Principal Social Research Officer

About Merri-bek City Council

Merri-bek City Council is a progressive council of 175000 residents : one community proudly diverse. Our council area sits within the banks of the Merri Creek and the Moonee Ponds Creek and includes Brunswick Coburg Fawkner Glenroy Gowanbrae Hadfield Oak Park and Pascoe Vale. Our city is vibrant and energetic known for its active community cultural diversity creative industries and the arts. Our long-term vision has ambitious goals for environmental sustainability social justice community wellbeing and creating great places. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg 8 kilometres north of Melbournes CBD there are excellent public transport options and great food and cafés right at the doorstep.

Merri-bek Council strives to be a contemporary innovative and collaborative organisation with a deep commitment to engaging and supporting the Merri-bek organisational vision is to be one team brave and diverse making a difference.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We offer flexible and hybrid work options and genuinely care about providing our staff work / life balance. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg 8 kilometres north of Melbournes CBD there are excellent public transport options and great food cafés parks and a cinema right at the doorstep. Merri-bek is a great place to live work and play.

About the role

An exciting opportunity has come up to join the Community Engagement team at Merri-bek City Council. We are looking for a professional social researcher to join our team for 12 months. You will have a strong background in research community engagement and statistical analysis a passion for customer service excellence and desire to improve community satisfaction in Councils delivery of services and programs.

You will have a tertiary qualification in social research experience working in a complex organisation and environment significant experience in the research field and experience in presenting results and findings in written and oral formats suited to a lay person audience.

Skills and experience require to perform the role

• Demonstrated strong analytical and social research skills (working at a senior level).
• Highly developed communication skills including an ability to synthesise complex information and write / present succinctly and persuasively (including conveying information to a lay person audience through use of graphs maps and infographics).
• Highly developed skills in research e.g. designing customer surveys and evaluation design and implementation.
• Knowledge of and ability to select and use relevant software to achieve position objectives e.g. Excel Statistical Package for the Social Sciences online survey software and text analysis software.
• Highly developed skills in interpretation and analysis of data.
• Ability to identify and access a wide range of data and information sources.
• Demonstrated experience in continuous improvement processes to meet the objectives of the organisation and the needs of internal customers.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in customer service.

What the role can offer

• Monthly RDO
• Extensive opportunities for training & career development
• Salary sacrifice options
• A real sense of work-life balance & flexible work options
• Employer-supported study assistance schemes
• Wellness programs

Further support offered for our staff

• Up to 20 weeks primary & up to 5 weeks secondary parental leave
• Purchase leave
• Ceremonial leave
• Gender affirmation leave
• Family violence leave

For further information about this position please contact Anna Morath Unit Manager Community Engagement on .

Applications close : 11 : 30pm Wednesday 4 February 2026.

Before submitting an application please view the Position Description.

Please note that when applying for this role you may be required to attach your valid Drivers Licence WWCC and Qualifications. Please have this ready when completing your application.

How to apply

Please fill out an application using our online recruitment system. You will be required to upload your CV a cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experience. You do not need to respond to the individual Key Selection Criteria. Please also upload any other relevant documents.

• Please note that some documents relating to this position may reference Moreland City Council. We are in the process of updating the councils new name of Merri-bek City Council.

Please note that applications must only be submitted online applications will not be accepted via email.

Merri-bek City Council is proudly diverse and an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community people with disability and people from every culture sexuality and gender identity age and ethnic background. Merri-bek City Council is a Child Safe organisation.

Merri-bek is focused on diverse representation of the community we serve. With this we value lived experience that could contribute to the shaping of this role and in turn will continue to provide representation and growth of safe and inclusive work culture.

We encourage everyone to apply and discuss opportunities to develop your knowledge and experience. Council is committed to removing barriers and access to employment where possible at any point in the recruitment onboarding and during your time at Council. For further information regarding access or modifications you may require for a recruitment process please contact Danni Jovanovic Recruitment Business Partner on

Our Commitment

In May 2021 Merri-bek Council adopted a revised Statement of Commitmentto Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the municipality. The statement recognises the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional owners of the lands and waterways of our municipality.

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and has zero tolerance for child believe children and young people have the right to be and feel safe and that their safety and wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone. You can read more about our Child Safety Commitment Statementon our website.

Required Experience :

Staff IC

Key Skills

Corporate Paralegal,Eclipse,Facilities,IT Sales,Designing

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Monthly Salary Salary : 114 - 128