Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: $77,062 - $85,316
Grade: RBGV 3
Occupation: Science and research
Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs
Reference: VG/422019A
Who We Are
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) employs over 240 staff overseeing two beautiful world-class gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. The organisation fosters an understanding and appreciation for plants and the natural world through arts and culture and education programs, world-leading scientific research, plant conservation programs, and promotes health and wellbeing in nature. For further information please visit https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/
What You'll Do
As a Research Assistant (Orchid Conservation), you'll play a hands-on role in protecting some of Australia's most threatened orchid species through world-class conservation science. Working alongside leading researchers, you'll contribute to cutting-edge orchid conservation projects spanning laboratory, glasshouse and field environments. From in vitro propagation and tissue culture to mycorrhizal fungi management, field translocations and pollinator research, your work will directly support the preservation and recovery of rare terrestrial orchids. You'll help generate and analyse scientific data, maintain high-quality research records, contribute to reports, presentations and funding applications, and provide valuable insights that inform conservation outcomes and continuous improvement. This is a collaborative role where you'll work across teams and with external partners, combining scientific rigour with practical conservation action to deliver meaningful outcomes for biodiversity conservation in Victoria and beyond.
What You'll Bring
You'll bring a qualification in biological or botanical sciences, complemented by experience supporting high-quality scientific research, ideally within a molecular or tissue culture laboratory environment. With strong research, analytical and organisational skills, you'll be confident managing multiple priorities, maintaining accurate records, and working with scientific data and software. You'll have experience contributing to research projects from planning through to reporting, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly through reports, publications and presentations. Most importantly, you'll be a collaborative and proactive team member who enjoys working with researchers, stakeholders and partners to deliver meaningful conservation outcomes.
All other key selection criteria can be found in the position description which is located under the attachments heading on the Victorian Government Careers website.
Working with Us
At RBGV you'll be part of a nationally recognised organisation that makes a genuine impact on a local and international scale. As an employee you will benefit from flexible working arrangements to assist in creating genuine work/life balance, annual leave loading, access to an Employee Assistance Program and much more.
How to Apply
To apply for this role, please visit the Victorian Government Careers website at http://jobs.careers.vic.gov.au. You must submit a recent resume along with a letter responding to each of the Key Selection Criteria (max. three pages) as stated in the position description prior to the deadline. Enquiries can be directed by email to [email protected].
Applications will only be accepted via the Victorian Government website.