• Opportunity to work at Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE), a national not-for-profit organisation that supports the adoption and impact of place-based approaches across Australia.
• Join at an exciting time, as the PLACE team builds its foundational team during its establishment phase, in preparation for its first steps of growth as a new organisation.
• The opportunity to shape a nationwide research agenda and drive meaningful, evidence-based change.
• A national hybrid role, with a preference for candidates based in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney.
• $110,000 - $130,000 (FTE) per annum excluding superannuation.
• Full time (1.0) fixed-term position

The Lead Researcher – Evidence, Knowledge, and Good Practice will drive PLACE’s research agenda by working with place-based initiatives to identify evidence gaps, and commission research to address key challenges.

This role will lead efforts to generate high-quality evidence, build partnerships with communities, academic institutions and think tanks, and translate findings into actionable knowledge.

The Lead Researcher will also work closely with the Knowledge Translation team to ensure research findings are effectively disseminated and applied in practice.

This role will lead research initiatives, oversee a team of three and contribute to the establishment of the Learning Hub and Centre for Excellence.

Who you are (selection criteria):

• You bring strong research expertise, with relevant tertiary qualifications and significant experience designing, leading, and translating research that influences policy and practice.
• You have a proven track record of leading and delivering high-impact research that is strategically aligned with organisational priorities and sector-wide needs.
• You have a strong track record of building and managing strategic research partnerships particularly with academic institutions and sector leaders.
• You have a proven history of building strong, trust-based relationships with community partners and are skilled at fostering cross-sector collaboration to advance shared objectives.
• You have a nuanced understanding of place-based approaches, systems change, and participatory methodologies, and know how to navigate complexity with care and curiosity.
• You have excellent written and verbal communication skills and can distil complex findings into clear, action-oriented insights tailored for diverse audience
• You are comfortable in a start-up environment; you manage multiple competing priorities with a proactive and adaptable approach.
• You demonstrate a commitment to PLACE’s vision, values and principles, particularly around community leadership and shared decision-making.

Research indicates that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised individuals often wait until they fulfil every requirement. If you believe you have the attributes to do the job but don't match every point on the job ad, we welcome and encourage your application.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and implement PLACE’s national research strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and sector-wide needs.
• Establish and manage partnerships with academic institutions, think tanks, research bodies and community researchers to strengthen PLACE’s research capacity.
• Lead and mentor a team of three researchers, ensuring high-quality research design, execution, and reporting.
• Work closely with the Knowledge Translation team to ensure that research findings are translated into policy tools, learning resources, and practical frameworks.
• Represent PLACE in research forums, conferences, and networks, contributing to the organisation’s thought leadership and sector influence.
• Please see the Lead Researcher – Evidence, Knowledge and Good Practice position description for more.

Who we are:

Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE) is a not-for-profit organisation, committed to collaborative, community-driven approaches to create impactful and lasting change. By leading a national workforce strategy, we support community needs through place-based solutions.

It is our vision to enable communities and governments to jointly decide on matters that are most important to our lives. We lead national initiatives to develop workforce strategies, enhance place-based practices and improve data monitoring and evaluation.

At PLACE, we are dedicated to creating lasting change through understanding, action and empowered governance.

What we offer:

• True flexibility and a strong focus on agility in the workplace; we prioritise making flexible work arrangements possible for all employees.
• Access to Fringe Benefits Tax options, in addition to base salary and superannuation.
• A team of supportive and passionate people committed to maintaining a positive workplace culture and making an impact.
• 5 weeks of Annual Leave for every 12 months of employment.
• Two days volunteering leave for every 12 months of employment.
• A leadership team that truly wants you to flourish and make your mark on the organisation.
• A workplace that prioritises both diversity and inclusion, allowing everyone to bring their authentic selves to work in an environment that ensures psychological and physical safety.
• Hybrid work environment and flexible working arrangements.
• Cultural and Ceremonial leave.
• A Learning and Development budget per employee, prioritising professional development for our employees.

How to apply:

To express your interest, submit an online application through this portal and include a professional resume. All applicants must also provide brief responses to the application questions that are included as part of the online application.

Note: we do not accept cover letters as part of our application process.

This job advertisement does not have an official closure date as applications will be reviewed upon receipt, so we highly encourage interested candidates to not delay their applications.

If you require additional adjustments, or would like to discuss any access needs as a part of the application and recruitment process, then please contact us via email [email protected], using the subject line: Lead Researcher - Evidence, Knowledge and Good Practice enquiry via EthicalJobs.

PLACE is an equal opportunity employer and strives to maintain a workplace environment that is fair and free of discrimination, is safe and accessible for all employees, and provides working arrangements that accommodate the diverse needs of our staff. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people from culturally- and linguistically-diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people and people of every ethnicity, faith, ability, culture, language, gender identity, age, and sex.

Employment in this position is conditional upon reception and maintenance of a Working With Children Check.

As part of our employment screening process, we do run police checks. But don’t worry—having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you.