The Wet Tropics Waterways Partnership (the Partnership) is seeking applications for the position of Independent Chair from 10 February 2025 until 31 December 2026.

The Partnership is a collaboration between community, science, government and industry working together towards improving the health of waterways in the Wet Tropics.

The primary output of the Partnership is the development of an annual regional waterway health report card. With a pilot report card delivered in 2016, and subsequent report cards released annually, the report cards use the best available science and integrate a range of monitoring programs of various scales to measure waterway health in the Wet Tropics and track progress over time.

The development of regional reef report card partnerships is an action under the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan - Australia's overarching framework for protecting the Great Barrier Reef, and supported by the Queensland and the Australian Governments.

This is an independent role that will provide autonomous strategic leadership to the Partnership whilst fostering strong relationships with members to ensure the successful delivery of the Partnership's annual report card for the region.

Key responsibilities

The Chair of the Wet Tropics Waterways Partnership will:

• Provide leadership to the Partnership.
• Promote the Partnership to the general community, including undertaking media interviews on behalf of the Partnership.
• Promote the Partnership to prospective partners and sponsors to increase membership and funding (as appropriate).
• Advocate for the interests of the Wet Tropics region and the Partnership at relevant Great Barrier Reef, Queensland and national-level forums, meetings and other events, and report back to the Partnership on the outcomes of such events.
• Maintain strong relationships with Partnership members to ensure the successful delivery of the Partnership's annual report card for the region.
• Maintain strong ties and regular communication with other chairs of regional report card partnerships. • Foster a positive working relationship between the Partnership, Management Committee, Partnership staff and the Host Organisation.
• Play an active role by meeting with partnership staff to maintain connection and understanding of regular Partnership work and activities.
• Review reports, documents, communications and web materials produced for the Partnership as required by the Partnership and/or Management Committee.
• Be aware of and manage any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Be available for local, inter- and intra-state travel including overnight stays to represent the Partnership when required.

Desired skills and attributes of the position

• Commitment to positive environmental outcomes in the Wet Tropics region.
• Previous experience in chairing similar initiatives.
• Demonstrated strong conflict resolution skills/experience.
• Background in and/or strong experience in providing leadership and strategic direction. • Proven and effective facilitation, relationship-building and communication skills. • Demonstrated ability to reconcile opposing views, as well as self-awareness to be able to empathetically manage situations.
• Background in and/or strong understanding of urban and industrial water management, coastal land management and river, estuarine and marine management.

Payment

The Chair is appointed on a two-yearly basis to the Partnership through an independent contractual arrangement with the Partnership Host Organisation, Terrain NRM.

A total remuneration of $20,000 per annum (exc. GST) is payable to cover attendance at, preparation for, and document reviews prior to and following Partnership and Management Committee meetings as well as attendance at any other meetings related to the Chair's role with the Partnership. The Chair is allocated a travel allowance of up to $5,000 for travel (aligned with Partnership functions) -such travel arrangements are to be made through the Wet Tropics Waterways' Project Support Officer. In addition, the Chair will be reimbursed up to $1,000 in associated travel related expenses (aligned with Partnership functions). Payment will be made quarterly on submission of a tax invoice to the Partnership's Executive Officer.

Time commitment

The Chair will attend quarterly Partnership Committee Meetings and regular Management Committee Meetings. The Meetings are conducted in person at the Terrain NRM Cairns office and/or conducted online.

The time commitment and key performance indicators are reviewed and monitored by the Management Committee in line with budget and contract deliverables. Contract deliverables will be endorsed by the Partnership for each 6-month period via the Management Committee. Chair activities to support this plan will be agreed by the Chair and the Management Committee in an ongoing manner at the meetings.