Senior Operations Manager | Central Australia

About AWC:

AWC is a pragmatic global conservation leader, restoring landscapes and providing hope for Australian wildlife. Guided by science, AWC delivers measurable conservation impacts at scale to secure the future of our most endangered species.

At AWC we are inspired by the unparalleled richness of Australia’s wildlife and we are united by our determination to protect its unique animals and landscapes. It is our mission to effectively conserve all Australian wildlife and habitats and our vision is for a world where Australia’s biodiversity is valued and effectively conserved by an engaged community.

The delivery of AWC’s mission is highly reliant on all AWC working collaboratively with each other as a cohesive, engaged, collaborative, high performing group guided by strong, effective leaders.

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:

Based in Alice Springs, the Senior Operations Manager – Central Australia leads conservation delivery across some of AWC's most remote and significant desert landscapes. You'll provide leadership and line management for the Sanctuary Managers at Newhaven and Ngalurrtju in the Northern Territory and Kalamurina in South Australia. You'll also lead the emerging Central Desert Partnership, working alongside private landholder partners.

This is a hands-on leadership role where success is measured by real outcomes on the ground: healthier populations of indicator species, reduced wildfire impact, fewer feral animals and less invasive weed cover, all delivered cost-effectively. You'll oversee operational plans and budgets for each site and guide delivery of fire management, feral animal and weed control, infrastructure projects such as fencing and buildings, and broader landscape restoration.

Working closely with AWC's regional science team, you'll make sure land management is informed by science and contributes to a national approach to conservation. You'll lead and support a remote team of staff, contractors and volunteers, with a strong focus on safety, wellbeing and a collaborative culture.

The role also involves building strong relationships with neighbours, government agencies, fire services and partners. You'll oversee visitor and volunteer programs and help share AWC's conservation story through communications and philanthropy activities.

If you're a practical, resourceful leader with land management experience and a passion for conservation, this is a chance to make a lasting impact at scale in Central Australia!

Critical competencies:

1. Getting things done: you need exceptional planning and organisational skills, including a demonstrated ability to prioritise and execute a large number of tasks in an efficient manner.
2. Managing staff: you need excellent people management skills, including the leadership of, and managing and coordinating remote teams of staff and contractors. This includes monitoring safety of staff when they are working/living alone, and monitoring remote staff travel.
3. Working with people: excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to establish and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
4. Practical land management and asset management: demonstrated knowledge and practical experience delivering land management programs including fire management, weed and feral animal control programs. Demonstrated practical skills managing assets and infrastructure including:
5. The planning, supervision and implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects such as fencing and building;
6. The planning and delivery of feral eradication programs both within fenced areas and across unfenced landscapes;
7. The planning and delivery of prescribed fire programs, including wildfire response; and
8. The ability to use a wide range of plant and equipment (generators, pumps, power tools etc, and perform routine repairs, including mechanical, and maintenance.
9. 4WD experience in relevant off-road conditions is essential.
10. Financial management: demonstrated ability to deliver projects in a cost-effective manner and to manage financial resources including:
11. Preparing and maintaining a budget
12. Coding and tracking expenditure, operating within the budget; and
13. Preparing written financial and operational reports.
14. Paperwork/compliance: demonstrated ability to maintain records, manage data, write letters and reports, manage permit/authorization processes and undertake contract management.
15. Resourcefulness: the ability to improvise and ‘problem-solve’, developing practical solutions with limited resources.
16. Living in the bush: previous experience of working and living in a rural area, preferably remote, and the supervision of teams in geographically diverse locations.
17. Information technology: advanced ability in using standard business software packages (including Word, email, Excel, MS Project) is essential.
18. A passion for conservation: a passion for, or strong interest in, conservation.
19. Willingness to travel.

Qualifications:

1. Formal qualifications in a relevant discipline would be an advantage, but is less important than strong, practical experience and a good track record of delivering ‘on-ground’ results.
2. Proven experience in delivering ‘on-ground’ results.

Licenses, Certificates and/or Training:

1. Valid manual driver’s licence.
2. Valid agricultural machinery licences for machinery such as trucks, tractors and other vehicles/equipment as relevant (or the capacity to readily obtain these licences).
3. Firearms licence.
4. Senior first aid certificate or the capacity to readily obtain it (remote certification – highly desirable).
5. Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, or willingness to obtain.

PLEASE NOTE: This position is offered on a permanent full-time basis with a proposed commencement in the new year.

To view the detailed position description for this role, click here: Senior Operations Manager – Central Australia

Join our Journey:

Take the leap and start your next adventure with the AWC! AWC reserves the right to start screening applicants and interviewing throughout the recruitment process.

Initial enquiries: employment@australianwildlife.org

Applications: To submit an application, click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts to complete an online application form. Your application must include CV and covering letter, briefly addressing the critical competencies listed in the detailed job description attachment.

Please note:

1. Applicants must be an Australian citizen/permanent resident or have a suitable visa in place in order to apply. Sponsorship is not available.
2. Applicants will undergo relevant pre-employment checks, which may include a national police clearance, online medical and a values-based assessment. Please note that the cost of the police check is the responsibility of the applicant.
3. If you apply for this role, AWC will include you in its ongoing updates and communications about its events, activities and fundraising initiatives. You may opt out of these communications at any time.
4. Any application submitted to AWC will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available at www.australianwildlife.org/privacy-policy. By providing us with your contact details, you consent to receive communications and direct educational material will remain current until you advise us otherwise.

AWC is a welcoming and inclusive organisation that invites individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as those who identify as First Nations and Torres Strait Islander, individuals with disabilities, the LGBTIQA+ community, neurodivergent individuals, and those from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, to apply for the opportunity. AWC values and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable to be themselves, and where a range of perspectives, cultures, and voices are respected and recognised as a key part to the success of AWC. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must also have the right to live and work in Australia.