• Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation

• Full-time, fixed-term position through to 29 January 2027

• Base salary will be in the range $104,616 – $113,920 + 17% super (HEW Level 7)

• Based at our St Lucia Campus location 

About This Opportunity

Join the Innovation Pathways team within Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA), a nationally significant, industry-facing initiative hosted by UQ. In this purposeful and collaborative environment, you will play a pivotal role in supporting research translation and commercialisation across the food and beverage sector. Working alongside industry partners, researchers and SMEs, you will generate actionable insights that help transform innovative ideas into real-world impact, contributing to UQ’s ambition of creating meaningful change together.

Key responsibilities will include, but not limited to:

• Leading data-driven market analysis and strategic insights to inform innovation and commercialisation pathways

• Integrating diverse datasets to deliver evidence-based recommendations for new product development and business growth

• Coordinating project planning, delivery, and evaluation activities aligned to innovation objectives

• Engaging with stakeholders to co-design solutions, facilitate workshops, and build enduring industry partnerships

About You

You are an inquisitive and analytically minded professional who thrives in a collaborative, fast-moving environment and is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to impactful innovation outcomes. You bring commercial insight, strategic thinking, and a commitment to continuous learning.

• Relevant qualifications in business analytics, economics, finance, strategy, data science, food science, or a related field, with at least four years’ relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• Demonstrated experience in data analysis, business modelling, and strategic research

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing reports, briefs, and presentations

• Proven ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders

• Familiarity with innovation theory, research translation, or commercialisation processes

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver outcomes to deadlines

• Experience within the food and beverage, agrifood, or broader innovation ecosystem is desirable

• A commitment to integrity, inclusivity, and contributing positively to team culture

About UQ

Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) is a $160 million initiative to boost growth and innovation in the food and beverage manufacturing sector. Part of the Federal Government’s Trailblazer Program, FaBA leverages $50m of government investment with more than $110m from universities and industry. Partners work across four areas: the research programs ‘Innovative Ingredients’ and ‘Premium Food and Beverage Products’, and the enabling programs ‘Innovation Pathways’ and the ‘FaBA Training Centre’.

A national initiative, FaBA provides food and beverage manufacturers access to research teams, next generation industry professionals, state-of-the-art equipment and pilot facilities. FaBA is proudly hosted by The University of Queensland, in collaboration with participants QUT, UniSQ and UniQuest.

Join the UQ FaBA community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available. As part of a globally recognised university, you will be challenged, inspired and supported to do your best work in an environment that is collaborative, inclusive and ambitious, united by a shared purpose of creating change together.

The greater benefits of joining the UQ FaBA community are broad: from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, flexible working arrangements including hybrid on site and work from home options and flexible start and finish times, access to exclusive internal-only vacancies, and genuine career progression opportunities.

Interested?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Glenn Bulloch [email protected].

For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected], stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume and cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the ‘About You’ section. Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.

Other Information

Pre-employment checks may include verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, criminal history checks, and other requirements relevant to the role.

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

We’re dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process.

Applications close Thursday 25 June 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-65388).