Principal Sustainability Officer

Property and Facilities Division Full-time, continuing position. Base salary will be in the range $106,709 - $116,199 plus 17% super (HEW Level 7). Based at our stunning St Lucia campus . About This Opportunity Turn sustainability ambition into action across one of Australia’s leading universities. UQ is looking for a Principal Sustainability Officer to help shape and deliver the next generation of operational sustainability initiatives across UQ.

This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who wants to do more than write sustainability strategies. You’ll have the opportunity to identify what is possible, build the case for change and lead initiatives through from idea to implementation, creating measurable environmental outcomes across a large and diverse organisation. Working within UQ’s Energy & Sustainability team and reporting to the Senior Building Services Engineer, you’ll provide specialist sustainability expertise across areas including biodiversity, water, waste, environmental performance and behaviour change .

With UQ’s Sustainability Framework and Plan 2026–2029 providing a renewed roadmap for action, you’ll join at an exciting time to help translate our sustainability commitments into practical projects across our campuses and operations. Key responsibilities will include: Support sustainability projects from concept to delivery , with a focus on biodiversity, water management, waste reduction, environmental performance and behaviour change.

Scanning the horizon for new ideas, emerging technologies and innovative approaches that could improve UQ’s environmental performance. Turning opportunities into action by developing compelling business cases, grant applications, project proposals and scopes to secure investment and funding. Building partnerships across UQ and with government, industry and external organisations to create shared sustainability outcomes.

Coordinating multidisciplinary teams, consultants and contractors to deliver projects safely and successfully within agreed scope, budget and timeframes. Monitoring environmental and sustainability performance and contributing to institutional reporting, compliance obligations and strategic objectives. Developing practical sustainability policies, guidelines and resources that enable better environmental decision-making across UQ.

Bringing sustainability to life for the UQ community through engaging communication, education and behaviour-change initiatives. This is an opportunity to see the impact of your work around you, from new biodiversity initiatives and smarter resource use to reduced waste and improved environmental performance across UQ. About You You’re a sustainability professional who combines technical knowledge with the ability to make things happen .

You can spot an opportunity, investigate what is possible, bring the right people together and develop a credible pathway from concept to delivery. You’re equally comfortable working through data and compliance requirements, developing a business case, engaging senior stakeholders or coordinating the practical delivery of a project. You’ll bring curiosity, pragmatism and a genuine motivation to create measurable environmental outcomes.

To be successful, you will demonstrate: A bachelor degree in Engineering, Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Business Management or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education, training and experience. Demonstrated experience developing and delivering sustainability, environmental management, water, waste, biodiversity and/or behaviour-change initiatives.

Strong project management capability, including managing multiple priorities, stakeholders, budgets and deadlines. Highly developed analytical, written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex sustainability issues into clear recommendations and influence diverse audiences. Advanced knowledge of sustainability principles, environmental m