Affirmative measure - Indigenous employment: The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. This vacancy is only available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Who we are

Australia’s natural and cultural heritage is unique. Our land and seascapes are distinctive, home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, and to some of the oldest living cultures on earth. These environments and cultures are an essential part of our national identity, and visitors travel from across the country and the world to experience them. The Director of National Parks (the Director) is responsible for six national parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 58 Australian Marine Parks and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Parks Australia is the federal park agency that supports the Director, and they are a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department). We work to showcase these natural and cultural wonders to the world, demonstrating to all why these places are so special, and inspiring communities to become more invested in their care and future.

Kakadu National Park is a world-heritage listed site for its natural and cultural values, and one of three national parks, leased by their Aboriginal owners to the Director of National Parks, and jointly managed by Traditional Owners and Parks Australia. Parks Australia assists with ongoing management of the park’s natural and cultural heritage. In addition to ongoing management of the park’s natural and cultural heritage, this branch also manages strategic priorities for Parks Australia, managing a range of strategic planning and major capital projects across the three jointly managed parks.

The Country Section is responsible for the protection of the Kakadu National Park’s biodiversity assets and natural values. The section does this by providing strategic advice and support to the operations section on fire, feral and weed management, managing Country through a significant fire programme; implementing and assisting significant species projects; responding to the threat of climate change; data and knowledge management; and planning. The section is an important part of creating an inclusive cross-cultural working environment.

The Job

Under the direct supervision from the Project Coordinator - Priority Places and in accordance with the Lease Agreement, Kakadu Plan of Management and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) assist in the delivery of the Priority Places Project ‘Protecting fire-sensitive shrubland, rainforest and cypress pine communities in Kakadu’ as funded by the Federal Governments Saving Native Species Fund.

The duties will include:

• Working with Traditional Owners and other Kakadu staff to implement fire, weed and feral animal management, and maximise opportunities for engagement and knowledge exchange to foster strong working relationships.
• Assisting in the preparation of site-level management plans and monitoring plans, including the delivery of a range of monitoring methods including motion-sensor camera traps, and analysis of imagery to identify animal species that occur at study sites.
• Working in a small team, set and manage own work priorities, monitoring quality of work, providing on the job training, advice and guidance on how-to achieve expected outcomes.
• Contributing and supporting the identification of emerging issues or risks in the work activities of the National Park Rangers; analysing the issues, undertaking risk management activities; selecting the appropriate course of action from several options to correct, prevent and make safe identified risks.
• Apply a sound understanding of the practical and procedural knowledge of land management activities,
• Implement fine scale management of fire-sensitive habitats, including the instillation of fire breaks, and application of fire suppression techniques.
• Implementing weed control activities including the application of herbicides and other approaches for treating weeds.
• Undertake feral animal trapping and culling activities in accordance with site-level management plans.
• Working along side contractors and researchers to assist in the delivery of management and monitoring activities.
• Collecting data in the field using digital data capture devices, and upload data when back in the office.
• Responsible for straightforward administration, procedural and operational tasks in the work area that support the delivery of the Priority Places Program.
• Participate in management activities being conducted by the park outside of the Priority Places program in support of other sections, and incident response operations such as firefighting and suppression, search and rescue, park evacuation and first aid response.

Please note that this recruitment process will be used to fill a non-ongoing position in the first instance. Should a position become ongoing then the merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of 18 months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis. The merit pool may also be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the Division where the duties are of a similar nature.

What we are looking for

Knowledge and experience

We are looking for a passionate individual with experience in land management and biodiversity surveys and monitoring, who has a good understanding of threatening processes, contemporary land management and conservation actions.

The successful candidate will:

• Be experienced working with Aboriginal people and communities, and an awareness of issues affecting Indigenous people in remote locations and the ability to contribute sensitively and effectively to the joint management of the park as well as developing and supporting relationships based on mutual trust, respect and consideration of values and culture.
• Have effective stakeholder engagement skills with an ability to consult and liaise effectively with Traditional Owners, park staff, scientists, contractors, and other internal and external stakeholders on land management, and assist the project coordinator in managing contractors for the delivery of a range of services and products.
• Demonstrated experience, and a good level of practical knowledge and skills in prescribed burning and fire suppression, gassy weed and/or feral animal identification and best practice control methods, and a willingness to perform aerial surveys via helicopter.
• Be competent in or able to learn the use of digital data capture devices, online reporting tools, and mapping using ArcGIS software or similar.
• Demonstrated ability to be an effective team member with a collaborative approach to working alongside other teams on-park (e.g., operations) to assist with the management of grassy weeds and feral animals.
• Demonstrated experience conducting field work in often remote areas including in the preparation of WHS-oriented paperwork, and the application of safe working practices in relation to weed management and a working knowledge of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
• Have sound knowledge of Workplace Diversity, Workplace Participation, Work, Health and Safety and the ability to apply and promote them in the workplace.

Skills and capabilities

You should be able to demonstrate:

• An awareness of issues affecting Aboriginal people in remote locations and the ability to contribute sensitively and effectively to the joint management of KNP, as well as developing and supporting relationships based on mutual trust, respect, and consideration of values and culture.
• Demonstrable experience in the delivery of land management and conducting biodiversity surveys and monitoring, with an emphasis on:
• Weed and feral animal removal, and fire management.
• Northern Australian savanna flora and fauna identification.
• Conducting surveys to assess ecological condition and identify change in condition following standard protocols, such as the use of camera traps and spotlight surveys.
• Appropriate oral and written communication skills, including the ability to:
• Consult and negotiate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal people.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders including scientists, government agencies, Aboriginal associations, pastoralists, tourism operators, and members of the public.
• Contribute a range of communication products and community events targeting a variety of audiences, including reporting back to Traditional Owners and funding providers.

Desirable Qualifications

The successful applicant must possess the below units of competency or have the ability to obtain them.

• AHCFIR501 - Manage wildfire hazard reduction programs.
• AHCFIR502 - Plan prescribed burning for fuel, ecological and cultural resource management.
• PUASS00080 – Prescribed Burn Crew Leader.
• PUASS00067 - Complex Prescribed Burn Officer.
• PUASS00068 – Complex Prescribed Burn Planner.
• Corporate Firearms Licence.

Eligibility and other requirements

Citizenship - To be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.

Pre-employment Check - Your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period of 6 months.

The successful applicant must:

• Hold a current Apply First Aid Certificate or have the ability to obtain this qualification.
• Hold and maintain a current manual driver’s licence and ability to drive a 4WD vehicle.
• Meet physical fitness minimum standards to undertake work within the role including firefighting as needed.
• Note that relocation assistance is subject to negotiation.
• Note that the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work.
• Note that you may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work.
• Note that you will be required to complete specific training (including refresher training) related to the role including remote area training, defensive driving, first aid and CPR courses.
• Note that you will be required to travel in remote/isolated locations in northern Australia or its near northern neighbours, using a variety of transport including vessels, light/commercial aircraft, helicopters and manual four wheel drive vehicles.
• Note that you will be required, from time to time, to work in difficult, remote and harsh environments (possibly for extended periods) under limited supervision or in teams.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a working with children and vulnerable people check.
• Wear an official uniform supplied by the department, including during field operations (as applicable), in accordance with the department’s uniform policy.
• Wear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures.