About Flinders

Our bold vision, captured in our Strategic Plan: making a Difference: The 2025 Agenda, is to be internationally recognised as a world leader in research, an innovator in contemporary education, and the source of Australia’s most enterprising graduates.

To realise this ambition, we recently made a significant organisation change to a six College structure with a professional staff and services alignment.

We recognise the key to our success is exceptional people and we’re seeking an outstanding individual to join the team of our transformed university.

Employment Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Position Summary

Fixed-term, full-time or part-time until 31 December 2021. 3 positions available, total 2.4 FTE

Compensation Grade:
Higher Education Officer Level 5

Salary Range:
$71,596 - $79,016 pa (FTE)

Reporting to:
Professor (Research) Nutrition and Dietetics

The children and families research group undertakes a range of research projects relating to early obesity prevention and nutrition promotion in settings where children and their caregivers live, work, learn, eat and play. Two large research programs include VegKIT (https://www.vegkit.com.au/) and the Early Prevention of Obesity in Childhood (EPOCH) Centre for Research Excellence (https://www.earlychildhoodobesity.com/).

Under the supervision of the Professor (Research) Nutrition and Dietetics, the Research Assistant will work with the Project Managers to contribute to the execution of nutrition‐related research projects in childcare centres and community playgroups. The Research Assistant will assist with recruitment activities, data collection (surveys, field work, dietary assessment), data entry and management, and other day‐to‐day activities of the projects.

The Research Assistant will work with various stakeholders in childcare centres and community play groups, University researchers and research partners.

Key Position Responsibilities

The Research Assistant is responsible for:

• Assisting the Project Managers with the delivery of project activities to achieve the project outcomes.
• Contributing to recruitment activities including interacting with childcare centres and community playgroups (via email, telephone, and site visits).
• Under general direction, undertake the data collection for the VegKIT Long day care study and the Community Playgroups project (online and phone surveys; field work, including dietary assessment using the plate waste method).
• Under general direction, undertake data entry, data management and data preparation activities of survey and dietary intake data.
• Contribute to literature review activities (e.g. literature searches, maintaining an endnote library, collecting papers, screening, summarising literature), and maintain all necessary records and documents in a timely and concise manner.
• Assisting with preparing material of project reporting and dissemination activities, including refereed articles, newsletters and web and promotional material.
• Any other responsibilities in line with the level of the position as assigned by the Project Managers, Supervisor and/or the University.

A valid Driver’s license and ability to travel to data collection sites throughout metropolitan Adelaide is required.

Key Position Capabilities

• A Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition or Dietetics, Health Sciences or Early Childhood Education.
• Nutrition‐related knowledge applicable to research (e.g. dietary assessment, use of dietary analysis software such as Foodworks)
• Well‐developed organisational skills with the demonstrated ability to independently prioritise tasks and work to deadlines, taking the initiative in problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team taking initiative and exercising sound judgement.
• Well‐developed computer literacy including demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Office applications with the ability to learn and adapt quickly to new technologies and applications.
• Demonstrated proficiency in techniques such as Excel (including working with advanced formula and functions in excel, and SPSS software
• Informed problem solving skills and the ability to use initiative and prioritise workload during busy periods.
• Experience undertaking data collection on research projects or experience in population or public health research projects or evaluation is desirable.
• Eligibility for Dietitian’s Association Accredited Practising Dietitian program is desirable.

For application enquiries please contact: Professor Rebecca Golley

Please note: Pursuant to Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 (SA) this position has been deemed prescribed. It is an inherent requirement of the position that the successful candidate maintains a current Working With Children Check which is satisfactory to the University.

Information for Applicants: You are required to provide a suitability statement of no more than three pages, addressing the key capabilities of the position as outlined above. In addition, you are required to upload your CV.

A valid National Police Certificate which is satisfactory to the University will also be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

We are seeking to increase the diversity to improve equal opportunity outcomes for employees, and therefore we encourage female applicants, people with a disability and/or from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders descent to apply.

Please note, late applications and applications sent via agencies will not be accepted.

Applications Close 11:59 pm:

14 Dec 2020