Associate Professor – Coastal Fisheries & Seascapes

Job Details

This role offers a unique opportunity to make transformative contributions to coastal ecological restoration at the 
Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC), situated within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage 
Area. Principal research employees at this level will join a team recognized for its excellence and pioneering 
research, including the world's largest seagrass nursery and major programs dedicated to oyster and mangrove 
restoration. With a mandate to advance the science and practice of ecosystem recovery, individuals in this role will 
play a pivotal part in developing innovative restoration strategies, collaborating with stakeholders, and enhancing 
the resilience and health of critical coastal habitats. This appointment is a testament to both the distinguished 
expertise and the commitment required to drive significant progress in the field.
You are responsible for:
• Conducting independent research within your discipline as part of a team and producing conference and 
seminar papers and publications from that research. 
• Supervising support research and general staff.
• Playing a major role in all aspects of major research projects including managing and/or leading large 
research projects or teams.
• Supervising the research of less senior principal research employees.
• Promoting research links with outside bodies.
• Preparing research proposal submissions to external bodies.
• Taking responsibility for the oversight of financial management of grants.
• Participating in professional activities including, subject to availability of funds, attendance at conferences 
and seminars in the field of expertise.
• Supervising major honours or postgraduate research projects.
• Undertaking higher level research-related administrative functions.
• Being involved in the development of research policy.
• Attending meetings associated with research or the work of the organisational unit to which the research is 
connected and/or departmental and/or school meetings and playing a major role in planning and committee 
work.
• Significantly contributing to the discipline in which the research efforts of the staff member are undertaken

As a supervisor you are responsible for: 
• Providing mentoring, guidance and career planning for your staff and ensuring staff have access to 
appropriate professional development activities.
• Undertaking probationary and performance management processes ensuring you have regular 
conversations with your staff and provide real-time, positive and constructive feedback to empower staff to 
continually improve and enhance staff and team performance.
• Understanding your responsibilities associated with approving staff leave and ensuring leave is approved in 
line with operational requirements. 
• Allocating and monitoring workload and address associated issues in a timely manner.
• Ensuring new staff participate in the university’s induction program and providing a localised work area 
orientation. 
• Developing mechanisms to promote staff recognition

Requirements

Position Requirements

• A doctoral qualification with research expertise in seagrass ecological restoration (or similar coastal restoration specialisations).
• Proven research track record, including publications, conference presentations, and recognised professional achievements with a H-index figure over 10.
• Experience conducting strategically aligned research, with a focus on securing external funding and industry partnerships.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams.
• Extensive experience in investigative research, demonstrating expertise in research methodologies, statistical analysis, and the preparation of reports and publications.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to provide expert advice and build effective partnerships.

Contact Information

Applications Close: 11:59pm,  Wednesday, 7 January 2026

Contact Details: 

Emma Jackson

(07) 4970 7208

emma.jackson@cqu.edu.au

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