The Opportunity

Are you a talented early-career researcher with a passion for health-related research activities? Do you want to join a values driven, not-for-profit organisation? Then this could be the role for you!

We are now seeking a Research Assistant to join our Global Women’s and Newborn’s Health team in the International Development discipline at Burnet Institute.

Some of your duties will include:

• Contributing to the development and conduct of systematic reviews on maternal and newborn health topics
• Preparing search strategies, conducting literature searches, retrieving journal articles and summarising information on a topic
• Contributing to primary research projects on maternal and newborn health topics
• Conducting data cleaning and query resolution activities and basic data analysis
• Contributing to the development of study proposals and protocols for primary research and systematic review projects
• Supporting media, website, communications and dissemination of working group activities

Refer to the attached position description for full details. This is a 0.8-1.0 FTE position, initially for a 2-year period with the possibility of extension. Ongoing working from home options and flexible working hours will be provided.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a dynamic and extremely talented group of public health researchers and contribute to an important mission of improving maternal and newborn health globally. Join an innovative learning environment where you’ll be provided ongoing mentorship, the opportunity to develop your public health research skills and build knowledge of statistical packages by joining our coding and software club! Hear about the career journey of a member of this team here.

Let’s talk about you

The following are essential requirements:

• An undergraduate qualification in science, health or other field relevant to reproductive, sexual, maternal and/or child health
• A post graduate qualification in the health sciences, public health or a relevant field

• Demonstrated skills and experience conducting systematic reviews, literature searching and screening and Endnote software
• Demonstrated expertise in sexual and reproductive health AND/OR maternal and newborn health AND/OR a health services improvement AND/OR public health
• Previous experience with conducting health related research activities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Good time management and organisational skills
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently exercising strong judgement, decision-making and problem-solving skills

The following criteria are preferable but not essential:

• Project coordination/management skills
• Previous experience in international development, research or not-for-profit organisation
• Experience working on databases or health information systems ideally within a health or research program
• Experience working in a resource-constrained country or setting
• Experience working with statistical analysis software for quantitative analysis of health data (such as STATA, SPSS or similar)
• Peer-review publications in a health field
• Experience with electronic data collection and capture systems (eg: REDCap, Qualtrics or similar)

The Burnet experience…

We want you to have a successful and meaningful career at Burnet and are committed to providing a supportive workplace environment for all our people. You will be part of a collaborative culture where progressive leadership, innovation, respect, and excellence are valued. Join a team of talented individuals who are passionate about what they do – improving the health of vulnerable communities around the world. Hear from some of our talented staff about their career journeys at Burnet here!

We offer:

• A monthly accrued day off for full-time staff
• 14 weeks paid parental leave
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous salary packaging
• Opportunities for career and professional development

Who are we?

Burnet Institute is a leading Australian, unaligned, not-for-profit, organisation that uniquely links medical research with practical action to achieve better health for disadvantaged communities and help solve devastating global health problems.

Burnet Institute brings together a highly diverse skill base, with more than 400 staff and students working across cutting-edge research and projects to address some of the most relevant global health issues. Institute-wide interdisciplinary health programs Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Disease Elimination, Behaviours and Health Risks, and Health Security, are at the heart of our daily decision making. Harnessing our international and local field presence, our laboratories, and our mixed development and research cultures drives a greater focus on the most relevant health issues and achieves a greater impact as a result.

Whilst our headquarters is in Melbourne, Australia, we also have offices in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, and are actively involved in research and public health programs throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. Burnet is the only unaligned organisation in Australia that has dual accreditation with both the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Bring your whole self to work

At Burnet, we foster a diverse and inclusive culture. We want our people to feel like they belong and are free to be themselves at work. We have an active Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (GEDI) Council that works to promote and improve gender equity, diversity and inclusion across the Institute, by developing and implementing strategies informed by both national and international best practice and staff input. Burnet holds an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award from Science in Gender Equity (SAGE).

Sounds great! How do I apply?

Click Apply Now and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• A document outlining examples of your experience in the below areas.

1. Conducting systematic reviews, literature searching and screening and use of Endnote software
2. Expertise in one or more of the following areas: sexual and reproductive health, maternal and newborn health, health services improvement, or public health
3. Experience conducting health related research activities

Applications not including both documents requested above will not be considered.

As part of our commitment to gender equity, we have included a question in the application process on gender. This will allow us to monitor and report on gender in relation to our recruitment process.

Burnet is a child safe organisation. The successful applicant will be required to apply for a Working with Children check and/or National Police Check. Australian working rights and evidence of full vaccination against Covid-19 will also be required.