Protecting Australia's Nature

Australia is the only nation on Earth that also spans a continent. Because of its isolation over many millions of years, Australia is one of 17 nations in the world to be considered "megadiverse" because of its exceptional biodiversity. In 2007, Pew began its conservation work in Australia, and as our program matured, we formed partnerships with First Nations communities and local conservation partners to advance place-based protections. Pew is a results-oriented organisation. Our work with partners has led to the declaration of the world's largest network of marine parks, the doubling of Outback land protected in Australia's National Reserve System and securing of more than $1 billion in funding for Indigenous land management.

While efforts have expanded Australia's terrestrial, freshwater, and marine protections, the ecological health of Australia's landscapes is threatened by a range of pressures, including invasive species, habitat loss, overfishing, water extraction, and climate change. Australia's key environmental indicators continue to decline, including the conservation status of threatened and endemic species. Recently, Pew's Protecting Australia's Nature team and our partners have expanded our goals to encompass a continental focus, aiming to extend protection to critical terrestrial, marine, and freshwater systems.

Position Overview

The director, Protecting Australia's Nature and head of Australia offices is responsible for the oversight and delivery of the program's board approved objectives in Australia, as well as management of Pew staff, program-related contractors, financial planning and reporting. Drawing on a career which includes a track record of successful professional campaign advocacy and organisational management at a senior level, the director builds and deepens relationships with a broad cross-section of conservation organisations, industry, Indigenous groups, landholders, policymakers and government officials.

The position is the public facing leader of Pew in Australia, performing outreach and public communication efforts to support conservation. The director works with environment portfolio leadership and peers to assess team culture, program progress, and design new initiatives that produce measurable and meaningful results.

The director reports to the vice president, environment. The position can be located in either of Pew's two Australian offices, Brisbane or Perth, and would participate in Pew's core in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with flexibility to work from home the remainder of each week. Potentially the position could be located in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra or other work locations in Australia subject to agreement. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities 

• Provide programmatic oversight for the Protecting Australia's Nature program. Working with the campaign managers, design and implement successful campaigns and initiatives that include measurable goals, targets, and milestones, then monitor and strategically adjust work - as appropriate - to ensure achievement of program objectives.
• Lead and manage a diverse team of project directors and other staff across Australia, and work with them to strategically guide and work with contractors and partners to ensure delivery of critical program milestones and deliverables.
• Foster and maintain a healthy and dynamic team culture and work environment that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, accessible, and in line with Pew and Environment program goals.
• Cultivate and sustain a significant public profile for Pew and the Protecting Australia's Nature project in Australia.
• Lead development of Australian relationships and assist in the development of global relationships that are of value to Pew's work, including fundraising and engagement with potential partners, donors, policymakers, and other funders
• Working in collaboration with senior environment leadership, cultivate strong relationships within the environment portfolio and ensure strategic coordination of work in Australia with Pew's headquarters and global programs.
• In coordination with Pew's finance department, oversee budget and finances for the program. Manage the Australia program budget and maintain excellent fiscal management.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required, advanced degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of applicable experience including staff, project, and/or consultant management experience, and experience in state and national level conservation advocacy or related field. This includes designing and implementing large-scale initiatives that yield tangible results.
• Expertise in biodiversity conservation and management, environmental advocacy and terrestrial, freshwater, and marine protection in Australia.
• Adept at setting short- and long-term planning goals in line with program strategy. An outcomes-oriented style, with focus on achieving clear and ambitious goals. Demonstrated experience analysing budgetary information and assessing organisational capacity.
• Media-savvy and politically astute. Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Effective interpersonal and diplomacy skills, developing and managing productive relationships with staff, consultants, partners, officials and others. Excellent listening and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a complex, matrixed, and nonpartisan organisation.
• Excellent knowledge of the current trends, principal theories, leading thinkers and major concerns within environmental subject domains.

Travel

Travel is required periodically throughout Australia and to The Pew Charitable Trusts headquarters in the United States of America.

Salary Range

$182,300 AUD - $203,700 AUD 

The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew's commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. 

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