Identified position - This position is an ‘Identified’ position which signifies that the role has a strong involvement in issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The successful applicant must have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and an ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with 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 Parks 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 limited supervision from the Manager of the Country Section and in accordance with the Lease Agreement, Kakadu Plan of Management and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) implement the Priority Places Project.

As the Project Coordinator - Priority Places you will be responsible for the delivery of the Australian Government funded project ‘Protecting fire-sensitive shrubland, rainforest and cypress pine communities in Kakadu’.

Your key duties involve managing contracts and procurement, establishing and maintaining effective relationships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders, and leading engagement initiatives including working group meetings and planning workshops.

Specific duties will include:

• Coordinating the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of comprehensive land management to achieve the objectives set out in the Priority Places Project Schedule of key deliverables and milestones.
• Leading the preparation and implementation of 10 -15 site-level management plans and an overarching works plan focused on the delivery of fire, weed and feral animal management activities and monitoring requirements set out in the Priority Places Project Schedule.
• Leading the project team, including dedicated project staff, other KNP staff, indigenous rangers (where required), contractors and volunteers, including submission of timesheets.
• Managing an operational unit including overseeing budgets, assets, workplace health and safety, rosters, and human resources.
• Collecting data on ecological condition including: tree health, tree recruitment, vegetation structure (including trialling ground based lidar techniques), floristic diversity, animal community diversity, targeted species occurrence and abundance.
• Organising and participating in fieldwork, often in remote areas (must be willing to fly in a helicopter, travel by boat).
• Overseeing data collection, validation and analysis for the production of maps and summary reports, and to monitor habitat condition; species occurrence, and management effectiveness.
• Working with Traditional Owners and other Kakadu staff to plan and deliver a program of on-country field trips aimed at maximising engagement and involvement of Kakadu community in the project.
• Consulting and liaising with Aboriginal Traditional Owners, park staff, scientists, contractors, and other internal and external stakeholders, and lead the communication of progress and issues to these stakeholders, and other interested groups.
• Leading the procurement and management of contracts (e.g., helicopter services, weed control contractors, workshop facilitators).
• Raise the profile of the project and share results widely with the Kakadu community and a broader range of stakeholders through the delivery of communication materials and community events.
• Analysing data, reporting as required to funding provider, and preparing articles and reports for a broad range of audiences.
• 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.

What we are looking for

Knowledge and experience

We are looking for a passionate individual with experience working with Aboriginal people and communities, in land management, biodiversity surveys and monitoring, who possess a good understanding of threatening processes in savannahs of Northen Australia and contemporary land management and conservation actions. We are seeking someone with experience in managing complex projects including contract and budget management, the ability to develop and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders, well developed communication skills, and the ability to meet deadlines and work with limited supervision.

The successful candidate will:

• Be experienced working with Traditional Owners to design and deliver a program to support healthy Country, demonstrating a deep respect for the traditional knowledge held by the First Nations people.
• Have experience working in a multi-stakeholder environment and working collaboratively.
• Have experience planning and conducting land management such as fire, weed and/or feral animal activities.
• Have experience organising and leading biodiversity survey field trips, including experience conducting flora and fauna surveys to assess ecological condition.
• Have experience engaging and managing contractors (e.g., helicopter services, land management services).
• Be competent in the use of digital data capture devices and mapping using ArcGIS software or similar.
• Have demonstrated experience managing data, including cleaning and analysing data for use in formal and informal reporting products.
• Be competent in the management of an operational unit including overseeing budgets, the procurement of services and assets, workplace health and safety, rosters, and human resources.
• Have a demonstrated ability to be an effective member of a team, build positive working relationships, and lead and facilitate change in teams.
• 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:

1. Experience 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.
2. Demonstrable experience and a high level of practical knowledge and skills in the strategic planning, delivery, and evaluation of complex land management and biodiversity projects, particularly in a protected area context, with an emphasis on:

• Selecting priority sites for management and tailoring management actions targeting fire, weeds and feral animals to be site appropriate.
• Design and delivery of flora and fauna surveys following existing protocols.
• Training and mentoring staff.
• Collection and analysis of data to measure and report on ecological condition and identify change in condition.
• Being flexible and adopting a solutions-oriented approach to successfully deliver a comprehensive works program in a challenging working environment.

3. High level oral and written communication skills, including the ability to:

• Consult and negotiate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal people.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships Aboriginal people and communities.
• Engage effectively with a broad range of stakeholders including scientists, government agencies, Aboriginal associations, and members of the public.
• Develop, prepare, and deliver a range of communication products to a variety of audiences, including reporting back to Traditional Owners and parks staff.
• Implement grant funding and report to the funding body

Mandatory qualifications

• Tertiary Degree in Ecology, Zoology, Botany, or Degree/Diploma in Conservation Land Management. A post graduate degree would be an advantage.

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.

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.
• Security Clearance - This position requires a Baseline Vetting security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.
• 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,
• 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

Work Health and Safety Obligations

All workers (APS1-Secretary) have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety whilst at work, to ensure their acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons and to comply with any reasonable instruction given to comply with the Work Health and Safety legislation.

All supervisors and managers (APS5-EL1) play a significant role by modelling safe work behaviours and clearly setting the standard for acceptable behaviour in the workplace. Supervisors and managers play a critical role in supporting ‘Officers’ to exercise due diligence and in consulting with duty holders.

An Officer (EL2-Secretary) makes and participates in making decisions that affect the whole or a substantial part of the department. Employees at the SES Band 2 and above classification are considered to be Officers under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) with all EL 2 and above required to complete officer due diligence training. Officers have a duty to be proactive and continuously ensure that the department complies with relevant duties and obligations.

Please Note:

From 2nd January 2023, if you wish to apply for a vacancy in the department you will need to create a new account to do so. Due to a change of recruitment systems, accounts used to apply for jobs in DCCEEW prior to 2nd January 2023 are not able to be accessed in the new system.