Principal Sustainability Officer

Property and Facilities Division Full-time, continuing position. Base salary will be in the range $106,709 - $116,199 plus 17% super (HEW Level 7). Based at our stunning St Lucia campus . About This Opportunity Turn sustainability ambition into action across one of Australia’s leading universities. UQ is looking for a Principal Sustainability Officer to help shape and deliver the next generation of operational sustainability initiatives across UQ. This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who wants to do more than write sustainability strategies. You’ll have the opportunity to identify what is possible, build the case for change and lead initiatives through from idea to implementation, creating measurable environmental outcomes across a large and diverse organisation. Working within UQ’s Energy & Sustainability team and reporting to the Senior Building Services Engineer, you’ll provide specialist sustainability expertise across areas including biodiversity, water, waste, environmental performance and behaviour change . With UQ’s Sustainability Framework and Plan 2026–2029 providing a renewed roadmap for action, you’ll join at an exciting time to help translate our sustainability commitments into practical projects across our campuses and operations. Key responsibilities will include: Support sustainability projects from concept to delivery , with a focus on biodiversity, water management, waste reduction, environmental performance and behaviour change. Scanning the horizon for new ideas, emerging technologies and innovative approaches that could improve UQ’s environmental performance. Turning opportunities into action by developing compelling business cases, grant applications, project proposals and scopes to secure investment and funding. Building partnerships across UQ and with government, industry and external organisations to create shared sustainability outcomes. Coordinating multidisciplinary teams, consultants and contractors to deliver projects safely and successfully within agreed scope, budget and timeframes. Monitoring environmental and sustainability performance and contributing to institutional reporting, compliance obligations and strategic objectives. Developing practical sustainability policies, guidelines and resources that enable better environmental decision-making across UQ. Bringing sustainability to life for the UQ community through engaging communication, education and behaviour-change initiatives. This is an opportunity to see the impact of your work around you, from new biodiversity initiatives and smarter resource use to reduced waste and improved environmental performance across UQ. About You You’re a sustainability professional who combines technical knowledge with the ability to make things happen . You can spot an opportunity, investigate what is possible, bring the right people together and develop a credible pathway from concept to delivery. You’re equally comfortable working through data and compliance requirements, developing a business case, engaging senior stakeholders or coordinating the practical delivery of a project. You’ll bring curiosity, pragmatism and a genuine motivation to create measurable environmental outcomes. To be successful, you will demonstrate: A bachelor degree in Engineering, Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Business Management or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education, training and experience. Demonstrated experience developing and delivering sustainability, environmental management, water, waste, biodiversity and/or behaviour-change initiatives. Strong project management capability, including managing multiple priorities, stakeholders, budgets and deadlines. Highly developed analytical, written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex sustainability issues into clear recommendations and influence diverse audiences. Advanced knowledge of sustainability principles, environmental management practices and relevant compliance obligations. A proactive approach to identifying challenges and opportunities, developing practical solutions and progressing initiatives with a high degree of independence. Experience developing business cases, funding submissions, grant applications and/or project proposals. Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships across organisational boundaries and coordinate multidisciplinary teams towards shared outcomes. A current open Queensland Driver Licence. You don’t need to have worked in a university before. We’re interested in the sustainability expertise, ideas and experience you can bring from complex environments across government, infrastructure, property, facilities, consulting, industry or other large organisations. About UQ As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds from around the world, working together to create a better future. Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available. For a sustainability professional, this is a particularly exciting time to join UQ. Our campuses are living, evolving communities encompassing buildings, infrastructure, landscapes and natural environments, with thousands of people interacting with them every day. This creates complex sustainability challenges, but also an extraordinary opportunity to test ideas, build partnerships and deliver initiatives with visible impact. UQ’s Sustainability Framework and Plan sets an ambitious direction for coordinated action across the University, including a focus on regenerative campus systems, resilience and applied innovation . In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to help turn those ambitions into practical, measurable outcomes. UQ offers a range of benefits, including 17% superannuation, up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary carer leave, 17.5% leave loading, flexible working arrangements, health and wellbeing programs, heavily discounted Study for Staff, on-campus childcare, affordable parking and salary packaging options. Interested? For more information about this opportunity, please contact Jordan Forrest at . For application inquiries, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at , quoting R-68824 in the subject line. When applying, please upload a resume and cover letter outlining how your skills and experience align with the requirements outlined in 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 and qualification checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements. 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 Sunday 27 September 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-68824).