Research Officer (Vocational Education and Training)

ForestWorks is an industry owned not-for-profit organisation offering services to support the skills development of the forest, wood, paper, timber, furnishing and textile industries.

We work with businesses, government, industry associations, unions and the vocational education and training sector to assist our industries, their people, and enterprises in developing a highly skilled and qualified workforce.

Working in partnership with the Jobs and Skills Council (JSC), Skills Insight, ForestWorks provides industry stewardship, stakeholder engagement, workforce planning, research and project and product design and management services for the sectors we support.

We are seeking a Research Officer to join our team, based in our Carlton VIC office. Reporting to the Project Manager, this position plays a critical role in supporting ForestWorks and Skills Insight’s workforce planning, industry engagement, training system responses and strategic industry initiatives for the forest and timber, furnishing and textile industries through the collection, analysis and interpretation of workforce, skills and labour market intelligence.

What you’ll be doing

- Collecting, analysing and synthesising quantitative and qualitative workforce, labour market and training data to support workforce planning, research priorities and evidence-based decision-making.
- Monitoring and interpreting industry, economic, demographic and employment trends relevant to ForestWorks’ sectors.
- Developing industry intelligence products, including research briefs, workforce snapshots,



discussion papers and thematic reports.
- Identifying emerging workforce risks, opportunities, skills shortages, occupations in demand and workforce development priorities.
- Analysing workforce pathways, occupational trends and training outcomes to support strategic planning activities.
- Designing and undertaking targeted research activities, including surveys, stakeholder consultations, interviews, focus groups, literature reviews and desktop research.
- Contributing to the design and delivery of workforce planning and research responses that address identified industry workforce challenges.
- Mapping workforce occupations, qualifications, career pathways and skills requirements to inform workforce planning outcomes.
- Translating complex datasets and research findings into clear and actionable insights for diverse audiences.
- Facilitating stakeholder consultations and information-gathering activities to gather workforce intelligence, validate findings and support research projects and workforce planning initiatives.
- Maintaining research records and documentation in accordance with organisational policies and governance requirements.

What we’re looking for





- Tertiary qualification in Social Science, Economics, Public Policy, Workforce Development, Research, Statistics, Education or a related discipline; or equivalent demonstrated experience.
- Demonstrated experience in conducting research, workforce analysis, policy analysis or labour market research.
- Experience collecting, analysing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data.
- Experience producing high-quality research reports, briefing papers and stakeholder-focused intelligence products.
- Ability to analyse workforce, employment, skills and training data and identify emerging trends and implications.
- Experience in designing and administering surveys or consultation activities.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise and accessible reports and summaries.
- Robust analytical, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
- High level attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and consultation skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, inc. Word Excel, PowerPoint and Teams. Experience using Power BI or similar analytical tools advantageous.

What we offer

At ForestWorks, we are committed to providing a dynamic and supportive work environment that empowers our employees to thrive. We offer competitive remuneration (inc. 15% superannuation), 5 weeks annual leave, opportunities for professional development, and a range of benefits to support your overall wellbeing.

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📌 Research Officer (Vocational Education and Training) (Melbourne)
🏢 ForestWorks
📍 Melbourne