Position Vacant – Indigenous Identified Senior Project Officer

Reef Catchments is seeking either a full time or part time Indigenous Identified Senior Project Officer to develop and maintain communication pathways between Reef Catchments and Traditional Owner groups, working groups, industry, local government and state government.

About Us

Reef Catchments is the Natural Resource Management (NRM) group for the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region with offices situated in Mackay and Proserpine.  We facilitate change and work for long-term solutions to sustain, protect, and improve our region’s natural resources and environment, both now an into the future.

Read more information about Reef Catchments and our activities here.

Our Values

Reef Catchments believes a positive work culture matters and we have created a harmonious workplace culture by putting into practice our core Organisational Values daily. These are:

• • Purposeful
  • Connected
  • Respect
  • Evolve
  • Accountable

Learn more about our vision and values here.

The Role

Reporting to the Coordinator – Conservation and Communities, the Senior Project Officer – Traditional Owner Engagement, will work in partnership with management and employees to integrate opportunities for Traditional Owner involvement and capacity building in existing and future projects. The Officer will be responsible for the implementation of conservation projects within the region that aim to engage the local community, improve the adoption of best conservation practice, and contribute towards improved ecosystem outcomes.

In return, we offer a flexible and positive work environment, excellent conditions, and an opportunity to enhance and build your skills in multiple areas and platforms through professional development.

Selection criteria

Essential

• Experience in developing and/or implementing Cultural Heritage Management Plans, Indigenous Ranger Programs and/or Caring for Country Plans
• Project management experience
• Good written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate with influence, to a diverse client base including landholders, industry groups, government and contractors
• A deep understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and peoples, particularly around procurement, workforce, and community engagement
• Prior experience in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• A clear understanding of cultural protocol, practices and native title
• Be able to adapt to cultural protocols with the Traditional Owner Groups within the region
• A clear understanding of indigenous governance integrated into Reef Catchments policies and procedures
• Demonstrated innovative mindset for continuous improvement
• Current Driver’s Licence
• Current valid Working with Children Check (desirable) or have the ability to obtain a blue card
• This role provides affords a rewarding professional career and considerable work/life balance opportunities

Key Attributes

• Positive nature and open positive mindset
• Outcome driven
• Always looking for new and improved ways of building mobs capacity and building meaningful relationships
• Always willing to learn

How you will be assessed

Those wishing to express an interest in the position are required to:

• Attach your current resume (of no more than 4 pages)
• Provide a response to the essential requirements listed under Selection Criteria, outlining your skills and attributes and suitability for the position. Your response should be no more than 3 pages.

The selection panel will assess your ability to perform the work required of the position based on your response and resume and other selection processes which may include an interview.

Referees will be contacted to verify the information you provide and to comment on how you demonstrate the attributes being sought (upon successful interview).

Further information can be obtained by contacting:

Kira Andrews – Coordinator – Conservation and Communities

Position Vacant

Title: Project Officer – Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership
Tenure: Full-time
Base Salary: $55,000 to $85,000
Location: Mackay or Proserpine
Reports to: Executive Officer – Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership

About the Partnership
We formed in 2014 in recognition of the impact of collective action. The Partnership is a collaboration between the community, Traditional Owners, farmers and fishers, industry, science, tourism, and government. The Partnership aims to provide a complete picture of our region’s waterway condition and advocate for improved waterway health.

As a Partnership, we have identified the following objectives to drive our program:

• Engaged partners that collaborate on innovative ideas and actions to improve waterway health
• Advocate for investment to increase our understanding of waterway conditions to prioritise and inform decision making
• Identify, collate, integrate and analyse existing data from waterway monitoring programs and translate it into understandable messages and stories for the public
• Celebrate and inspire actions that improve waterway health.

About the role

The Project Officer is primarily responsible for the management of numerous waterway-related projects that contribute to the annual Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac (MWI) Report Card. The Project Officer will work closely with the Technical Officer to ensure the coordination of all technical and project-related activities of the Partnership and will assist the communications Officer in planning and delivering community engagement activities. Some overnight travel (within Queensland) will be required as part of this role.

The role
Join a dynamic and versatile team to lead the design, development and implementation Water and Quality Improvement initiatives within the Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac region. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with partners and stakeholders in developing, coordinating, and reporting on waterways management issues across the region.

This is a highly varied and fast-paced role, requiring an energetic multi-tasker with the ability to coordinate activities and outcomes across Water & Quality Improvement project areas simultaneously. Prior experience in an NRM; streambank remediation works; scientific or government-based role will be highly regarded. We are looking for a team player with a positive and engaging personality.

In return, we offer a flexible and positive work environment, with excellent conditions, and an opportunity to enhance and build your skills in multiple areas.

Key responsibilities for the position

• Project management (60%)
  • Manage projects that contribute to data used to create the annual Report Card, including project budgets and milestone reports.
  • Assist the Executive Officer to develop scopes of work and contracts for external service providers on behalf of the Partnership, where required.
  • Assist with developing agendas and taking minutes for Partnership, Management Committee, and other meetings as required.
• Providing technical support (25%)
  • Assist the Technical and Communications Officer in developing, collating, synthesising and disseminating technical and scientific information that contributes to the annual Report Card and other Partnership projects.
  • Work closely with the Partnership’s Technical Working Group and the Reef Plan Independent Science Panel to ensure scientific validity of the reporting framework.
• Community engagement (15%)
  • Assist in communicating the program and its outcomes to technical and non-technical audiences, as per the Partnership’s communication and engagement strategy.
  • Assist in the coordination and delivery of community engagement activities (e.g., presentations, events, volunteer activities, etc.).

About you

• You are able to work harmoniously in a team environment and autonomously.
• You possess strong communication skills, with the ability to translate technical information into more understandable information through different formats (e.g., data visualisation, media, presentations, etc.).
• You are organised and able to prioritise competing tasks given tight deadlines.
• You enjoy cultivating and maintaining relationships

Selection Criteria

Essential Requirements

• Demonstrated project management skills and experience, including managing project budgets.
• Experience in and/or knowledge relating to waterway ecosystems (e.g., water quality, aquatic/marine ecology, hydrology, etc.) and scientific data analysis and reporting
• Strong technical report writing skills.
• Demonstrated experience utilising a range of communication tools (i.e., written and verbal) and conveying complex technical information to different stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated initiative, problem-solving ability, and ability to multitask under tight deadlines

Desirable

• Data analysis expertise (e.g., R, Tableau, Python, Power BI, etc.) and/or scientific data management
• Experience in applying State and/or Commonwealth water quality guidelines (preference will be given to application of regional water quality guidelines).
• Experience and/or knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
  • Freshwater/estuarine/marine fish ecology.
  • Urban water quality guidelines, including urban stormwater management and/or erosion and sediment control.
  • Aquatic/marine citizen science research.
  • Indigenous cultural work, particularly in the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region.
  • Human/social dimensions as it relates to ecology.
  • Knowledge of flow dynamics and hydrological methods for freshwater systems.
  • Working knowledge of the waterways of the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac Region (NB this role is primarily office-based).

Work Environment

The Partnership is hosted by Reef Catchments Limited, the natural resource management (NRM) organisation in the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region.

Reef Catchments has a hybrid working from home policy that allows up to 40% of contract hours to be performed from home and set in-office team days. Other arrangements can be discussed.

To apply:

Please submit your application (resume and cover letter) outlining your suitability to the position based on the selection criteria via email hr@reefcatchments.com by close of business, Monday 6th February 2023.

For further information please contact Human Resources: (07) 4968 4200 or hr@reefcatchments.com

Position Vacant

Title: Executive Officer – Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership
Tenure: Full-time (part-time considered) Commence March 2023
Base Salary: $85,000 to $105,000 (depending on experience)
Location: Mackay or Proserpine

We are seeking an engaging leader to set the strategic direction for the Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership as it advocates for improved waterway monitoring and waterway health in the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region.

About you

• You are a proven leader with prior experience in project management or senior coordinator roles.
• You have an interest and knowledge in environmental sustainability, particularly waterway science or ecology, or ability to learn.
• You enjoy building and maintaining relationships.
• You have ideas for attracting new partners and ensuring the continued stability and growth of the Partnership.
• You are a passionate communicator and can engage with a variety of audiences and stakeholders with influence.
• You have experience leading a team and work best in a collaborative work environment.

This role would suit a broad range of professionals with diverse backgrounds in waterway science or management, environmental management, community engagement, science communication and education, and business sustainability.

Roles and primary duties

• Lead and oversee the delivery of the Partnership program.
• Provide strategic direction to the Partnership as it expands and takes on new projects and identifies new opportunities.
• Generate new revenue and in-kind support and identify new partnership opportunities aligned with the Partnership vision.
• Lead the technical and communication staff to oversee the design of technical reports, scientific communication products and communication and marketing activities.
• Maintain and enhance governance arrangements, including providing operational and secretariat services for the Partnership and Management Committee meetings.

The role oversees a small multidisciplinary team (Technical Officers and Communication Officer). We are one of five regional reef report card Partnerships, and you will work closely with colleagues in other regional Partnerships to ensure program efficiency and leveraging of opportunities. Visit www.healthyriverstoreef.org.au for more information on the Partnership’s vision and objectives.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated leadership capability and program management experience.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence.
• Demonstrated experience managing and influencing committees and secretariat services, including maintaining annual budgets and financial reports.
• Knowledge of waterway science, or ability to acquire. Background in environmental science and natural resource management will be highly regarded.
• Ability to prioritise competing workloads under tight deadlines or budgets.
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field, with a minimum of five (5) years of experience.

Work Environment
The Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership is hosted by Reef Catchments Limited, the natural resource management (NRM) organisation in the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region. Reef Catchments has a hybrid working from home policy that allows up to 40% of contract hours to be performed from home and set in-office team days. Other arrangements can be negotiated.

To apply:

1. Provide a cover letter outlining suitability for the position based on the selection
   criteria. Your response should be no more than 2 pages;
2. Attach your current resume (of no more than 4 pages).

Please forward completed applications to hr@reefcatchments.com. Applications close 24 February 2023.
For more information contact Reef Catchments Human Resources Officer on 07 4968 4200.