• Food and Beverage Accelerator Program: Based in the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI)
• Full-time (100%), fixed-term position through to 31 December 2026
• Base salary will be $130,046.60 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 9)
• Based at our vibrant St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity 

The Food and Beverage Business Development Analyst (FaBA) leads a team of researchers, practitioners and professional staff to deliver innovative, high-quality and time-driven solutions for industry partners. You will work closely with the Impact Foundry team, integrated with the Innovation Pathways team, and extensively with the technical programs and the FaBA Training Centre.  

The position involves applying food science, chemistry/technology knowledge to support the commercialisation aspirations of our partner businesses.  In addition to scientific and technical capabilities, the position requires demonstrated success in team leadership, project management and customer delivery.

You will work extensively with food and beverage clusters from across Australia. This will involve some intrastate and interstate travel. You will also lead efforts by the Impact Foundry to work closely with the FaBA Business Development and Commercialisation Team on delivering evidence-based solutions to our industry partners (including those investing and those who are associates).  

You will also work extensively with the other FaBA programs and the FaBA Directorate to bring integrative solutions across technical and innovation and commercialisation to fruition. The focus is on enhancing the competitiveness of our industry partners, increasing the number of products brought to market. 

Key responsibilities will include leading the Impact Foundry team aimed at enhancing the innovation and commercialisation for SMEs, many of which are members of Food and Beverage Clusters and Networks across Australia. This includes:

Technical/Scientific

• Data analytics and delivery of analytical outputs presented in accessible and digestible formats and focussed on food and beverage products, markets, competitive landscapes and ecosystems in existing as well as new and emerging markets, opportunity assessments, business model analyses, new product and market development;
• Learning modules delivered face to face, and online and underpinned by our data analytics and business, economics, financial, market and strategy tools aimed at enhancing knowledge of innovation and commercialisation, and as a vehicle for delivering Food and Beverage Cluster and Network engagement and delivery
• Design and implement approaches to encourage and enable increased innovation, including through collaboration with FaBA’s scientific and technical programs, and commercialisation of new food and beverage products. 
• Provide technical food and beverage expertise in the design and analysis of relevant applied projects and partnerships
• Work with the Business Development and Commercialisation team to develop and implement business and economics focussed projects
• Working with the Lead Data Scientist, undertake granular analysis of complex datasets (we have access to over 36 datasets and databases to source our analytics from using numerically and semantically driven analytics tools and algorithms.
• Identify new and emerging products, markets, ingredients, technologies, intellectual property and data sources across pre-competitive and competitive landscapes to support our partners’ innovative, cutting edge new product development

Leadership and Management

• Assist in developing the strategic direction of the team and have input into FaBA’s development
• Lead and define the long term vision of the team
• Exercise 'Manager' level leadership and management responsibilities in accordance with the UQ Leadership Framework
• Support a proactive safety culture and implement continuous improvement

Client/Stakeholder Management

• Identify, build, and maintain effective strategic relationships with key stakeholders to develop funding and collaborative research opportunities
• Gather research requirements from existing and potential clients/stakeholders and work with them to develop new proposals and delivering efficient solutions and outcomes that exceed client expectations
• Develop project evaluations and proposals with clients/stakeholders/collaborators Interface with clients/stakeholders/collaborators to manage expectations and ensure satisfaction
• Effectively communicate progress and outcomes to clients/stakeholders/collaborators

Communication and Engagement

• Plan and coordinate meetings and forums at which the partners and internal and external researchers can come together to explore possible partnerships and funding opportunities Interact and engage with numerous external organisations to create alliance for promotion, technology trials and product and technology development 

This role is subject to The University’s Code of Conduct. 

About the Food and Beverage Accelerator

Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) is a $160 million initiative to boost growth and innovation in the food and beverage manufacturing sector. Part of the Federal Government’s Trailblazer Program, FaBA leverages $50m of government investment with more than $110m from universities and industry. Partners work across four areas: the research programs ‘Innovative Ingredients’ and ‘Premium Food and Beverage Products’, and the enabling programs ‘Innovation Pathways’ and the ‘FaBA Training Centre’.

A national initiative, FaBA provides F&B manufacturers access to research teams, next generation industry professionals, state-of-the-art equipment and pilot facilities. FaBA is proudly hosted by The University of Queensland, in collaboration with participants QUT, UniSQ and UniQuest.

FaBA Innovation Pathways

Innovation Pathways comprises the following two components:

The Insights Engine focuses on the innovative analytics that companies need and don’t often have access to. Market and customer insights are at its core.

The Impact Foundry uses diagnostic approaches to identify pain points and opportunities facing businesses that impact their current and future decisions and competitiveness.

Key to the design of Innovation Pathways is extensive data analytics which brings together data science, business and economics and food and beverage skills, experience and knowledge. These are applied in combination to deliver evidence-based solutions to our industry partners. Many of our participants are members of clusters in the food and beverage industry, dominated by small businesses. FaBA’s Innovation Pathways seeks to support these businesses to more rapidly progress their technologies and products along of their commercialisation pathways (TRL4-9). Innovation Pathways provides researchers and industry participants with analytics, tools and partnerships to develop R&D that is forward looking, customer-focused and market-driven.

We also use a range of learning modules to provide insights to our participants, particularly as a vehicle for delivering insights through our data driven dashboards and analytical tools and guides. Our focus is on enhancing the competitiveness of our industry partners, increasing the number of products brought to market, and achieving growth for a range of food and beverage businesses and industry sub-sectors.  

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
• 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

You have a strong history of bringing new food and beverage products to market using your technical and commercial skills. You understand the dynamics of the Australian industry well, including the problems facing the industry such as low margins, high product and business failure rates, and a lack of investment and growth in the sector. You have taken a leadership role in addressing these issues at business and potentially industry levels, and can demonstrate the following: 

• Outstanding record of accomplishment in bringing F&B products to market.  
• Strategic thinker and practical implementer including an ability to recognise and capitalise on product and technology level opportunities
• Proven ability to deliver plans that meet strategic goals.
• Completion of a post graduate qualifications in food technology, food science with at least six years of experience in advanced management and business and market intelligence, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training
• A PhD or equivalent in food technology, food chemistry, food physics or other areas of food science would be highly regarded in this role
• High level of personal motivation and initiative as well as the ability to work as part of a team
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary scientific and non-scientific teams.
• High level project, people and resource management capabilities
• Demonstrated commitment to client service and continuous improvement
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with proven ability to produce clear, succinct research documentation and liaise effectively with a wide range of industry and research partners and collaborators. 
• Commitment to upholding the University’s values, and with the outstanding personal qualities of openness, respectfulness and integrity
• A commitment to upholding the highest standard of research integrity, ethics and workplace health and safety
• Possess a valid driver’s licence

The successful candidate may be required to complete background checks including, Right to Work in Australia, criminal history and education checks.

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Prof Damian Hine – [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 10 December 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (R-45082). Please note applications will be reviewed as received. Candidates may be interviewed prior to the job closing date, with interviews tentatively scheduled for the week ending 13 December. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. The University of Queensland reserves the right to close this application process early.