Unit Assistant, Lion Eye Donation Service

• Part time, ongoing role (0.4 - 0.6FTE) available to work Thursdays and Fridays
• Salary commensurate with experience: Professional Level 4 $75,493- $80,122 per annum pro rata plus super
• Generous salary packaging options available

About the team
The Lions Eye Donation Service (LEDS) is a joint venture between CERA and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, with support from the Victorian Lions Foundation, and licensed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). LEDS is responsible for recovering eye donations from consenting donors in Victoria and Tasmania, at the end of their life, and allocating those donations for transplantation, training and research, across Australia and internationally. LEDS also manages the CERA Biobank program which is responsible for allocating donations to research.

The role
This unique and rewarding role supports the vital work of the Lions Eye Donation Service (LEDS) and requires a candidate with a mature, respectful, and sensitive approach who is comfortable working in an end-of-life care context.

While non-clinical, this position is essential to the day-to-day functioning of the service and involves working at the intersection of laboratory operations and health services.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Provide general administrative support, including answering and redirecting phone calls, scheduling patient bookings, and managing appointment changes
• Assist the Quality Manager and Donor Coordinators with data entry, equipment checks, internal audits, and post-graft monitoring to support compliance with TGA licensing requirements
• Provide coverage for the Administration Assistant, including assistance with billing and scheduling tasks
• Support daily service operations, including local deliveries, coordinating external logistics, and preparing consumable packs
• Manage stock and consumables, including ordering, restocking, expiry checks
• Maintain equipment through routine checks, coordinating repairs, and overseeing the LEDS vehicle servicing and cleaning schedule
• Assist with general lab cleanliness and contribute to smooth operational workflows across the service.

Candidates must be available to work Thursday and Friday’s.

Your skills and experience

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong professional relationships and engage respectfully with diverse stakeholders—including individuals from different cultural backgrounds, those with limited English proficiency, and people with vision or hearing impairments
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan ahead, manage competing priorities and tight deadlines, and effectively coordinate people and resources
• Demonstrated maturity and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive matters
• High level of computer literacy with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• A solutions-oriented approach with a commitment to working collaboratively with others and fostering a supportive team environment
• Must hold a valid driver’s licence and be willing to drive the LEDS vehicle for servicing and cleaning.

All offers of employment are subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check.

About CERA
The Centre for Eye Research Australia is a not-for-profit and an international leader in eye research with real world impact. We are an independent Medical Research Institute closely affiliated with the University of Melbourne within the discipline of ophthalmology in the Department of Surgery, Melbourne Medical School. Our staff and students are located at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and 200 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. 

To learn more about our work, please visit our website. 

Employee benefits

• Family-friendly workplace with flexible working
• Supportive culture which encourages career development and fosters innovation
• Generous salary packaging options including general expenses, meals and entertainment and novated car leasing (Salary packaging allows staff to reduce the amount of tax they pay, thereby increasing their take home salary)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Leave loading of 17.5%
• Annual flu vaccinations
• Weekly fruit boxes in the office.

How to apply
Submit a current resume and cover letter that details your interest and suitability for the role.

For more information about the role, please download the position description here or contact hr@cera.org.au. 

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people with CALD backgrounds, people with a disability, people from the LGBTQIA+ community and women and gender diverse people.

If you require an adjustment to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our HR team.

The role will remain open until we find a suitable candidate and applications will be reviewed regularly throughout the process. We encourage you to apply promptly.