About Desert Support Services:

Desert Support Services has a decade-long history of supporting Traditional Owner groups to achieve environmental, economic, social and cultural outcomes on their country within the Central Desert region of Western Australia. DSS works to support their clients to establish, develop and maintain their land management programs and are actively working to build Corporation capacity to run their own programs into the future.

DSS has supported Parna Ngururrpa Aboriginal Corporation (PNAC) since 2019 to help people get back out on their country and to secure ongoing funding for land management activities. Through project management, employment provision and other services and guidance, DSS continues to support PNAC to deliver its land management aspirations for all.

What does a Ranger Team Coordinator do?

As the Ranger Team Coordinator you will work alongside our ranger team and the IPA Coordinator, delivering varied work to positively impact our waterholes, people, fire regime, animals, bushfoods and plants according to our IPA Plan of Management. Coordinators work in an inter-cultural space and need to have great interpersonal skills and cross-cultural communication skills.

A Coordinator role can be dynamic, demanding and highly rewarding. It can range from: supporting team development and leadership; organising remote field trips; managing safety and logistics to support rangers to do their work on country; supporting the intergenerational transfer and recording of cultural knowledge; right way burning of country; facilitating connection between ranger teams and industry specialists, partners and funders; assisting to establish species and biodiversity surveys and monitoring; regular communication with rangers and Traditional Owners; recording cultural, GIS, threatened species, and other data through apps and reports; facilitating ranger meetings and feedback sessions, camping under the stars and much more.

As Ranger Team Coordinator you will be responsible for:

• Oversight and coordination of Aboriginal Ranger Program (ARP) projects and work that delivers on the outcomes and goals outlined in our IPA Plan of Management.
• Supporting the IPA Management Team to make decisions for country, create workplans, and build the capacity of rangers.
• Co-creating foundational systems and structures that will set up our ranger team for success and build confidence and capacity to deliver work autonomously.
• Leading program budgeting, monitoring and reporting to funders and PNAC Directors.
• Working in ways that support our cultural and IPA governance principles

You will be supported and guided by the IPA Management Team, Elders, DSS Staff and sector support organisations from Broome and Perth.

This is an incredible opportunity to be part of something special, to work and build relationships with an incredibly motivated and enthusiastic ranger team, and to get to know the beautiful desert landscape of our IPA.

About you:

We want someone who:

• Is adventurous - ideally you have experience working, navigating and camping in remote desert locations or fieldwork and enjoy being out bush.
• Is curious and kind - you are willing to listen and learn from us as the experts of our country and our culture.
• Is reliable - you work with integrity and do what you say you will do.
• Has experience working with Indigenous communities in culturally respectful ways and is interested in learning our languages and culture.
• Will empower us - you will work with us to establish our ranger team and our processes in a way that is owned and lead by us.
• Is experienced - you can bring your flexible mindset, problem-solving, team building and communication skills to the table.
• Is looking to develop or continue a career in the Indigenous Land Management sector, and build long lasting connections.

We look to hire based on quality of character rather as well as specialised background.

The role will require you to work both in Balgo community and remotely in the field for extended periods of time during the field season (roughly March to November). DSS has a Broome office where you will work alongside Coordinators of programs for other DSS clients within the Northern region.

An attractive salary package with significant benefits including paid Christmas shutdown, relocation assistance, leave loading, regional allowance (if relevant), TOIL system and salary sacrifice will be offered to the successful candidate.

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.