Principal Sustainability Officer

Location: St Lucia Campus · Type: Full time · Posted: 2026-09-09 · Closes: 2026-09-28 · Reference: R-68824

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:

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.

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:

You don't need to have worked in a university before. We're interested in the sustainability expertise, ideas and experience you can bring from complex environments across government, infrastructure, property, facilities, consulting, industry or other large organisations.

As part of the UQ community, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds from around the world, working together to create a better future. Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available.

For a sustainability professional, this is a particularly exciting time to join UQ.

Our campuses are living, evolving communities encompassing buildings, infrastructure, landscapes and natural environments, with thousands of people interacting with them every day. This creates complex sustainability challenges, but also an extraordinary opportunity to test ideas, build partnerships and deliver initiatives with visible impact.

UQ's Sustainability Framework and Plan sets an ambitious direction for coordinated action across the University, including a focus on regenerative campus systems, resilience and applied innovation. In this role, you'll have the opportunity to help turn those ambitions into practical, measurable outcomes.

UQ offers a range of benefits, including 17% superannuation, up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary carer leave, 17.5% leave loading, flexible working arrangements, health and wellbeing programs, heavily discounted Study for Staff, on-campus childcare, affordable parking and salary packaging options.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Jordan Forrest at [email protected].

For application inquiries, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected], quoting R-68824 in the subject line.

When applying, please upload a resume and cover letter outlining how your skills and experience align with the requirements outlined in the ‘About You' section.

Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.

Other Information

Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia and qualification checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ, and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We're also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process.

Applications close Sunday 27 September 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-68824).