Senior Research Scientist (Fish)

Position No: DBCA3177200

Salary/Level: Specified Calling Level 3, $133,733 - $147,446 p.a. plus Superannuation

Tenure: Fixed-Term (Until 30 June 2029), Full-Time Position (With the Possibility of Extension or Permanency)

Location: Kensington, Western Australia

The Marine Science Program aims to ensure the department's marine biodiversity conservation and management programs are based on best practice science. The program promotes and undertakes marine research and monitoring to improve the scientific basis for the conservation and management of Western Australia's state-wide system of marine protected areas, threatened marine fauna and marine biodiversity generally. Marine research and monitoring are based around the strategies identified in protected area management plans and threatened species recovery/management plans.

We currently have an opportunity for a Senior Research Scientist (Fish) to join our team.

Under limited direction, this position:

• Develops and undertakes marine research, monitoring and science communication for the conservation of Western Australia’s marine biodiversity, with a particular focus on fish (scalefish and shark) communities within State and Commonwealth marine protected areas.
• Provides expert scientific advice on these matters.

Application Instructions:

To allow the selection panel to make an accurate assessment of your application, please submit the following:

• A covering letter.
• A written response addressing the five (5) requested criteria below (in no more than three (3) pages).
• A current CV, including the details of two referees with one being a recent or current manager/supervisor.

Selection Criteria

1. Considerable experience developing, planning and leading marine research and monitoring to investigate complex scientific problems, with a particular focus on fish communities.
2. Demonstrated high-level data analysis and scientific writing skills, including a strong record of publishing marine science in peer-reviewed journals.
3. Well-developed interpersonal skills, including considerable experience leading teams of marine scientists and communicating science to a range of stakeholders.
4. Considerable experience managing large biological data sets (cleaning, curation, storage and querying) (ESSENTIAL), including the use of advanced analysis and visualisation methods (such as R code, Python, Shiny Apps) (DESIRABLE).
5. Considerable experience using relevant field equipment (including ROVs, BRUVs and DOVs), image analysis software (including EventMeasure) (ESSENTIAL) and online platforms (for example ReefCloud, SQUIDLE+) (DESIRABLE).

Please click “Apply” and you will be redirected to the WA Government Jobs Board website at https://search.jobs.wa.gov.au/ where you can submit your application online.

For further information on the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, please visit https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/.

For further job-related information, please contact Dr Richard Evans on (08) •••• •098.

Closing date: Wednesday, 19 August 2026 at 12 noon AWST (2pm AEST). No late or pro forma applications will be accepted.