Careers
Join our dedicated team
Whether you’re interested in becoming a HMRI researcher, health and medical job opportunities, or looking to become part of our professional staff, everyone plays a vital role in delivering quality medical research.
Professional staff opportunities
Join our dedicated team at HMRI.
Researcher job opportunities
Explore academic, clinical and research support job opportunities.
Apply to be a HMRI affiliate
Join over 1500 researchers, staff and students all working to transform health and wellbeing.
Professional staff opportunities
Join our dedicated team at HMRI.
Researcher job opportunities
Explore academic, clinical and research support job opportunities.
Apply to be a HMRI affiliate
Join over 1500 researchers, staff and students all working to transform health and wellbeing.
Professional staff opportunities
HMRI staff provide a range of invaluable services that drive, enhance and accelerate research.
These services include our cutting-edge Clinical Trials Unit, Data Sciences, Health Economics, Research Impact, and Imaging. Our Corporate team also provides a range of support across leadership, partnerships, technology, grant development, philanthropy, marketing, and more.
Benefits of working with HMRI
- Flexible and hybrid working options
- Salary packaging benefits
- Be part of a purpose-driven organisation
- Ongoing professional and skills development
- Regular social and wellbeing programs
- Access our world-class research facilities
If you’re interested in joining the team, any current opportunities will be listed below or contact our Recruitment team.
Community Engagement and Participation Specialist
Help communities shape the future of health and medical research.
Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) is seeking a Community Engagement and Participation Specialist with expertise in community education, research translation and engagement design.
In this unique role, you will transform complex health and medical research into clear, relevant and accessible research knowledge for community audiences, while designing education and engagement initiatives that enable people to learn, contribute and participate in research with confidence.
Based at the HMRI Building in New Lambton Heights, this is a unique opportunity to drive community engagement and participation strategies that generate valuable community insight and strengthen health literacy, while creating lasting connections between people and research.
Working across the organisation and alongside researchers, community leaders and partner organisations, you will help foster a participatory culture where community voices are heard, valued and embedded in decision-making.
About the role
Reporting to the Chief Strategy and Performance Officer, the Community Engagement and Participation Specialist will lead the design of HMRI’s community engagement, participation and education approaches under the Community Insight and Engagement Framework.
Key focus areas of the role include:
- Collaborating with internal teams to design and implement community engagement, participation and education initiatives that support HMRI’s strategic priorities;
- Developing evidence-informed learning experiences that translate complex health and medical research into accessible, engaging and actionable information;
- Create pathways that connect community members with research participation opportunities, advisory groups, community activations and health improvement activities;
- Facilitate inclusive community conversations, workshops, forums and engagement activities that encourage dialogue, learning and collaboration
- Build strong partnerships with community organisations, advocacy groups, local councils, researchers and key stakeholders;
- Generate meaningful community insights that inform decision-making, strategy and research translation outcomes; and
- Support the development of community trust, participation and ongoing engagement through transparent and responsive engagement approaches
This position is offered on a part-time 0.8 FTE (30.4 hours per week) basis for a maximum term contract of 12 months.
For full details about the role and key responsibilities, please refer to the attached Position Description.
About you
You are an experienced engagement professional who understands how to bring people together, build trust and facilitate participation in ways that are inclusive, accessible and impactful. You are equally comfortable working with community members, researchers and executive stakeholders and you have a genuine passion for improving health outcomes through collaboration and shared learning.
To be successful in this role, you will bring:
- Formal qualifications or significant professional experience (10+ years) in communications, adult learning, journalism, marketing, community engagement or a related discipline;
- Demonstrated expertise in designing and delivering evidence-informed learning approaches, including adult learning principles and health literacy frameworks.
- Proven ability to translate complex health, medical or research information into accessible and engaging content.
- Strong experience in community engagement, participation and co-design methodologies including frameworks such as IAP2 or NHMRC principles.
- Strong facilitation skills, including the ability to design and deliver inclusive workshops, forums and community-led conversations.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship-building capability across community, research and partner environments.
- Experience in health, research or social impact sectors, including research translation and community impact pathways, would be highly regarded.
If you are passionate about creating meaningful community participation pathways and helping people connect with research that can improve lives, we would love to hear from you.
Why join HMRI
At HMRI, you will contribute to world-class medical research that improves health outcomes for communities locally and globally.
We offer:
- Onsite parking
- Flexible & Supportive work arrangements
- Great salary packaging options
- Access to leading researchers and strategic initiatives
- A modern workplace located in the HMRI Building at New Lambton Heights
Apply Now
To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter addressing your suitability for the role to [email protected]
For more information, contact [email protected].
Applications close 30 October 2026
Researcher job opportunities
Due to HMRI’s unique structure and close partnership with the region’s health service and leading university, research positions are primarily managed through the University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Local Health District.
Apply to be a HMRI affiliate
Health and medical researchers in our region’s ecosystem can join our community and become a HMRI affiliate.
Join over 1500 researchers, staff and students all working to transform health and wellbeing. HMRI is here to support health and medical research in our region.
Become a HMRI affiliate to access our expert research accelerator support system, for access to HMRI’s facilities, networking events, and access to a range of diverse opportunities.
Who can become an affiliate?
HMRI affiliation is open to individuals who are active in, wish to grow their capability in, or support health and/or medical research; and who meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Employed by HMRI and actively participate in research;
- Employed by Partner Organisations;1
- Research Higher Degree Students (PhD or Masters by Research) at the University of Newcastle2
- University of Newcastle Conjoint or Visiting Academic.
Individuals who previously met the above criteria, but no longer do, and wish to remain connected with HMRI may do so as HMRI Alumni.
1. The University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Local Health District and Calvary Mater Newcastle.
2. Undergraduate and Honours students and RHD students not enrolled at the University of Newcastle are not eligible for affiliation.
How to become an affiliate
To become an affiliate, please visit our portal at my.hmri.org.au and complete the survey in the Affiliate section.
- Affiliates can access HMRI’s research services including Clinical Trials Unit, Health Economics, Data Science, Research Impact, our Imaging Centre, Histology, Philanthropy, Marketing and Communications
- Facilities benefits including access to HMRI meeting rooms, hot desks and common areas, opportunities for networking and collaboration, access to seminars, training, events and REDCap.
- Additional benefits may also include access to a range of labs, the Clinical Research facility, grant and funding opportunities, leadership and growth opportunities for early and mid-career researchers, public promotion of research projects, recruitment assistance for research study participants and access to specialist research equipment.
For more information, please contact our Affiliates team
