Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI)
Full-time (100%), fixed-term position through to January 2026
Base salary will be in the range $89,861.38 - $96,402.32 + 17%
Superannuation (HEW Level 6)
Based at our St Lucia Campus
About This Opportunity
QAAFI and UQ will host the fifth TropAg international agriculture conference
at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane from 11 to 13
November 2025. The TropAg team now needs a Senior Communications and Events
officer to help us deliver this incredible three-day event.
TropAg is a world-leading triennial international agriculture conference which
attracts up to 1000 delegates representing 50 countries and is backed by more
than 25 sponsors and exhibitors. TropAg2025 will address global challenges
by bringing together leading Australian and international scientific voices to
share research, solutions and innovations to improve agriculture and food
production to meet global population growth.
This is a rare opportunity for someone interested in taking their
communications and events career to the next level. You will have superior
administration and project management skills, excellent written communication,
a flair for marketing, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks. Most of all,
you will be supported by a happy, vibrant, and cohesive team.
Key responsibilities will include:
Event management:
Coordinate external events to promote the institute including planning,
logistics and delivery of the TropAg conference, science seminars,
webinars, field days, and forums.
Liaise with the Professional Conference Organisation (PCO) appointed to
support the delivery of the TropAg conference to ensure key milestones are
being achieved on time and on budget.
Ensure TropAg partners, sponsors and exhibitor contracts are signed, and
work with the PCO to ensure sponsor entitlements are delivered.
As secretariat for TropAg committees prepare meeting agendas, minutes and
track action items for the conference.
Prepare invitations for TropAg plenary speakers, coordinate symposia and
abstract submissions and prepare the conference program.
Liaise with external suppliers for events including negotiating venue
hire, catering, photography, audio-visual requirements to budget and
timelines etc.
Develop an internal and external reporting framework for TropAg including
surveys and post-event evaluation reports for committees, hosts, and
sponsors.
Other Institute event and communication duties as required by the
communications manager.
Engagement and Communications:
Implement marketing activities for TropAg including website design and
maintenance, marketing collateral, newsletters, conference update emails,
social media posts and media announcements.
Contribute to the development of the sponsorship prospectus and delivery
of sponsor entitlements before, during and after the TropAg conference.
Liaise with service providers including graphic designers, printers, trade
display companies, venues, and designers regarding advertising, branding,
and exhibition spaces from concept to production stage.
Administration and reporting:
Coordinate UQ's tender procurement process to select a conference venue
and appoint a PCO for the TropAg conference
Maintain a Customer Relationship Management system containing stakeholder
contacts for TropAg and the Institute.
Process quotes, invoices, requisitions, and payments for suppliers for
Institute events and activities.
Deliver other communication and engagement activities as required by the
communications manager.
This position may be required to attend conferences or events outside of
ordinary work hours and some regional or interstate travel may be
required. This full-time role is based at The University of Queensland's
St Lucia campus.
About UQ
As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside
the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.
Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff
cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a
better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research,
and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to
activities that have a lasting impact on our community.
Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions
are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:
26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave
17% superannuation contributions
17.5% annual leave loading
Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options,
flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight
Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu
vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee
Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family
UQ Study for Staff
On campus childcare options
Cheap parking (from just $5.75 a day)
Salary packaging options
About You
Qualifications in communications, project management and/or event
management or relevant experience is required.
Demonstrated ability to plan, manage and deliver conferences or high-
profile events within a designated budget and timeline.
Highly effective organisational and planning skills including excellent
attention to detail and accuracy, the ability to use initiative,
prioritise workloads, solve problems and meet strict deadlines.
Ability to prepare quality communication materials such as publications,
website content and promotional items, sponsorship agreements, and grant
proposals, negotiate agreements and ensure sponsorship entitlements are
delivered.
Outstanding written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
including the ability to build effective working relationships with a wide
range of stakeholders from a variety of organisational and cultural
backgrounds.
Highly proficient skills and experience using event and marketing software
programs to manage events effectively and create marketing collateral.
Experience with: editing and maintaining websites using Drupal, WordPress
or similar CMS, experience with Vision 6 software or similar to create and
send messages to stakeholders, experience with Adobe InDesign graphic
design software to create marketing collateral, Experience with EventsAir
event management software or similar, and experience with Wrike project
management software or similar .
Knowledge of the agriculture industry and/or university research sectors
is desirable
The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-
employment checks, including: right to work in Australia, criminal check,
education check etc
Work Rights:
You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of
this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this
appointment.
Questions?
For more information about this opportunity, please contact QAAFI
Communications Manager, Carolyn Martin - [email protected]
For application queries, please contact [email protected] stating the job
reference number (below) in the subject line.
Want to Apply?
All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your
application to be considered:
Cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the ‘About You'
section
Resume
Other Information
UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which
recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges
which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory.
Candidates who don't meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate
their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance
relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.
We know one of our strengths as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues.
We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment
that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining,
and promoting diverse talent. Reach out to [email protected] for accessibility
support or adjustments.
Applications close 29 September 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (R-42042). Please
note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for early October.