About the Opportunity

The Principal Policy Officer, Animal Welfare and Wildlife takes a leadership role in developing policy for advancing the wildlife sector and wildlife welfare for the future.  This role will give you the opportunity to contribute to the implementation of the new Biodiversity Act and changes to the Animal Welfare Act and lead the process of wildlife and animal welfare regulation and management across the state.  In this role your research and critical thinking skills will be vital for identify emerging issues and analysing risks, and initiating, developing and delivering projects and policies to manage those risks.  Your policy leadership experience, ability to make balanced and practical judgements backed by evidence, will position you to contribute to setting the direction for the management of wildlife in immediate emergencies and for the future. 

You will lead engagement and consultation processes in relation to policy and regulatory change with stakeholders from industry, wildlife permit holders, animal welfare groups and other Australian jurisdictions.  Your ability to navigate disparate views, challenging questions and hold conversations on sensitive matters with a wide range of stakeholders, while maintaining a professional stance will be the key to your success.  This role requires you to have a self-aware approach, where you know and can manage your own values and processes for dealing with challenging material to meet the challenges of managing wildlife and welfare.

What you will bring:

To succeed you will need:

• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with extensive experience leading community consultations, navigating difficult conversations respectfully.
• Experience in successfully engaging, negotiating and influencing stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to achieve collaborative and high-quality outcomes
• Experience in public policy development within complex political and social contexts.
• Leadership and project management experience delivering legislative and regulatory reform initiatives.
• Knowledge of current and emerging wildlife and animal welfare issues.
• Applied strategic, conceptual, and analytical thinking skills, supported by high level research and problem-solving skills
• Ability to identify and evaluate risks and issues, and to recommend practical regulatory and non-regulatory policy solutions.
• Proven track record in effectively supervising a team.
• A degree or post graduate qualification in natural resource management, animal welfare or community management related disciplines is considered highly desirable.

To see if you are a good match for this opportunity download the role description for more details on the job and capabilities we are seeking.

What we can offer you:

• A convenient CBD location close to public transport and cafes.
• Flexible working arrangements that recognise the importance of work-life balance and help you manage your commitments.
• The opportunity to develop and apply your expertise to influence decision making and manage SA's wildlife and animal welfare needs.
• A collaborative, multidisciplinary team focused on getting the right outcomes for our wildlife.

You can find out more about the Department and the work we do at environment.sa.gov.au

Special Conditions

• You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or provide evidence that you hold a valid working visa that allows you to work in Australia without restrictions.
• Prior to being employed, the successful applicant will be required to obtain a National Police Check.
• May be required to undertake intra or interstate travel, occasional overnight absences, and work outside of the normal hours of work.
• You may be required to participate in responses to state emergencies or associated duties.