- Be a part of ground-breaking work supporting the journey towards Treaty
- Integral role in the Research and Evaluation team
- Collaborative team environment at our modern Collingwood offices
Term: Full time – Ongoing
Remuneration: Remuneration starts from $136K per annum plus superannuation, depending on experience
Location: Collingwood
Open to: This position is open to everyone; however, the nature of the Treaty Authority’s work means we strongly encourage First Peoples to apply.
What are we looking for?
The Senior Researcher: Policy and Practice will have a primary focus on social science-related research, bridging research and policy advice. The Treaty Authority is responsible for undertaking research to support treaty-negotiation processes and the administration of the Treaty Negotiation Framework.
The Senior Researcher: Policy and Practice will lead, with colleagues, the implementation of the Treaty Authority’s research agenda and priorities, grounded in methodologies underpinned by First Peoples’ paradigms. A primary focus of this position will be to lead research to support to progress treaty-making across three domains: agreement building, knowledge building, and nation building.
The policy and practice component of the role includes:
- Policy: Contribute to the development and implementation of research into policy and related products that operationalise the Treaty Negotiation Framework using evidence-based approaches.
- Practice: Create and apply research into the Treaty Authority operations, including designing research, analysing evidence, and translating findings to directly support the decision-making and practice of the Members and frontline teams.
This is an opportunity to play a key role in advancing Indigenous-led research and data governance within the Treaty process.
What you need to succeed:
The Treaty Authority is seeking a Senior Researcher: Policy and Practice to embrace leadership in the design and implementation of the Treaty Authority’s research agenda and priorities. Key responsibilities include:
- Leading original research from conceptualisation and reviewing literature, through to data collection, analysis, writing up and dissemination, and knowledge translation.
- Undertaking research informed by Indigenous methodologies.
- Preparing decision and policy briefs and advice related to research findings and other related proposals.
- Working with other teams to develop culturally strong and evidence-based approaches to treaty-making.
- Providing leadership and overseeing external research projects related to the Treaty Authority’s priorities, in collaboration with the Research Manager.
- Developing a deep knowledge about and applying the Treaty Authority’s framework, policies and practices that uphold and respect Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Data Governance principles.
- Project coordination and administrative support for aspects of research and evaluation.
This role offers an opportunity to lead impactful research while ensuring the integration of Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles.
About the Treaty Authority
The Treaty Authority is an independent entity with a mandate to facilitate the formation of treaties between the State of Victoria and First Peoples in Victoria.
The Treaty Authority’s work is grounded in Aboriginal culture, lore and law and led collectively by a panel of five Members committed to Aboriginal self-determination and empowerment. It engages with a broad cross-section of stakeholders including the State of Victoria, the First Peoples’ Assembly and Traditional Owners in Victoria.
The objects of the Treaty Authority’s work are to:
- Facilitate the journey towards reconciliation, mutual respect and tolerance between First Peoples and other people of the State and to
- Maintain, promote and advance the self-determination and empowerment, culture and human rights of First Peoples.
What you’ll bring:
We are seeking a highly skilled individual with:
- Strong track record of undertaking social research using a variety of methods (primary and secondary).
- Demonstrated track record of publications.
- Lived experience, knowledge and understanding of Victorian Aboriginal communities.
- Experience undertaking organisation-wide and/or program evaluations using a variety of evaluation frameworks, approaches and methodologies, especially with First Peoples.
- Proven ability to engage and communicate sensitively and effectively with First Peoples, including the requirement for proper negotiation and consultation relevant to the development and implementation of research services.
- Relevant Higher Degree by Research and/or other relevant tertiary degree/s; and strong understanding of the research process, ethics and partnership principles.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of First Peoples’ societies and extensive experience working with First Peoples’ cultures and communities.
- Knowledge of conducting research within First Peoples’ research paradigms.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships.
- Ability to work independently, be proactive and collaborate.
If you are passionate about making a positive impact and being a part of ground-breaking change for First Peoples in Victoria, apply now by submitting your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience via the job platform. Applications should be submitted as one document in PDF format via the job site.
This advertisement provides a brief outline of this position. For a detailed position description, please email the People & Culture team at jobs@treatyauthority.au.
This advertisement and the role’s position description include reference to a demonstration of lived experience and a commitment to anti-racism.
Applications close Friday, 5 June 2026. Applications may be actioned as they are received.
The Treaty Authority acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we operate. We commit to working respectfully to honour their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this country. Diversity and inclusivity are important to the Treaty Authority and we are committed to ensuring our workplace and activities reflect this. Everyone is welcome at the Treaty Authority, regardless of age, ethnicity, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation and physical ability.
General EOI: If you are interested in working with the Treaty Authority in any capacity, please send us an expression of interest with a copy of your resume to jobs@treatyauthority.au.
This position is open to everyone, however the nature of the Treaty Authority’s work means we strongly encourage First Peoples to apply.
