Use your experience to make a positive impact

Niche is a leading consultancy specialising in natural capital and offsetting, terrestrial and aquatic ecology, heritage management, environmental planning, management and approvals, and spatial services.

Our purpose is to empower people to create a sustainable future.

We’re looking for a Principal Heritage Consultant to join our diverse community of talented, innovative technical experts and strategic advisors. Our people are proud to do work that matters, to make an impact working on some of the most consequential, challenging and inspiring projects in their industry.

Find your Niche – a place you can thrive

From the start of our business in 2009, we have trusted our people with the flexibility they need to structure work around their lives and the autonomy to deliver their projects from end to end. On any given day our people will be working from home, in the field, or from one of our offices located across the east coast of Australia. 

We value your expertise and ensure you have the systems, support and tools to do what you do best. Whatever your role with Niche, you can take advantage of:

Time for your wellbeing, personal development and family

• Additional paid leave to support your health, wellbeing, development and personal fulfilment
• Spend time with family or friends, volunteer in your community, or work on a personal project 
• Competitive parental leave policy to support parents and carers

Recognition for your time and effort

• Competitive in-field TIL policy, and incentives/allowances to recognise your time in the field 
• Competitive total rewards package and allowances

Support to master your craft

• A network of peers, mentors, leaders, senior specialists and experts accessible through our buddy and mentoring programs
• Flexible career pathways to progress in both technical and people leadership streams
• Financial assistance and leave to support your continuing professional development.

Check out our Careers page for more information.

About the role

Working with Niche will provide you with exposure to complex cultural heritage projects, which includes designing and executing fieldwork, leading technical teams, leading preparation of technical reports, and providing detailed technical and statutory advice on Aboriginal cultural heritage matters. Our recent projects include linear infrastructure and renewable energy sector projects, providing EIS’ on pumped hydro, battery storage and wind farm projects.

This role will see you working in collaboration with our skilled Heritage team and with our clients, Aboriginal representatives, and communities. You will have the opportunity to mentor and support your teammates and take on direct management of a small team.

This position is ideal for individuals who are seeking a company that is focused on sustainable future growth and a role that further develops their technical skill set in cultural heritage management.

What will make us a great match

This role will best suit someone who is an emerging or established leader with 12+ years’ experience in Aboriginal cultural heritage consulting services in the Queensland environment. 

Specifically, we are looking for:

• A degree and/or postgraduate qualification with a focus on Australian archaeology, anthropology, or cultural heritage management.
• Significant demonstrable experience working under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003.
• Working knowledge of Commonwealth heritage laws, other QLD laws including the Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Act 2003 and the Queensland Heritage Act 1992, and local heritage planning requirements. 
• A reputation for conducting high quality, ethical cultural heritage assessments, and maintaining positive relationships with Aboriginal communities.
• Strong people management and emotional intelligence skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, engage others, influence culture, and provide strong direction.
• Ability to manage complex projects from beginning to end.
• Well-developed ability and willingness to interpret and explain complex technical issues to all levels of staff and to clients.
• Excellent and proven experience in communicating with a range of stakeholders including clients and Aboriginal community representatives.
• QLD cultural heritage industry connections and an ability to carry out business development activities in a professional manner to support the wider Heritage team.

About Niche and the team

At Niche, we look to the future and ask how we can empower people to make a positive difference and to solve clients’ problems in a way that balances a need for development with respect for heritage and reliance upon our environment.

Heritage management

Niche provides specialist cultural heritage services to a wide range of industry sectors and to clients of various scale. Our experienced archaeologists and heritage professionals work closely with project proponents, landholders, local communities and traditional owners to provide site assessments, management plans, archival recording and analysis and conservation advice. 

This role reports to Morgan Disspain who currently leads Niche's Heritage Team for NSW & QLD. Morgan’s cultural heritage career has spanned over 14 years and has incorporated both academic and consulting experience. She has extensive experience in cultural heritage management in NSW, QLD, and WA, and has carried out archaeological research projects in NT, SA, QLD, and South America.