Join Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC): Protect Australia’s Unique Wildlife!

Are you passionate about conservation and making a real difference for Australia’s endangered wildlife? Our Curramore sanctuary has a rare opportunity for a part time role as a land management officer!

About AWC:

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a global leader in conservation, providing hope for Australia’s wildlife with a science-informed, land management partnership approach which delivers high impact results. We protect endangered wildlife in iconic regions such as the Kimberley, Cape York, the Top End and Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre.  

AWC’s mission - to deliver effective conservation for all native animal species and their habitats - is achieved by:  

• Operations - delivering effective large-scale land management including fire management, feral animal control, weed control and infrastructure management.  

• Science - delivering a nationally-coherent program of ecological surveys with a focus on monitoring key conservation assets and threats, conducting applied research relevant to wildlife conservation, implementing conservation programs including reintroductions, and providing advice on land management.   

• Fundraising - mobilising finance (primarily, tax deductible donations) from the general public and philanthropists including through effective communication of AWC conservation programs.    

OneAWC is defined as ‘a cohesive, engaged, collaborative, high performing group guided by strong, effective leaders. A group of people who all understand AWC’s mission, vision and their role in contributing to the achievement of mission and vision, all connected and working towards a common purpose, guided by a set of shared values’.  The delivery of AWC’s mission is highly reliant on all AWC working collaboratively with each other. 

About the Region:

Of the 31 sanctuaries, The North East region delivers land management and science activities to ten (10) Sanctuaries, covering an area of approx. 1 million hectares. The region encompasses all sanctuaries located within Queensland (Qld) and the top end of the Northern Territory (NT). This currently comprises seven (7) sanctuaries within Queensland and includes Brooklyn, Curramore, Mt Zero – Taravale, Piccaninny Plains, Bowra and Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. A further two (2) Sanctuaries are located in the Northern Territory and include Pungalina – Seven Emu and Wongalara. Furthermore, AWC is actively engaged in Bullo River Station in the NT. Each sanctuary has its own unique requirements for managing fire, controlling invasive species, restoring ecosystems, managing visitors, and protecting a diversity of threatened species and habitats.

About the Role:

The role of the Land Management Officer is to support the Curramore Sanctuary Manager a broad range of tasks, including land management programs for conservation, including fire management, weed and feral animal control, asset and infrastructure maintenance. As such, the successful candidate will require knowledge of and be able to demonstrate experience in the delivery of a broad range of practical skills, the ability to use a wide range of plant and equipment is essential and knowledge of trades in relation to asset and infrastructure repair and maintenance.

The successful applicant will need to be capable of working with a wide range of people, including Traditional Owners, land managers, scientists, students, volunteers, visitors, neighbouring landholders, including Indigenous communities, and government officials, and will be committed to helping AWC develop and implement a new conservation model.

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES:

1. Weed management - The work conducted at Curramore is primarily weed management; however, a broad knowledge of all trades (building, mechanical, fencing, plumbing, welding & electrical) is desirable, including the ability to carry out routine tasks and maintenance.
2. Getting things done: you need sound planning and organisational skills, including a demonstrated ability to prioritise and execute a large number of tasks in an efficient manner.
3. Managing staff: you need excellent people management skills, including the leadership of, and managing and coordinating remote teams of Operational Staff, Volunteers and Contractors.
4. Working with people: You need a willingness and ability to work as part of a small team or independently without supervision, including good people management skills, and interpersonal skills including leadership of Volunteers and Contractors and the ability to establish and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
5. Practical land management and asset management or comparable skills/experience: Knowledge of practical land management programs including fire management, weed and feral animal control (including chemical handling, and weed treatment programs):
   • The use and maintenance of a wide range of plant and equipment (brush cutters, generators, pumps and power tools, including chainsaws, welders, etc.)
   • A basic knowledge of trades (building, mechanical, fencing, plumbing, welding & electrical) is desirable, including carrying out routine tasks and maintenance.
   • Bushfire control training and experience.
   • 4WD and Side by Side experience in relevant off-road conditions is desirable.
6. Cultural awareness: knowledge and interest in Australian Indigenous culture and willingness to work in a cross-cultural workplace.
7. Paperwork/compliance: demonstrated ability to maintain records and implement permit/authorisation processes.
8. Resourcefulness: the ability to improvise and ‘problem-solve’, developing practical solutions with limited resources.
9. Living in a rural area: You will need to have the ability to work in an isolated small team environment and rural area.
10. Information technology: The ability to use standard business software packages (including Word, email, and Excel) is desirable.
11. A passion for conservation: Understanding of and interest in Australian (with a particular focus on South East Queensland) ecology and conservation issues.
12. Willingness to travel. You may be requested to work at other locations within the North East region.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

1. Relevant trade/ TAFE qualification (desirable).
2. Practical experience in delivering ‘on-ground’ results is more important than formal qualifications.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES:   

1. A valid manual driver's licence with 4WD experience in difficult conditions is essential. 4WD training can be provided to the successful candidate prior to commencement.
2. Bushfire control training and experience (desirable).
3. First aid certificate (desirable).
4. Police clearance certificate.
5. Firearms experience and licence (desirable).

Inherent requirements of the role: The working environment will be predominantly outdoors and often in the extremes of weather – hot, wet, and/or dry- especially when conducting weed, fire and land management operations. The position is physically demanding, requiring heavy muscular activity including lifting and carrying, pushing and pulling loads, bending, climbing and driving a variety of vehicles, the successful applicant must be physically and mentally capable of performing these activities in order to carry out the inherent role responsibilities.

• PLEASE NOTE: This is a part time role at 0.6FTE set to start early in 2025.