About AWC:

AWC is a pragmatic global conservation leader, restoring landscapes and securing the future of Australia’s most endangered wildlife through science led, measurable impact at scale. Inspired by the richness of Australia’s biodiversity, we are united by a shared commitment to protect its unique animals and habitats.

Delivering this mission depends on OneAWC: a cohesive, engaged and high performing organisation, guided by strong leadership and shared values. Every role at AWC contributes to our mission and works collaboratively towards shared conservation, safety and organisational outcomes.

AWC’s work is guided by the following values. At AWC, we are:

• Accountable – taking ownership of our actions and outcomes
• Informed – working together to acquire and apply evidence, knowledge and experience
• Respectful – demonstrating care, recognition and integrity 
• Dedicated – committed to delivering effective outcomes, with resilience and tenacity
• Innovative – applying creative thinking for effective solutions
• Sustainable – delivering long-term financial and ecological viability. 

About the role:

Australian Wildlife Conservancy is recruiting a Botanist with a strong passion for a career in applied vegetation ecology and botany. This is a rare opportunity to join AWC's nationally based vegetation team in a full-time permanent role, based at a location to be agreed, with a significant field-based component at AWC properties and partnership sites, many of them remote.

AWC employs around 80 professional ecologists. Our Regional Science teams deliver the science program on the ground, supported by our National Science team (NST) of conservation ecologists, spatial analysts and data managers. The NST coordinates national conservation and reintroduction programs, leads national research projects, runs specialist ecological surveys, analyses and maps spatial data, and provides strategic direction and advice to ecologists in the field and to AWC's Executive and Board. The vegetation team sits within the NST.

Reporting to AWC's Vegetation Ecologist, you will work closely with a senior Botanist, both of whom bring advanced expertise in plant identification, vegetation survey and mapping. Day-to-day direction may be provided by the senior Botanist, and you may supervise volunteers and interns or lead small field teams as delegated. You will also work alongside the GIS team, Senior Ecologists and regional science teams nationally.

AWC's vegetation monitoring program informs our Ecohealth reporting by tracking trends in vegetation structure and composition, and conducts research on vegetation responses to mammal reintroductions, with findings published in the scientific literature. The team also contributes to weed management strategies and supports Science and Operations staff with plant identification and vegetation monitoring expertise at fauna survey sites. There are further opportunities to contribute across AWC's broader science program.

Field work spans a wide range of vegetation communities and biomes: semi-arid woodlands and shrublands of inland Australia; high-rainfall remote savannas of the Kimberley; species-rich heath and woodland complexes of south-west Western Australia; and rainforests of the Wet Tropics of Queensland.

Critical competencies:

1. Considerable field experience across a variety of Australian vegetation communities, with a good understanding of landscape ecology and the major threats to native wildlife and habitats.
2. Highly developed botanical field skills: knowledge of Australian plant families and a natural aptitude for distinguishing closely related grasses and small forbs, with the ability to rapidly learn and retain diagnostic field characteristics.
3. Specimen identification in the office: experience applying complex taxonomic keys accurately, with the patience and attention to detail to critically evaluate results against available resources.
4. Vegetation survey and monitoring design: hands-on survey experience and familiarity with monitoring techniques used across Australia.
5. Data management and analysis: proven ability to collect, organise, clean and check complex datasets, with moderate to high-level Excel and QGIS (or similar) skills, and either statistical experience or the aptitude to learn it rapidly.
6. Scientific communication: the ability to draft reports, contribute to publications and funding applications, and communicate conservation messages to a general audience.
7. Collaboration and teamwork: the desire to work within a diverse team of botanists, conservation ecologists, land managers, Traditional Owners, partners, interns and volunteers, contributing what you can and learning from others.
8. Getting things done and resourcefulness: strong planning and organisational skills, cost-effective project delivery, and the ability to improvise and problem-solve with the resources at hand.
9. Living and working in the bush: experience living and working in remote locations, or the genuine interest and capacity to do so.

Qualifications:

• A degree in botany, ecology or a related discipline, with Honours or equivalent experience. The level of appointment will depend on the qualifications and experience of the appointee. 

Licenses, certificates and/or training:

• Valid manual driver’s licence is essential. For fieldwork on AWC properties, you will need to have experience in driving a 4WD in difficult conditions.
• Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, or willingness to obtain. 

Inherent requirements:

This role involves fieldwork in remote and sometimes isolated locations, often away from an established field base and working in extremes of weather. It can be physically demanding, including walking and climbing over rough terrain, lifting and carrying, and driving a variety of vehicles, alongside periods of office-based planning and project work. The successful candidate will spend approximately 35% of their time in the field and 65% office-based

PLEASE NOTE: Due to planned absences within the hiring team during the advertising period, applications will not be reviewed until mid to late October. We appreciate your patience during this time.

To view the detailed position description for this role, click here: Botanist