About us

Earthwatch Institute is a global environmental non-profit dedicated to conserving Earth’s biodiversity and integrity for current and future generations. Founded in 1971, with five offices worldwide, it empowers people to protect nature through hands-on environmental and sustainability programs for corporations, students, teachers, and the public. This approach bridges the gap between science and the community, fostering an informed society capable of sustainable action. As Australia’s largest citizen science organisation, Earthwatch focuses on critical issues like climate change, ocean health, landscape restoration, and wildlife protection and undertaking research expeditions globally.

We are a small, yet powerful organisation united in the following values:

• Responsibility: The wellbeing of our staff, researchers, volunteers and the environments in which we work is at the core of our operations.
• Integrity: We act at all times in good faith and with exemplary honesty and transparency
• Professionalism: All of our actions demonstrate our commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and service
• Inspiration: We are inspired by our work, and we seek to inspire others with experiences and knowledge that enable them to take action
• Inclusion: We are greater than the sum of our parts; we collaborate with others and bring together diverse backgrounds with dignity, respect, and fairness

About You

Passionate about biodiversity, education, and engaging people? Love new challenges and fieldwork? We want to hear from you!
You're proactive, ambitious, and have a can-do attitude. Organisation, communication, and relationship-building skills are your strengths. You thrive in remote field locations and enjoy facilitating amazing experiences. You work well both autonomously and in small teams, and you value collaboration and innovative thinking.

With a relevant degree and some workplace experience, you're eager to apply your environmental knowledge to empower people to save the natural world. Your enthusiastic and outgoing nature helps you initiate and maintain relationships with diverse participants and stakeholders, including teachers, students, public participants, government, and corporate partners.

If travelling to Australia's remote and beautiful places for positive environmental action sounds like your dream job, we want to hear from you!

Position Overview

We seek a passionate and motivated individual to coordinate and deliver our citizen science programs in Climate and Biodiversity. Reporting to the Climate & Biodiversity Manager, day-to-day activities involve liaising with and coordinating citizen scientist participants, undertaking logistical arrangements for Earthwatch experiences, implementing citizen scientist activities and contributing to project reporting. This role can involve up to 10 weeks of annual travel to remote Australian destinations, as well as travel to Canberra and other locations. A willingness to work out of hours and some weekends for fieldwork is required, and extended periods of field work is required (1-2 weeks). Flexible, hybrid working arrangements are supported, with 1-2 days per week attendance at the Earthwatch Australia office required.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Project Coordination 

• Ensure project milestones are met on time, within budget, and to a high standard.
• Recruit citizen-scientist participants, including schools, teachers, students, corporate partners, and volunteers.
• Coordinate program logistics and participant travel to Australian project locations.
• Facilitate Earthwatch experiences including expeditions and shorter events
• Support participants and stakeholders to achieve program outcomes through meaningful experiences like workshops, professional development, coaching, and mentoring.
• Develop and deliver resources for in-person and online learning.
• Measure outcomes, behaviour change, and program impact, collecting necessary data for monitoring and evaluation.
• Contribute to internal, impact and partnership reporting.

2. Stakeholder Relations  

• Maintain relationships with program partners.
• Build and sustain strong connections with external stakeholders, including schools, sponsors, community groups, and delivery partners.
• Represent Earthwatch professionally at outreach and networking events.  

3. Program Marketing & Communication 

• Work with Earthwatch staff, scientists, and partners to market and promote programs.
• Distribute project information and updates internally for marketing, business development, public relations, awards, and fundraising.

4. Risk and Incident Duties 

• Draft safety and risk mitigations for field experiences, for review by Earthwatch Field Safety staff.
• Implement best practice safety protocols for safe and successful experience delivery.
• Contribute to incident management on projects.
• Undertake regular on-call Duty Officer duties 

5. Other duties  

• Undertake upskilling and professional development as needed.
• Contribute to continual improvement of Earthwatch processes and procedures.
• Other mutually agreed tasks.

THE ESSENTIALS

Requirements

• Be an Australian citizen or have a valid work visa for full-time work in Australia.
• Hold a valid Australian driver's license.
• Have a current Working with Children Check or be willing to obtain.
• Hold a current First Aid qualification/certification or be willing to obtain.
• Have a degree from a recognised tertiary institution in a relevant field (e.g., environmental science, conservation or biology).

Skills & Competencies

• Knowledge of environmental science and science communication.
• Strong organisational and project coordination skills.
• Working knowledge of citizen science, science communication, and behaviour change principles.
• Experience in facilitating small groups, including in remote locations for extended periods (1-2 weeks)
• Ability to network with, inspire, and instruct diverse teams.
• Community engagement and event facilitation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 apps, including SharePoint.
• Willingness to travel and work outside of normal hours.

Desirable Attributes

• Experience working with project management software.
• Experience with program budgets.
• Teaching or education experience.
• Grant or proposal writing experience.
• Public speaking or workshop facilitation.
• Competency in 4WD off-road driving.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Relevant qualification with knowledge of climate science, biodiversity, environmental education, citizen science, and/or behaviour change.
2. Strong organisational skills with proven experience in program and event coordination.
3. Effective communication skills, including networking, relationship-building, and motivating diverse groups.
4. Experience in facilitating small groups - ideally in remote locations - for 1-2 weeks.
5. Collaborative team member who builds rapport easily and contributes to a positive work culture.

WHAT WE OFFER

Mode of Employment: Full-time contract

Salary: $68,000-$73,000 p.a, depending on experience, plus superannuation per Australian Government rates. 20 days annual leave.

Staff Benefits:

• Small team environment
• Green office space in Carlton, close to public transport
• Flexible work arrangements
• Intra and interstate travel
• Employee Assistance Program
• Salary packaging option
• Professional development and upskilling
• Study leave

Reports To: Program Manager (Climate & Biodiversity)

Direct Reports: None

Internal Relationships: Earthwatch employees, volunteers/interns, international staff

External Relationships: Program partners, sponsors, stakeholders, participants, research partners, scientists, contractors, suppliers, IT providers, community members, educational contacts (teachers, schools, associations, students).

This is an evolving role in a small, but growing organisation, so it should be noted that this outline cannot be representative of the full tasks list to be undertaken by the successful applicant. It is recognised that the duties of all roles can be subject to change from time to time. Alterations to duties and responsibilities within the scope of the role should be expected, discussed and mutually agreed over time. As the company grows, reporting lines may evolve.

Earthwatch Australia is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, all genders, young people, LGBTQI+ people and people with a disability are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must have the right to live and work in Australia to be considered for this job.

Love the sound of this opportunity, but can’t check 100% of the boxes, get in touch! Send your queries to earth@earthwatch.org.au using the subject line: Program Coordinator enquiry via EthicalJobs or call us on (03) 9016 7590.