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? AWC, a global leader in conservation, is looking for senior land management officers in the stunning Kimberley region at our Mornington - Marion Downs and Charnley River - Artesian Range for 2025.

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 Roles:

In the Kimbereley, AWC protects wildlife and their habitats across 7 properties and partnership areas, covering 4.3 million hectares; Mornington-Marion Downs and Charnley River - Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuaries; in partnership with Yulmbu (Kija), Dambimangari and Wilinggin Traditional Owners, Ranger Groups and their representative Aboriginal Corporations and implements conservation management on Yampi Sound Training Area, in collaboration with Dambimangari people under contract with the Commonwealth Department of Defence. 

The Senior Land Management Officer roles reports to, and supports, the the respective Operations Manager with the planning and implementation of conservation and operational programs to deliver effective conservation in collaboration with the North-West Science team, as part of OneAWC and AWC’s national approach to conservation.  

The Senior Land Management position will be based at their respective locations, however, AWC’s Kimberley Region works on a cooperative approach across all management areas. You may, for reasonable periods of time, be required to work on other management areas within the region.  

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES:

1. Getting things Done: enhanced planning and organisational skills, including a demonstrated ability to prioritise and execute a large number of tasks in an efficient manner.   
2. Managing Staff: excellent people management skills, including the leadership of, and managing and coordinating teams of volunteers, sanctuary officers and contractors, particularly in remote locations. 
3. Working with People: excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to establish and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders. 
4. Practical Land Management and Asset Management (or comparable skills/experience):  You need to demonstrate knowledge of and practical experience in delivering land management programs including fire management, weed and feral animal control programs or comparable experience that is readily transferable.  Demonstrated practical skills managing assets and infrastructure is desirable, including: 
   • The implementation of infrastructure projects such as fencing, roads and building.  
   • The management and use of a wide range of plant and equipment (tractors and implements, generators, pumps and power tools, including chainsaws, welders etc) 
   • Basic skills and experience across a number of areas (building, mechanical, fencing, plumbing, welding & electrical), including the ability to carry out routine tasks and maintenance. 
   • Bushfire control training and experience. 
   • 4WD experience in relevant off-road conditions. 
5. Financial Management: demonstrated ability to deliver projects in a cost-effective manner and be able to apply coding and track expenditure, operating within the budget. 
6. Paperwork/Compliance: demonstrated ability to keep and maintain records and in the preparation of reports.    
7. Resourcefulness: the ability to improvise and ‘problem-solve’, developing practical solutions with limited resources. 
8. Living in the Bush: previous experience of working and living in a rural area, preferably remote, and the supervision of teams in geographically diverse locations is desirable.  
9. Information Technology:  Ability in using standard business software packages (including Word, email, Excel) is essential and well-developed GIS skills are highly desirable.  
10. A Passion for Conservation: Understanding of, and interest in, ecology and conservation issues. 
11. Willingness to Travel: An ability and willingness to work in diverse locations. 
12. Willingness to Conduct Activities in Helicopters and Light Planes: helicopter and light plane travel activities are required from time-to-time to undertake the duties associated with this role. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

1. Formal qualifications at a Certificate 3 level and above, in a relevant discipline (Conservation and Land Management, Ecology, Environmental Science) are desirable or alternatively, considerable hands-on experience in the planning, implementation and management of conservation and infrastructure based projects. 

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES:   

1. Valid manual driver’s licence. 
2. Valid firearms license (highly desirable). 
3. Current Police clearance certificate. 
4. Remote Senior first aid certificate (or the capacity to readily obtain). 
5. Valid agricultural machinery licences for machinery such as trucks, tractors and other vehicles/equipment as relevant (or the capacity to readily obtain these licences).    

Inherent requirements of the role: The execution of tasks associated with the position will involve fieldwork in remote locations and can be away from an established field base. The working environment will be predominantly outdoors and often in the extremes of weather – hot and wet and/or dry, especially when conducting fire and land management operations. The position can be physically and mentally demanding and will require walking and climbing over rough terrain and carrying out tasks that are physically demanding.  In addition, the applicant will be required to conduct periods of office work. 

PLEASE NOTE: The roles are planned to commence in January 2025.