Classification Descriptors for Research Employees – Academic Equivalent

1. Research/Project Officer

Equivalent to Academic Level A

1.1 General Standard

A Research/Project Officer is expected to contribute towards the research/consultancy effort of the institution and to develop expertise through the pursuit of defined projects relevant to the particular field of research/consultancy.

1.2 Specific Duties

Specific duties required of a Research/Project Officer may include:

• The conduct of research/consultancy activities under limited supervision either as a member of a team, or, where appropriate, independently, and the production or contribution to the production of conference and seminar papers, reports and/or publications from that research/consultancy;

• Involvement in professional activities including, subject to availability of funds, attendance at conferences and seminars in the field of expertise;

• Limited administrative functions primarily connected with the area of research/consultancy of the staff member;

• Development of a limited amount of research/consultancy-related material for teaching or other purposes with appropriate guidance from other staff;

• Occasional contributions to teaching in relation to his/her research/consultancy project(s);

• Experimental design and operation of advanced laboratory and technical equipment or conduct of advanced research procedures;

• Attendance at meetings associated with research/consultancy or the work of the organisational unit to which the staff member is connected, and/or department and/or faculty meetings and/or membership of a limited number of committees;

• Advice within the field of the staff member's research/consultancy to postgraduate students.

A Research/Project Officer shall work with support, guidance and/or direction from senior research staff and with an increasing degree of autonomy as the Research/Project Officer gains in skill and experience.

1.3 Skill Base

A Research/Project Officer will normally have completed four years of tertiary study in the relevant discipline and/or have equivalent qualifications and/or professional experience. In many cases a position at this level will require an honours degree or higher qualifications, an extended professional degree, or a three year degree with a postgraduate diploma. In determining experience relevant to qualifications, regard is had to experience in research/consultancy, experience outside tertiary education, creative achievement, professional contributions and/or contributions to technical achievement and teaching experience.

2. Senior Research/Project Officer

Equivalent to Academic Level B

2.1 General Standard

A Senior Research/Project Officer is expected to carry out independent and/or team research/consultancy within the field in which the appointment is made and to carry out activities to develop research/consultancy expertise relevant to the particular field of research/consultancy.

2.2 Specific Duties

Specific duties may include:

• The conduct of research/consultancy activities either as a member of a team or independently, and the production of conference and seminar papers, reports and publications from the research/consultancy;

• Supervision of support research staff involved in the staff member's research/consultancy;

• Guidance in the research/consultancy effort of junior members of research staff in the staff member's research/consultancy area;

• Contribution to the preparation, or where appropriate individual preparation, or research/consultancy proposal submissions to external funding bodies;

• Involvement in professional activities including, subject to availability of funds, attendance at conferences and seminars in the field of expertise;

• Administrative functions primarily connected with the staff member's area of research/consultancy;

• Occasional contributions to the teaching program within the field of the staff member's research/consultancy;

• Co-supervision, or where appropriate supervision, of major honours or postgraduate research projects within the field of the staff member's area of research/consultancy;

• Attendance at meetings associated with research/consultancy or the work of the organisational unit to which the research/consultancy in connected and/or departmental and/or faculty meetings, and/or membership of a limited number of committees.

2.3 Skill Base

A Senior Research/Project Officer shall have qualifications and/or experience recognised by the institution as appropriate for the relevant discipline area. In many cases a position at this level will require a doctoral or masters qualification or equivalent achievement and standing. In determining experience relevant to qualifications, regard is had to experience in research, experience outside tertiary education, creative achievement, professional contributions and/or contributions to technical achievement and teaching experience.

3. Principal Research/Project Officer

Equivalent to Academic Level C

3.1 General Standard

A Principal Research/Project Officer is expected to make independent or original contributions to the research/consultancy effort within the field of expertise and to the organisation unit or inter-disciplinary area of which the staff member is a part. A research staff member at this level is expected to play a major role in research/consultancy including the exercise of some leadership in research/consultancy.

3.2 Specific Duties

Specific duties may include:

• The conduct of research/consultancy activities and the production of conference and seminar papers, reports and publications from that research/consultancy;

• Supervision of support research staff and professional and technical employees involved in the staff member's research/consultancy;

• Supervision where appropriate of the research/consultancy of less senior research staff;

• Involvement, where appropriate, in the promotion of research/consultancy links with outside bodies;

• Preparation of research/consultancy proposal submissions to external funding bodies;

• Significant role in research/consultancy projects including, where appropriate, leadership of research teams or management of projects;

• Responsibility for the oversight of financial management of grants received for research/consultancy projects;

• Involvement in professional activities including, subject to availability of funds, attendance at conferences and seminars in the field of expertise;

• Occasional contributions to the teaching program within the field of the staff member's research/consultancy;

• Supervision of major honours or postgraduate research projects within the field of the staff member's area of research/consultancy;

• Various research/consultancy-related administrative functions;

• Attendance at meetings associated with research/consultancy or the work of the organisational unit to which the research/consultancy is connected, and/or departmental and/or faculty meetings, and a major role in planning and committee work.

3.3 Skill Base

A Principal Research/Project Officer will normally have advanced qualifications and/or recognised experience in the relevant discipline area. A position at this level will normally require a doctoral qualification or equivalent achievement and standing. In determining experience relevant to qualifications, regard is had to experience in research/consultancy, experience outside tertiary education, creative achievement, professional contributions and/or contributions to technical achievement. In addition a position at this level will normally require a record of demonstrable scholarly and professional achievement in the relevant discipline area and teaching experience.

4. Senior Principal Research/Project Officer

Equivalent to Academic Level D

4.1 General Standard

A Senior Principal Research/Project Officer is expected to make major original contributions to the research/consultancy enterprise of the area in which the appointment is made and to play a significant role within their profession or discipline. Research staff at this level may be appointed in recognition of marked distinction in their area of research/consultancy or scholarship.

4.2 Specific Duties

The specific duties may include:

• The conduct of independent research/consultancy activities in which the staff member may work as part of a team and the production of conference and seminar papers, reports and publications from that research/consultancy;

• Supervision of support research staff and professional and technical employees;

• A major role in all aspects of major research/consultancy projects including management and/or leadership of large research/consultancy projects or teams;

• Supervision of the research/consultancy of less senior research staff;

• Promotion of research/consultancy proposal submissions to external bodies;

• Responsibility for the oversight of financial management of grants;

• Involvement in professional activities including, subject to availability of funds, attendance at conferences and seminars in the field of expertise;

• Occasional contributions to the teaching program within the field of the staff member's research/consultancy;

• Supervision of major honours or postgraduate research/consultancy projects;

• Higher level research/consultancy-related administrative function;

• Some involvement in the development of research/consultancy policy;

• Attendance at meetings associated with research/consultancy or the work of the organisational unit to which the research/consultancy is connected and/or departmental and/or faculty meetings and a major role in planning and committee work;

• Significant contribution to the discipline in which the research/consultancy efforts of the staff member are undertaken.

4.3 Skill Base

A Senior Principal Research/Project Officer will normally have the same skill base as a Principal Research/Project Officer. In addition there will be a requirement for academic excellence which may be evidenced by an outstanding contribution to research/consultancy and/or the profession and teaching experience.

5. Chief Research/Project Officer

Equivalent to Academic Level E

5.1 General Standard

A Chief Research/Project Officer is expected to exercise a special responsibility in providing leadership and in fostering excellence in research/consultancy in a specific discipline, in the organisation unit, within the institution and within the scholarly and general community.

5.2 Specific Duties

The specific duties may include:

• Provision of a continuing high level of personal commitment to, and distinguished achievement in, a particular area of research/consultancy or scholarship;

• Fostering the research/consultancy of other groups and individuals within the organisational unit and more broadly within the institution;

• Development of research/consultancy policy;

• Preparation of research/consultancy proposal submissions to external bodies;

• Responsibility for the oversight of financial management of grants;

• The conduct of independent research/consultancy activities in which the staff member may provide leadership within a team and the preparation of conference and seminar papers, reports and publications from that research/consultancy;

• Supervision of research and administrative staff and other academic staff responsible to the Chief Research/Project Officer;

• Making a distinguished personal contribution to the conduct of research/consultancy at all levels;

• Management of large research/consultancy projects or teams;

• Developing policy and being involved in administrative matters within the department or other comparable organisational units and within the institution;

• Participating in community and professional activities related to a particular disciplinary area, including involvement in commercial and industrial sectors where appropriate;

• Involvement in professional activities including, subject to availability of funds, attendance at conferences and seminars in the field of expertise;

• Occasional contribution to the teaching program in the field of the staff member's research/consultancy;

• Supervision of major honours or post graduate research/consultancy projects;

• Attendance at meetings associated with research/consultancy or the work of the organisational unit to which the research/consultancy is connected, and/or departmental and/or faculty meetings, and a major role in planning and committee work.

5.3 Skill Base

A Chief Research/Project Officer shall have the same skill base as a Senior Principal Research/Project Officer but will be recognised as a leading authority in the relevant discipline area, normally at an international level.

Related Documents, Legislation or JCU Statutes

Union Collective Agreement 2006.

Approval Details

Modification History