People and Careers

People and Careers in CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences

Having excellent people in the right jobs is fundamental to our success and sustainability. At CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences we attract and retain world-class people by offering a supportive and inspiring environment for scientists and food industry innovators. Professional development is encouraged at all levels throughout the organisation. Some of the mechanisms we use to support professional development and job satisfaction in CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences include:

• Job listings and recruitment: CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Scientific, technical and research support positions regularly arise and are competitively advertised in major national and some international media. The organisation also participates in CSIRO's highly accessible online CSIRO Careers recruitment system
  
  
• Rewards and Recognition: CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences offers the same high standard of employment conditions as the rest of CSIRO. The organisation annually reviews the performance of staff and rewards high performers via incremental awards, reclassifications, and in special cases, one-off bonuses, payments, or other rewards (eg conference attendance). The organisation also participates in CSIRO's Medals for Research Achievement and Business Excellence as well as other CSIRO Awards. For example, a CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences team won the 2005 Partnership Excellence Award for the joint venture between CSIRO and the Victorian Government.
  
  
• Career development and succession planning: CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences actively supports staff career development for early stage scientists as well as senior scientists. Its People and Culture team support the Executive Committee in ensuring that the staff resources are appropriate to achieve excellence in research programs. 'Coaching for GROWth' is a Food Science Australia initiative that aims to pair senior scientists with emerging research staff to encourage skills development, and where relevant, to transfer experience and client relationships to ensure that staff succession takes place in a timely and mutually satisfying fashion.
  
  
• Insight Survey: The "Insight Survey" gives staff an opportunity to provide critical feedback about their workplace. Held annually and managed by CSIRO Corporate People and Culture team, the survey is a proven tool for collecting important information on organisational issues such as employee remuneration, performance management and occupational health and safety. Within CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences, past survey results have led to the successful introduction of a "Coaching for GROWth" training programme and other management aids.
  
  
• In-house seminars and workshops: CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences regularly organises seminars for its staff to update them on the latest scientific developments and create networking opportunities with industry peers. Workshops are also provided which cover topical areas of interest outside the workplace, including financial planning and lifestyle and health issues.
  
  
• Science Assessment Reviews: CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences participates in CSIRO's Science Assessment Reviews, rigorous reviews of scientific resources, strategy, objectives, strategic partnerships, organisation and research management. Results of Science Assessment Reviews provide direction for CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences' scientific and business focus and resource allocation.
  
  
• Secondments: CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences encourages secondments by staff to other CSIRO Divisions or other organisations when such secondments benefit the organisation and encourage the development of new skills and professional opportunities.
  
  
• Scholarships, Student Supervisions: CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences participates in CSIRO Post-graduate Scholarship program to support researchers active in areas consistent with the Australian National Research Priorities. Senior research staff frequently supervise graduate students, in most cases jointly with academics from major Australian universities.
  
  
• Training and education: CSIRO offers to CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences staff a range of training and professional development options through its Learning and Leadership program. In addition, CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences may support further study and training of staff both through making time free for study and in some cases paying for some of all of the associated costs. CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences non-scientific staff may also apply for CSIRO's Chief Executive's Study Awards which provides funding for study trips or secondments for up to three months.
  
  
• Conference representation and scientific networks: CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences is part of a rich international network of food science research organisations and programs. Staff membership in international food science and technology associations and food safety standards bodies is encouraged. Staff are also encouraged to present the results of their research at scientific conferences and workshops in Australia and internationally.
  
  
• Alumni network: CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences has provided critical scientific and technology experience and training for many staff members who have gone on to work in industry or in universities. These CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences alumni are invited to become part of the Alumni Network and to join their former colleagues for regular social events and scientific and technical briefings and workshops.
  
  
• Social club: Each CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences site has an active social club whose efforts enliven the workplace with parties, competitions, sports events, wine clubs, and other social events, many of which generate contributions to charities. Charities supported by CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences include the Smith Family, Cure Cancer Association, Leukaemia Foundation, Food Bank, and the Tsunami Relief Fund, among others.