Research Assistant - Urban Resilience

Role type:  Full-time; Fixed-term - January to December 2026
Faculty:  Architecture, Building & Planning
Department:  Melbourne Centre for Cities
Salary: Academic RA - $79,677 - $87,266 p.a. plus 17% super

• Engage in impactful urban resilience research / Collaborate with leading experts / Develop interdisciplinary skills
• Engage in impactful urban resilience research / Collaborate with leading experts / Develop interdisciplinary skills
• Investing in you - benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities.

The University of Melbourne
We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn.   

Your next career opportunity
As a Research Assistant for Urban Resilience, you'll support groundbreaking research on community networks and infrastructure governance. You will work closely with esteemed researchers to conduct qualitative data collection and analysis, helping to identify pathways for enhancing urban resilience. This role offers you the chance to develop interdisciplinary skills and contribute to impactful research that shapes sustainable cities.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Support Qualitative Research: Conduct interviews, observe network activities, and maintain detailed fieldnotes.
• Facilitate Workshops: Organise and assist in co-design workshops with community networks.
• Evaluate and Disseminate Research: Develop typologies for engagement and contribute to journal articles and presentations.
• Collaborate with Interdisciplinary Teams: Work effectively within a diverse research team.

You may be a great fit if:

You will have experience in qualitative research and community engagement, with a background in urban studies, and possess strong organisational and communication skills.

You may also:

• Be nearing completion of a degree in Urban Planning, Geography, Anthropology, or related discipline.
• Have experience with qualitative interviews and workshop facilitation.
• Be proficient in qualitative data analysis methods and software like NVivo.
• Possess excellent written communication skills and organisational abilities.
• Demonstrate professionalism and sensitivity to confidentiality.

For further information please refer to the attached PD.

What we offer you!
We offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits to support your success and sense of fulfillment, including:

• Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well-being
• Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work-life balance
• Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance
• Health and well-being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program

For more information check out our benefits page!

Your new team – The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning
The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning is the leading educational and research institution in the Asia-Pacific region addressing the design and realisation of inhabited environments. It actively seeks to extend the linkages between education, research and practice in the built environment, and maintains excellent and extensive relationships with members of the built environment professions, government, professional associations and the wider community.

The Faculty has over 200 staff and 3000 students, one third of whom are international. It is responsible for the undergraduate Bachelor of Design degree, and offers majors in architecture, landscape architecture, property, construction, and urban planning.

The Faculty’s graduate school, the Melbourne School of Design (MSD), teaches accredited masters courses across the professional disciplines of Architecture, Construction Management, Landscape Architecture, Property, Urban Design and Urban Planning.

Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a child-safe organisation. We are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where all individuals feel valued, respected, and have the opportunity to thrive regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age, being a parent or having caring responsibilities.

The University of Melbourne is committed to fostering a barrier-free and inclusive recruitment process. We are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates throughout the application and interview stages, including accessible document formats and alternative application methods.  To discuss your specific requirements, please feel free to contact Bec Tucker – 0416 888 299 or send an email titled 'Reasonable Adjustments' to hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au.  You can find more information for applicants requiring reasonable adjustments on our Careers website: https://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.

For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring

If you are a member of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community and would like any support, please feel free to contact our Indigenous Employment & Development team via email at oied-hr@unimelb.edu.au.

Working at the University – what you need to know
This role requires the successful candidate to maintain a Working with Children Check The successful candidate can apply for the WWCC as part of the onboarding process. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

Join Us and unlock your career potential!
Is this the perfect opportunity for you? Apply today! Including the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience

Please note that you are not required to respond to the selection criteria in the Position Description.

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Brett Verity via email at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au, ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the details listed on the Position Description.

Position Description: JR-006617 Research Assistant - Urban Resilience PD.pdf