Use the National Seed Bank’s unique collections to design and deliver high quality research.

• Apply your specialist research skills to study and conserve native plants
• Work with a passionate and knowledgeable team
• Based in the inspiring surroundings of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Who we are

Australia’s natural and cultural heritage is unique. Our land and seascapes are distinctive, home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, and to some of the oldest living cultures on earth. These environments and cultures are an essential part of our national identity, and visitors travel from across the country and the world to experience them. The Director of National Parks (the Director) is responsible for six national parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 58 Australian Marine Parks and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Parks Australia is the federal park agency that supports the Director, and they are a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department). We work to showcase these natural and cultural wonders to the world, demonstrating to all why these places are so special, and inspiring communities to become more invested in their care and future.

The Science and Australian National Botanic Gardens Branch leads science and conservation planning and policy for Parks Australia, and conducts research in conservation and biodiversity management through a range of programs. We engage in and coordinate diverse research partnerships and ensure First Nations knowledge and innovative solutions are core to our work, enabling us to enhance engagement and embed science into decision-making at all levels. Our work includes:

• Strategic science planning and prioritisation and shaping research partnerships for Parks Australia
• Leading cross-cutting research to support Parks Australia – in areas such as climate change adaptation, nature positive and knowledge weaving
• Providing scientific support for protected areas policy and park management plans
• Managing the Australian National Botanic Gardens, home to our branch and the nation’s largest living collection of native plants
• Innovation in the cross-cutting application of new technologies and data analytics to meet science and application outcomes
• Facilitating research and science capacity building and education
• Curating national collections of biological data and conserving and protecting plants through systematics research, seed banking and ex situ conservation
• Regulatory compliance, operational frameworks and capability support for the use of drones across the Department

The Conservation Science Section facilitates and supports innovative, cross-disciplinary research to inform management of the Commonwealth parks and gardens, to achieve outcomes for conservation and community, and to contribute to the national nature positive conversation. The section includes marine and terrestrial conservation scientists working together on complex, real-world problems that realise the potential for the parks and gardens to build conservation knowledge for Australia.

The Conservation Science Section has been newly established in the branch and includes the National Seed Bank (NSB) at the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG). The NSB team are building a unique collection of Australian native seeds for conservation and research. The NSB currently holds approximately 7,700 collections of seed and germplasm (such as spore) of almost 4,000 Australian native plant species from all over Australia. These scientific collections are associated with integrated data such as provenance, propagation and lineage history, seed research, curated images, and verified herbarium specimens. The ANBG is uniquely placed to provide holistic solutions for national plant conservation, with combined expertise in botanical taxonomy, evolution and systematics, seed biology and horticulture. The ANBG contributes extensively to collaborative research and conservation projects.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply. We recognise the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people play in our workplace. We aim to attract, recruit and develop Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. Our priority is to ensure a safe workplace where we celebrate all cultures.

The Job

The Seed Scientist is a new ongoing position that will support the delivery and establishment of conservation research projects, working closely with the NSB, Conservation Science Section, colleagues across Parks Australia and external partners. The Seed Scientist will use NSB’s unique collections to build novel research projects to increase knowledge of Australian native plant species through seed research.

We are seeking an experienced biologist, who is enthusiastic about seed science, has the ability to design and deliver high quality research linked to strategic outcomes, and is motivated to develop innovative and original projects to build the organisation’s research portfolio and profile into the future.

In this role, under limited supervision from conservation and science staff, you will be responsible for:

• Pushing the boundaries of current seed science research by developing programs to adopt new technology and develop new techniques, insightful interpretation of data, or enhanced results for plant species and communities.
• Designing, conducting, analysing and interpreting experiments on the germination and seed banking characteristics of Australian native species.
• Undertaking impact-focussed plant conservation research aligned with Parks Australia research priorities, and actively engaging in recovery projects and providing policy advice.
• Communicating research results in internal and external forums by leading the preparation of peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and presentations.
• Maintaining and establishing new cooperative and productive relationships with internal and external experts and industry partners to deliver national or global multi-stakeholder projects.
• Scoping, delivering and managing projects and contracts including associated resources
• Recruiting, co-supervising and training tertiary and post-graduate students in seed science research.
• Working collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research team to achieve scientific objectives.

Flexible employment arrangements are available with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.