Preserve Knowledge. Strengthen Language. Safeguard Cultural Legacy.

Are you an experienced project manager and linguist passionate about protecting and revitalising First Nations languages?

Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership (CYIPL) is seeking a highly skilled and culturally grounded Project Manager - Linguist/Archivist to lead a significant language preservation initiative across Cape York Peninsula.

This is a rare opportunity to work alongside Elders, language custodians and language communities to secure, document and return vital language knowledge for future generations.

What's on Offer:

• A unique opportunity to lead a high-impact language preservation project
• Salary packaging up to $15,900 tax free
• Additional $2,650 pre-tax for meals, accommodation and entertainment
• Employee Assistance Program - free and confidential support
• Work within a purpose-driven organisation guided by the Pama Futures Agenda
• Opportunity to contribute to long-term cultural, social and language community outcomes across Cape York

About the Role

Based in Cairns (with travel), you will lead the delivery of the Language Legacy Data and Access Strengthening Project - a major initiative focused on securing, digitising and making accessible archival language materials.

In this dynamic and hands-on role, you will:

• Lead project governance, reporting and delivery against grant milestones
• Coordinate archival retrieval, cataloguing and data management across multiple institutions
• Oversee transcription, digitisation and linguistic analysis of primary language materials
• Coordinate corpus development and contribute to dictionaries, grammar resources and learning materials
• Facilitate co-design workshops with Elders, language experts and language community participants
• Lead development of language community portals using the Mukurtu platform
• Coordinate salvage recording with fluent speakers
• Build language community capability to manage, access and sustain language resources

You will manage complex workflows across multiple languages and stakeholders, operating with a high degree of autonomy in a culturally sensitive and language community-led environment.

About You

You are an experienced project manager and linguist with a strong track record delivering complex, language community-based language or research projects.

You will bring:

• A degree in Linguistics (postgraduate qualifications highly regarded)
• Demonstrated experience managing language documentation, archival or research-based projects
• Strong expertise in transcription, linguistic analysis and corpus development
• Experience coordinating archival retrieval, digitisation and cataloguing processes
• Proficiency in linguistic documentation tools (e.g. ELAN, FLEx, Praat or similar)
• Experience working with First Nations communities, including engagement with Elders and language custodians
• Thorough understanding of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and community consent frameworks
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and organisational skills
• Ability to travel and work across remote communities

Requirements:

• Blue Card and ability to complete a Police Check

Why Join Us?

At Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, you will be part of a values-driven organisation working in partnership with First Nations communities to deliver meaningful, long-term reform.

This is a unique opportunity to:

• Safeguard and strengthen First Nations languages for future generations
• Lead a landmark archival and language preservation project
• Work alongside language communities to recover and facilitate language community access to their language legacy.
• Contribute to the work of the Pama Language Centre, supporting language revitalisation across Cape York

How to Apply

Submit your resume and a short cover letter outlining your experience and interest in the role.

For more information, please contact Xavier Barker, Centre Coordinator, Pama Language Centre on 07 4045 0600.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.