT who have ongoing full-time work rights in Australia. In support of our strategic priority of Indigenous Australian success, Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people who are not QUT staff are also eligible and encouraged to apply.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer (Microbiology) to join Faculty Operations, Faculty of Health.

The Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer (Microbiology) provides technical expertise within a highly professional technical team in support of the Faculty’s academic endeavours. The role is responsible for the effective, safe and sustainable operation of a range of laboratory facilities and specialist equipment, including custodianship of the microbiology teaching laboratories and associated physical containment (PC2) facilities. The role requires significant discipline specific knowledge to engage with and provide high quality technical support to academics and students within microbiology and related biomedical science disciplines. The incumbent will maintain awareness of current and emerging support requirements and will contribute to the continual improvement of technical services supporting the Faculty’s Learning and Teaching and Research programs. The Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer will be required to work in collaboration with other technical staff to provide an integrated and highly responsive support service which ensures that students have the benefit of a high quality learning experience. The Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer will provide support with the delivery and implementation of strategic initiatives and continuous improvement activities, within their local area.

About us

QUT is a major Australian university with a global outlook and a 'real world' focus. We are an ambitious and collaborative institution that seeks to equip our students and graduates with the skills they will need in an increasingly disrupted and challenged world.

QUT’s Faculty of Health attracts high-quality students with more than 10 000 students enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate coursework and research higher degree programs across its seven schools. Drawing on its reputation for teaching excellence, the Faculty of Health produces graduates who are highly sought after in the commercial, scientific, health and community sectors. The faculty’s applied research activity is focused on improving health and wellbeing and preventing disease. This high-impact and internationally recognised research continues to make a significant and positive contribution to the ongoing development of the brand of QUT, as well as providing opportunities to develop partnerships. The Faculty of Health operates across the university’s two campuses, Kelvin Grove and Gardens Point, and several distributed sites. The proximity of the Kelvin Grove campus to hospital facilities at Herston provides the faculty with a distinct competitive advantage and a renowned precinct that offers transformative education, aligned biomedical research and industry engagement..

What you need to succeed

Completion of a degree and subsequent relevant experience or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training, in laboratory operations within microbiology or related biomedical sciences, including working in physical containment (PC2) laboratories and applying relevant biosafety, biosecurity and chemical management compliance requirements.
High level communication skills (including written and verbal) and flexibility to work across projects and to collaborate and develop effective relationships with multiple programs and stakeholders.
Proven ability to nurture and lead a high-performing, collaborative team committed to continuous improvement and which actively works to understand and meet stakeholder requirements.
Demonstrated problem identification and resolution skills, including ability to implement desired outcomes to timely completion in a complex environment with competing demands.
Proven ability to support delivery of projects within agreed timeframes and resource constraints (including assistance with scoping, planning, delivery and post-implementation review).
Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity and Indigenous Australian engagement.

Life at QUT

We're committed to building a culture that fosters connection between people and purpose. Beyond personal and professional fulfillment, a career at QUT offers:

A healthy work-life balance with a blend of on-campus and off-campus work arrangements for applicable positions.
Competitive remuneration with up to 17% superannuation and leave loading of 17.5%.
Generous parental leave including primary carer parental leave of up to 26 weeks (including 17% super).
Stay healthy with Fitness Passport and enjoy discounted rates on private health insurance.
Purchased Leave Scheme - up to 8 extra weeks.
Salary Packaging Scheme for additional superannuation contributions, vehicle leasing, and on-campus services such as childcare, parking, and gyms.
Numerous opportunities for professional development including leadership programs and workshops, and our study assistance scheme.
Commitment to our Indigenous Australian staff through initiatives such as the Indigenous Australian Staff Network, Cultural and Ceremonial Leave, Staff Development Workshops, and representation on university committees.

Explore more benefits of life at QUT.

Belong at QUT

We are guided by our values of Ambition, Integrity, Inclusiveness, Innovation, and Academic Freedom and our QUT Connections in our mission to inspire and shape the next generation of change-makers.

As part of our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, we proudly support our Indigenous Australians Employment Strategy, aiming for an Indigenous Australian workforce participation of 3.6%. We extend a warm invitation to Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people to join us in pursuing a rewarding career at QUT.

We believe that diversity is our strength and are dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage individuals from diverse cultures, ages, linguistic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities, and those who are living with disabilities to apply for positions at QUT.

At QUT, diversity is not just embraced—it's celebrated. See our commitment

How to Apply

Discover the possibilities that await with a career at QUT. If you're ready to embark on a journey of innovation and opportunity, we're excited to meet you.

Find out more about this position and submit your application by clicking 'Apply' or the link below.

View the job details at: Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer (Microbiology)

Job opens: 25-Sep-2026

Applications Close: 09-Oct-2026 at 11.30pm

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Job details

Title: Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer (Microbiology)
Employer: Queensland University of Technology
Location: Kelvin Grove QLD, Australia
Published: Sep 25, 2026
Closes:: Oct 9, 2026
Job type: Full time, Staff / Administration
Field: Laboratory and Research
Salary: Salary: A$103,811 – A$113,557 per year

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Frequently Asked Questions

📋What is the Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer (Microbiology)?

This listing is for Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer (Microbiology) at Queensland University of Technology.

📍Where is this role located?

The listed location is Kelvin Grove QLD, Australia.

💰What is the salary?

The listed salary is A$103,811 – A$113,557 yearly.

📅When do applications close?

Applications close on Oct 9, 2026.

💼What type of appointment is this?

The listed type is Full time.

📝How do I apply?

Use the Apply Now button on this listing to submit your application.

About the employer

Queensland University of Technology

4.0 Star Employer Ranking

AcademicJobs.com is the leading platform to explore QUT jobs, providing access to exciting career opportunities at one of Australia’s most innovative universities. Queensland University of Technology (QUT), located in Brisbane, is celebrated for its industry-focused research and academic excellence, making QUT uni jobs highly sought after by professionals worldwide. QUT careers offer a dynamic and collaborative environment for academics, researchers, and professional staff to excel. QUT university careers encompass a diverse range of disciplines, reflecting the university’s key areas of academic specialization, including science, technology, engineering, business, creative industries, and health. Employment QUT includes roles such as lecturers, research fellows, postdoctoral researchers, and administrative positions, accommodating various skill sets. For those pursuing QUT jobs Brisbane, the university’s modern campuses provide an inspiring workplace in a thriving, cosmopolitan city. QUT uni vacancies and job postings are prominently featured on AcademicJobs.com, where candidates can find opportunities in teaching, cutting-edge research, and professional services. Jobs at QUT span fields like robotics, digital media, and public health, aligning with the university’s mission to address real-world challenges. Each QUT vacancy represents a chance to contribute to impactful initiatives within a forward-thinking academic community. QUT Employment Opportunities are varied, with QUT job Opportunities ranging from academic faculty to technical and operational roles. A QUT Career offers the chance to join an institution that values innovation, inclusivity, and global engagement. QUT uni openings are frequently updated on AcademicJobs.com, ensuring access to the latest QUT vacancies. Jobs at QUT uni are ideal for those dedicated to advancing knowledge and societal progress. QUT job postings include positions in education, data science, and professional services such as IT and human resources. QUT Employment

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Read the title as a duty statement

Supervising means rosters, training, quality control and safety. Scientific/technical means you understand the work at bench level. Microbiology means you can walk into the lab and know what a smell, a colour change or a contaminated plate is telling you.

The duties in a role like this cluster around four practical jobs.

Planning and supervising the day-to-day operations of microbiology teaching or research laboratories
Training technical staff and casual demonstrators in aseptic technique, media preparation, autoclaving and waste handling
Managing microbial cultures, reagents, consumables and equipment maintenance
Working with academic staff to design practical classes and research support workflows

None of those duties is a one-line CV entry. You'll need evidence from your current lab, whether that's a hospital, pathology provider, food manufacturer or another university.

Microbiology practical classes are resource-heavy. Media has to be prepared and sterilised, pure cultures maintained, incubation temperatures checked, autoclave cycles logged, and waste inactivated. Teaching labs run on tight timetables, so a delay in one class cascades into the next. Research labs add a different pressure: strain repositories, controlled environments and compliance with Australian containment standards.

Where the role sits at QUT

QUT is one of Brisbane's major public universities, with campus operations at Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove. The university employs professional staff in faculty-based and central technical teams, and this role sits in that professional stream, not in an academic post.

A common mistake is to treat the job as a lectureship. It isn't. You report through a technical services or laboratory operations line, and the people you'll lead are technical officers, assistants and casual demonstrators.

The distinction matters for your application. The panel wants a supervisor who still knows the bench, not a researcher looking for a bridging role.

The role is covered by QUT's professional staff enterprise agreement, so salary, leave and hours follow that framework rather than an academic workload model. The official position description will state the classification level and salary range.

What the national laboratory workforce picture shows

University technical roles like this one sit inside a wider Australian laboratory workforce that includes pathology, water, food safety and biotechnology. Jobs and Skills Australia maintains occupation data on science technicians, and the Australian Society for Microbiology is the main professional body for microbiologists in Australia.

The hiring pressure in university technical teams is real. Private sector laboratories move quickly and pay competitively, which means universities have to find people who want the training, safety and variety of a teaching-research environment. QUT's ad is a direct response to that competition: it asks for a supervisor who can hold the room together on a practical class morning and then sign off on a risk assessment that afternoon.

If you've been waiting for a university role that uses your microbiology background without dropping the bench entirely, this is the kind of opening to watch. QUT's biomedical and health sciences teaching depends on experienced technical staff who can keep practical classes and research projects moving.

How QUT screens applications

QUT's recruitment portal is the official source for the position description, closing date and eligibility requirements. The listing also appears on AcademicJobs.com's university jobs board. Keep the official portal as your source of truth, because it carries the full selection criteria and any updated closing date.

QUT's Work at QUT page is a useful second click. It covers staff benefits, campus information and the broader employment framework. The job ad itself sits on QUT's official application portal.

The form is straightforward. You create or log into a candidate account, upload your CV, attach a cover letter, and answer the selection criteria in the fields provided. Do not paste a generic two-page letter into every box. Each criterion deserves its own concrete answer.

Selection criteria for supervisor roles usually ask how you managed staff, handled safety incidents, maintained equipment and supported teaching or research. Read the ad's wording carefully and mirror it in your response without writing empty sentences.

What to fix in your application before you hit submit

Hiring panels read quickly. They scan the CV for the title's three big words. Put them in your first line.

Write your opening line so it states what you supervised, where, and at what containment level.
Address every selection criterion with a separate heading and a concrete example, not a restatement of the criterion.
Use the job ad's exact words for instrumentation and software, then add the version you'd give a new starter.
Choose referees who have actually watched you run a lab, not the most senior person in the building.

If your CV hasn't been refreshed for a while, our guide to writing a winning academic CV shows how to rebuild it around evidence rather than duties.

What people get wrong about this role

The most common error is treating the supervision as a soft add-on. It isn't. You'll be rostered into teaching lab peaks, and your team will look to you when a culture fails or an autoclave loses validation. Academic staff will expect you to keep the operation moving.

The second error is underselling your containment knowledge. If you've worked in PC1 or PC2 microbiology labs, say so in plain detail. PC2 is Australia's physical containment level for handling microorganisms that pose a moderate risk to people and the environment, under standards such as AS/NZS 2243.3. If you've handled risk assessments, waste streams, or training registers, keep those lines near the top of your CV.

QUT's Brisbane location and public-sector conditions can hold onto experienced technical staff who want stable work, but the application still has to beat a shortlisting panel that sees volumes of average submissions.

Action for this week

Open the official QUT ad and mark every phrase you can support with a one-sentence example from your own lab history. If you can do that for 80 per cent of the duties, apply today. If you can't, the gap shows where to focus before the next supervising scientific/technical officer role appears.

Frequently Asked Questions

🔬What is the QUT Supervising Scientific/Technical Officer (Microbiology) role?

It is a professional staff appointment at Queensland University of Technology responsible for running day-to-day microbiology laboratory operations, supervising technical staff, supporting teaching practicals and research workflows, and maintaining compliance with containment and safety requirements. Check the official ad for the full duties.

💼Is this an academic or professional staff role?

Professional staff. The role sits in QUT's technical or laboratory operations stream, not a lectureship or research fellowship. You'll lead technicians and demonstrators rather than deliver lectures.

🧫What qualifications do I need to apply?

Microbiology or biomedical science qualifications at degree or diploma level are generally expected, plus bench experience. The QUT ad specifies the minimum field and experience. Read the selection criteria before applying.

🦠What does a microbiology technical officer do day to day?

Typical work includes preparing and sterilising media, maintaining cultures, running autoclaves and incubators, training staff, checking risk assessments and waste handling, and keeping teaching practicals and research labs moving.

📍Where is the job located?

QUT has campuses in Brisbane. The official position description will confirm the campus and reporting line, usually Gardens Point or Kelvin Grove.

🛡️What containment experience helps?

Experience in PC1 or PC2 microbiology facilities helps. PC2 is Australia's physical containment level for moderate-risk microorganisms. Practical knowledge of AS/NZS 2243.3, biosafety cabinets, waste inactivation and training registers is highly relevant.

📝How do I apply for the QUT microbiology supervisor job?

Apply through QUT's online recruitment portal. Upload your CV, cover letter and separate responses to each selection criterion. The ad is also cross-posted on the AcademicJobs.com university jobs board.

✅Does QUT ask for selection criteria responses?

Most QUT professional staff roles ask you to respond to written selection criteria in the online form. Use concrete examples from your lab history and mirror the ad's wording.

🌏Can I apply from interstate or overseas?

QUT accepts applications through its portal. Eligibility, working rights and any relocation arrangements are set out in the official ad. Check the closing date and QUT's employment pages for details.

💵What salary band does the role sit in?

The role is covered by QUT's professional staff enterprise agreement. The official position description states the classification level and salary range, which is the most reliable figure.

📈What career paths follow a university microbiology supervisor role?

Supervisors can move into broader laboratory operations, technical services management, health and safety or research infrastructure roles. Professional development through bodies like the Australian Society for Microbiology can strengthen your profile.

⏱When should I apply?

Apply as soon as your CV and selection criteria responses are strong. University roles close on a fixed date, and strong technical candidates are often picked up quickly by other employers.