Join one of Australia’s leading comprehensive cancer centres and help shape the future of specialist cancer care.
Why Chris O’Brien Lifehouse?
Located in Camperdown, with excellent access to public transport, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is a For-Purpose, world-class cancer hospital integrating treatment, research, education, and emotional support under one roof. With 149 inpatient beds, 11 operating theatres, 18 ICU-level beds, day therapy and radiotherapy services, we offer advanced technologies in a purpose-built facility designed to support patients and staff alike.
What we offer:
- Increase your take home pay with up to $15,900 tax free benefit + retail benefits
- Meal and entertainment card tax free benefit $2,690
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Professional development support and access to conferences and training
- A Camperdown location within the Sydney Health and Biomedical Precinct, walking distance from RPA and the University of Sydney
- On-site wellbeing programs and employee assistance
- 20% discount at our retail pharmacy (excl scripts)
The opportunity
Our Supportive Care & Integrative Oncology (SC&IO) Department is a national leader in this rapidly growing field, with an active portfolio spanning investigator-initiated clinical trials, exercise oncology, multimodal interventions, implementation research, models of care, and consumer-partnered studies across the full spectrum of cancer types.
We're looking for a Research Program Manager to lead the coordination, governance and growth of our established and evolving program.
Reporting to the Head of Supportive Care, the applicant will be the operational engine of our research program — the person who makes it possible for clinician-researchers to do excellent research alongside clinical care. Managing a portfolio of current studies as well as ongoing development of the portfolio.
This is a part-time role of 16 hours per week (0.4 FTE), with flexibility in how those hours are structured across the week.
You will:
- Manage a large exercise oncology research portfolio — take carriage of a substantial and growing program of exercise oncology studies, coordinating delivery across multiple concurrent projects, teams and sites.
- Manage the wider research program and its governance — coordinate day-to-day delivery of the SC&IO research portfolio, with a particular focus on investigator-initiated trials (IITs), ensuring studies meet ethics, governance, GCP and regulatory standards.
- Grow research funding and impact — coordinate competitive grant applications, identify new funding opportunities, support publication and dissemination, manage the departmental research budget, and report on outputs, impact and KPIs.
- Build research culture and partnerships — foster an inclusive, collaborative environment; maintain relationships with universities, research institutes and external collaborators; and support meaningful consumer and stakeholder engagement.
- Contribute to strategy — help implement and evolve the SC&IO Research Strategy and identify opportunities that strengthen our long-term capability and sustainability.
You'll work closely with our Research Assistant, Research Fellows and clinician-researchers, and act as a key point of contact for collaborators and partners.
What you will bring
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in health-related research, medicine, nursing, exercise physiology or allied health, with demonstrated knowledge of cancer care, exercise oncology, supportive care and/or integrative oncology research
- Demonstrated experience managing a large or complex research portfolio, including investigator-initiated clinical trials — covering ethics, governance, regulatory compliance and project coordination across concurrent studies
- Track record coordinating competitive grant applications, research funding, publications and impact reporting, with an eye for opportunities to grow and sustain a program
- Highly developed organisational, analytical and project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities, budgets and deadlines
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including preparing high-quality reports and funding applications
- Demonstrated ability to contribute to strategic development — strengthening research capability, partnerships and future funding
Desirable
- Master's or PhD
- Direct experience in exercise oncology research or exercise physiology in a clinical setting
- Experience in implementation science, models of care research, supportive care, integrative oncology, PROMs, health economics and/or service evaluation
- Experience in a comprehensive cancer centre, academic health service or tertiary healthcare setting
- Established collaborations with universities, research institutes, professional organisations or national research networks
Applications close: 31st August 2026
Please submit your CV and a brief cover letter (max 2 pages) addressing the essential selection criteria.
For a confidential discussion about the role, contact Judith Lacey, Head of Supportive Care on 02 8514 0580 or [email protected].
A Workplace That Welcomes Everyone
At Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, we are committed to a culture of inclusion and respect. We value the unique backgrounds and perspectives of our team and actively support, staff from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ communities, Indigenous staff, people living with disabilities, and people of all ages and faiths.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you meet the criteria and share our commitment to compassionate, expert cancer care, we encourage you to apply and become part of our Chris O’Brien Lifehouse community.
