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Land Management Officer - Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary

Australian Wildlife Conservancy

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is the largest private (non-profit) owner of land for conservation in Australia, protecting endangered wildlife at 30 sanctuaries in which we own or manage in partnership, covering a total of more than 6.5 million hectares in iconic regions such as the Kimberley, Cape York, the Top End and Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. With a focus on practical land management, informed by world-class science, AWC is implementing a dynamic new model for conservation.

AWC’s mission - to deliver effective conservation for all native animal species and their habitats - is achieved by:

  • Operations -delivering effective large-scale land management including fire management, feral animal control, weed control and infrastructure management.
  • Science -delivering a nationally-coherent program of ecological surveys with a focus on monitoring key conservation assets and threats, conducting applied research relevant to wildlife conservation, implementing conservation programs including reintroductions, and providing advice to management.
  • Fundraising -mobilising finance (primarily, tax deductible donations) from the general public and philanthropists including through effective communication of AWC conservation programs.

OneAWC is defined as ‘a cohesive, engaged, collaborative, high performing group guided by strong, effective leaders. A group of people who all understand AWC’s mission, vision and their role in contributing to the achievement of mission and vision, all connected and working towards a common purpose, guided by a set of shared values’. The delivery of AWC’s mission is highly reliant on all AWC working collaboratively with each other.

Of the 29 sanctuaries, 6 sanctuaries are in the southeast region: Kalamurina, Buckaringa, Dakalanta and Yookamurra in SA, Newhaven in NT, and Scotia in NSW, covering a combined area of more than 1 million hectares and protecting a diversity of threatened species and habitats.

Covering 262,000 hectares, Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Australia’s largest non-government protected areas. At Newhaven dramatic quartzite mountains overlook extensive parallel sand dunes, spinifex grasslands, shimmering salt lakes and mulga woodlands. Newhaven is a hotspot for the wildlife of central Australia.

At Newhaven AWC has initiated a project of global biodiversity significance – the establishment of a massive feral cat-free area currently covering 9,400 hectares with future stages increasing this area to up to 100 000 hectares. This is one of the largest feral cat eradication projects ever conducted and creates a refuge for large, wild populations of at least 10 nationally threatened mammal species including the Mala (currently extinct in the wild), the Central Rock Rat and the Golden Bandicoot.

AWC is seeking an enthusiastic Land Management Officer, to be based at Newhaven, to support the Sanctuary Manager and other staff in a range of land management, asset and infrastructure programs. You will also be responsible for ensuring tight integration between AWC’s Operations and Science teams where teams are expected to work together as part of a national AWC approach to conservation.

The successful applicant, with the guidance and support of the Sanctuary Manager and Senior Land Management Officer, will be responsible for implementing the day to day activities specified in the Annual Works Plan and, where required, coordinate multiple personnel working in the Operations Program.

The successful candidate will require knowledge of and be able to demonstrate experience in the delivery of land management programs for conservation including fire management, weed and feral animal control.

The role of the Land Management Officer extends to a broad range of tasks including asset and infrastructure maintenance. As such, a broad knowledge of all trades, practical skills in relation to asset and infrastructure repair and maintenance, and the ability to use a wide range of plant and equipment is essential.

You will need to be capable of working with a wide range of people including land managers, scientists, students, volunteers, visitors, neighbouring landholders including indigenous communities, government officials, and will be committed to helping AWC develop and implement a new model for conservation.

Based at Newhaven (4.5 hours’ drive north of Alice Springs), where basic on-site accommodation is provided, this is a unique opportunity to join Australia’s largest non-government conservation organisation and help shape the future of private sector conservation in Australia. As AWC evolves there may become a requirement for this role to transfer to a different property and therefore workplace flexibility is essential.

Enquiries only:

Until 9 October: Darcy Ginty, Sanctuary Manager | [email protected] | 0437 145 809

Thereafter: Fiona Tran, HR Advisor | [email protected] | 08 9380 9633 or

Joe Schofield, Regional Operations Manager SE | [email protected] | 0427 332 922

To submit an application, visit our careers page (linked above), select the relevant job vacancy, click ‘APPLY’ and follow the prompts.

Your application must include CV and covering letter, briefly addressing the critical competencies listed in the detailed job description on the following pages. Applications that do not meet these criteria will not be accepted.

Please note:

  1. Applicants must be an Australian citizen/permanent resident or have a suitable visa in place that allows ongoing full-time work in Australia, in order to apply for this position. Sponsorship is not available.
  2. 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.
  3. Any application submitted to AWC will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available at www.australianwildlife.org/privacy. By providing us with your contact details, your consent to receive communications and direct educational material will remain current until you advise us otherwise.

To learn more about AWC’s sanctuaries, please visit our website www.australianwildlife.org/sanctuaries/.

Click here to view the Position Description.

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