About us:

Country Needs People is a small environment non-profit with a major track record of positive impact across Australia and beyond. We are a newly independent organisation developed from over a decade’s steady work with multiple Indigenous land and sea management groups around Australia. The Executive Director answers to a newly formed board who share a wide range of experience including Indigenous led conservation, environmental advocacy, remote area policy, research and enterprise and federal and state government policy. Our focus is to improve the management of Australia’s environment by working closely and strategically with Indigenous partners, government, and other stakeholders to enhance the quantity, quality and security of Indigenous led conservation and cultural values management.

We combine strategic, non-partisan advocacy to state and federal governments with development of a broad public support base across Australia and at times specific collaborative project related work with partners. With a particularly strong track record supporting the work of Indigenous Rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas we work more broadly through a lens that sees protection and good management of biodiversity and cultural values as a people centred exercise that contributes to a truly sustainable economy and benefits all Australians We consider carefully how we can add value before acting, have a broad view but a disciplined focus, and place a high emphasis on developing trust, clarity and consistency in our partner working relationships.

About you;

We are looking for an experienced all-rounder with strong political advocacy, organising and communications skills, who also has a strong interest in and motivation around environmental and social justice outcomes (particularly in remote Australia) and a strong sense of the elements required to affect constructive political change. You are a people person who is confident but doesn’t bring a big ego to work, capable of working both with significant delegated responsibility and at times under close direction but can turn a hand to any task required in a small team including sharing the work program of organisational administrative and campaign tasks. You treat your work colleagues with respect at all times and contribute to a friendly and enjoyable team environment while keeping focused on the task at hand.

The work will include engaging with a variety of stakeholders and partners including remote Indigenous partner organisations. There is a strong preference for candidates based in, or willing to relocate to Canberra. Some travel and occasional weekend work may be required. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants and women are encouraged to apply.

Scope of work:

• Contribute to the ongoing delivery and adjustment of integrated advocacy campaign strategy and communications with a particular focus on remote and arid lands biodiversity management and conservation including Indigenous Protected Areas and Indigenous Rangers

• Support advocacy and negotiations with cross-sectoral partners and political decision makers at state and federal level
• Organise public and parliamentary targeted events often with partner groups to build profile for the campaign, sector and organisation, occasionally in remote settings
• Assist in maintaining strong constructive working relationships and a positive profile with partner groups, stakeholders and at times funders
• Contribute to ensuring our online and digital outreach and supporter list is carefully managed to maximise support and impact
• As part of the team support and at times oversee production of reports, analyses and other products that assist in furthering the campaign aims and/or organisational impact
• At times assist in management of specialist contractors and/or specific projects

Essential Skills Required:

• Skilled campaigner with five plus years of experience in advocacy and non-profit operations or equivalent relevant experience
• Capacity to work effectively within a cross-cultural environment including with Indigenous partner organisations
• Strong communication skills including demonstrated experience with mainstream, online and social media, production of basic communications products and a strong understanding of the broad communications needs associated with advocacy
• Experience in or a strong understanding of building campaigns which effectively connect a mass audience with political decision-makers
• Capacity to conduct and support a variety of tasks across a small team and balance advocacy, operations, and contribution to organisational development needs
• Experience contributing to the design and implementation of strategy and tactics to build support for a campaign or issue across the political spectrum

Desirable Attributes:

• Demonstrated capacity to work with a wide range of different sectors and people including regional, remote stakeholders and the Indigenous sector
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated capacity to adjust communication according to context for different audiences to best support campaign and organisational aims
• A demonstrable capacity to work independently and also work as part of a geographically dispersed team
• Well-developed political instincts and an ability to respond quickly to changing political circumstances while building and sustaining a longer-term strategy
• An understanding of or the capacity to quickly develop understanding of remote area and community-based Indigenous land and sea management context, policy and politics and how to apply that in a campaign setting
• Experience with managing online supporter lists using software such as Nationbuilder or similar

Terms:

• Initial 12-month contract with a likely 12-month extension, dependent on campaign requirements and performance
• It is expected that the role will require a workload of 5 days per week, including occasional weekends. Applicants interested in part-time work will be considered based on experience
• Remuneration will be in the $75,000 to $85,000 range based on skills and experience + 9.5% superannuation, holidays, sick leave and other standard conditions
• This position will report to Executive Director Patrick O’Leary

Inquiries about the role can be directed to Executive Director Patrick O’Leary 0417063917.