Research Project Support Officer

Maximum term, 12-month contract to June 2024

• Opportunity to work with a wide range of interesting and passionate healthcare stakeholders
• Work on cancer research programs with important and game changing purpose
• Fabulous opportunity to further develop your own skills within a supportive and dedicated team
• Market salary with generous NFP salary packaging available
• Flexible working from home and Parkville office

About the programs

The Research Support Project Officer will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of projects, including research and educational events, mainly within the VCCC Alliance Strategic Program Plan Distributed Leadership Program (Program 6). Additional support will be provided to initiatives of the Accelerating Novel Therapies Program (Program 3).

The Distributed Leadership program (Program 6) is an innovative component of the VCCC Alliance’s Strategic Program Plan. The goal of the program is to facilitate more rapid translation of research-derived evidence into clinical care. The aim is to reduce the evidence-to-practice gap across 10 tumour streams and four cross-cutting cancer themes to achieve a range of strategic outcomes.  Strategic outcomes are developed and implemented collaboratively with leaders in cancer research, prevention and clinical care from across VCCC alliance member and partner organisations.

To a lesser, but equally important extent, this role will also assist the Accelerating Novel Therapies Program (Program 3). As a part of the VCCC Alliance Strategic Program Plan 2020-2024, $7.5M has been invested to support two programs in the area of translational research; Personalised Cancer Care and Accelerate Novel Therapies. Together these programs aim to better coordinate and integrate multi-disciplinary translational research, from human laboratory studies through to molecular testing and molecularly directed/early phase trials.

About the opportunity 

The Research Support Project Officer will work closely with the Senior Manager Research Implementation, Distributed Leadership Program Managers, the Senior Manager Clinical Research and key stakeholders from within the VCCC Alliance and with internal colleagues to prioritise and drive the execution of multiple complimentary projects within the Distributed Leadership and the Accelerating Novel Therapies programs.

This role of Research Projects Support Officer is primarily responsible for providing administrative and coordination support for research and education initiatives within the VCCC Alliance Distributed Leadership program and the Accelerating Novel Therapies program.

This role enables the Program Managers, stakeholders and both the Research and Education teams to fully leverage the cross-functional way in which we work by acting as a key liaison between parties. The Research Project Support Officer will ensure the flow of information between these cross-functional teams makes sense and is delivered in a timely manner.

Key responsibilities

The Project Officer will be responsible for coordinating delivery of research and educational projects. Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing project support, communication and coordination requirements under the guidance of the Senior Manager Research Implementation, Distributed Leadership Program Managers and the Senior Manager Clinical Research, including liaising with internal VCCC Alliance project team members, R&E Leads, Program Chairs, steering groups and working groups, along with other key stakeholders as required.
• Organising and attending key stakeholder meetings, supporting the administration of agendas and following up on meeting minutes and actions as required.
• Performing administrative duties and tasks related to the co-ordination and execution of workshops, meetings, events, symposia, conferences, and webinars pertaining to the Distributed Leadership Program and Accelerating Novel Therapies Program, and other initiatives as required. These duties will be conducted as part of a VCCC Alliance cross functional Team, and will include:
  • Completing internal documentation required in educational event planning
  • Co-ordinating event Working group meetings, including distribution of agendas and supporting documentation and upkeeping of meeting summaries and action logs
  • Liaising with identified speakers, chairs and panelists
  • Liaising with secured sponsors
  • Providing on the ground assistance and support for in person events
  • Co-ordinating post-event evaluation, including feedback questionnaires or surveys
• Liaising across VCCC Alliance partners and engaging with key stakeholders to support program objectives.
• Coordinating a variety of administrative processes including email communication, maintaining contact lists and files, developing and distributing agendas and minutes, document management, report writing, follow up of invoices and contracts, and other general administration as required by projects.

About you

You will use your highly developed communication and organisational skills to bring together key stakeholders and colleagues. You will bring a highly organised, proactive and energetic approach to everything you do. You will work collaboratively within a cross functional internal team, and a variety of healthcare stakeholders, including consumers, to drive forward projects under the Distributed Leadership and Accelerating Novel Therapies Programs.

You will have:

• A tertiary degree in a relevant discipline such as health, social science, communications or management.
  Strong project support and administrative experience including demonstrated experience coordinating meetings, agendas and events – hybrid meeting experience an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience working as part of a cross functional team.
• Comfortable and experienced in managing collaborative relationships with senior/key stakeholders.
• Experience using project management frameworks, including tracking milestones, risks and timelines and evaluation with the ability to work with agility to meet evolving project needs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills appropriate for a range of audiences.
• Experience and skill to adjust processes to problem solve and remove unnecessary complexity.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite including PowerPoint and Excel and online meeting technologies such as Zoom, MS Teams or similar.
• Desirable to have experience working in the health and medical research sector or background working in a clinical/health sciences environment.

What’s on offer

• Flexible work arrangements, a hybrid model with laptop and ergonomic reimbursements for your home set up
• Family friendly workplace with flexible hours available along with 48/52 options
• 15 days personal / carer’s leave
• Personal development plan and opportunities for stretch and learning both on the job and via structured course
• Work with a close-knit, fun, friendly and passionate team, with opportunities to continue your own development in health education from and with a team of highly talented educators
• Solid market salary boosted by NFP salary packaging and tax-free meals/accommodation card
  Supportive team

Team Values

Better Together - We connect and support to empower sustainable change
Integrity - We are respectful of the cancer community and accountable for our contribution
Bold - We cultivate ideas and dare to innovate
Patient-Centred - We place patients with cancer at the centre of all we do
For All - We champion equity of cancer care for every Victorian.

About the VCCC Alliance

The vision for the VCCC Alliance is to save lives through the integration of consumer-engaged cancer research, education and patient care. 

Founded in the holistic principles of the internationally-recognised Comprehensive Cancer Centre model, the VCCC alliance brings together 10 of Victoria’s leading research, academic, and clinical institutions to achieve what can only be done through state-wide collaboration. Together we will improve outcomes in cancer in metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria, and forge new approaches to cancer research, education, and patient care for all.

The VCCC Alliance’s multi-site, multi-disciplinary model brings together the complementary strengths of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne Health (including The Royal Melbourne Hospital), the University of Melbourne, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, The Royal Women’s Hospital, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Western Health, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (including St Vincent's Institute), Austin Health (including the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and Austin Lifesciences) and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. 

VCCC Alliance’s tight-knit staff team form a backbone working to enable collaborative efforts across the VCCC Alliance and beyond.

Equity & Inclusion

The VCCC Alliance values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive work environment, free from all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, bullying, vilification and victimisation.

We welcome people of all backgrounds and identities to apply to this position and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates. In the spirit of reconciliation, the VCCC Alliance acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of the lands on which we carry out our work across Victoria and we recognise and value their continuing cultural heritage, beliefs and deep connection with the land and waters. 

Contact for Enquiries

For further information regarding the role, please contact Dr Simonne Neil, Senior Manager Research Implementation: [email protected]

If you require any adjustments to participate in our recruitment process, please let us know in your application.

Secondment: With the ongoing objective of enhancing relationships with our alliance partners, this position may be able to be arranged as a secondment within a VCCC Alliance partner organisation. Employees within the VCCC Alliance are also encouraged to contact Nell Keenan, People and Development Advisor VCCC Alliance, [email protected] to explore the possibility of a suitable arrangement.

To apply

Download the Position Description

Applicants must have permanent residency to be considered. As VCCC Alliance is located within a hospital, triple vaccination is required prior to commencement, unless exempt.

To be considered for this role, please send your CV and a covering letter addressing the key selection criteria covered in the Position Description.

All applications must be lodged via SEEK by midnight, Sunday 16 July 2023. The closing date may be brought forward if applications meeting the key selection criteria are received in advance of this date.