• Term: 12-month fixed-term contract
• Time Commitment: Part-time (2-3 days per week)
• Location: Canberra-based or location suitable for frequent travel to Canberra
• Remuneration: $115,000 - $125,000 FTE + superannuation, commensurate with experience
• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

About NRM Regions Australia

NRM Regions Australia is the national peak body representing 54 regional natural resource management (NRM) organisations. We provide national leadership, coordination, and capability-building across one of the world's most comprehensive regional environmental management systems. Our mission is to support our members in their critical work, ensuring the regional NRM network remains a powerful force in addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, disaster risk, and sustainable land and water management. We are driven by a small, dedicated team supporting a national sector that creates lasting environmental and social impact.

Purpose of the role

The primary focus of this role is to elevate the profile and influence of the NRM sector, championing its established capability, operational efficiency, and place-based leadership. Working closely with the CEO, you will position our network as an indispensable partner not only to the federal government - including key departments such as Environment, Agriculture, Climate Change, Treasury, and Finance - but also to a broader network of stakeholders.

You will lead the development and execution of an engagement strategy that bridges our organisation and members with federal parliamentarians, departmental staff, and these wider stakeholders to create the conditions for long-term, sustainable investment. This engagement will support the CEO to secure the smooth and timely renewal of the five-year federal funding agreements that underpin our members' critical work driving the enhancement of natural capital, community resilience, and economic stability.

Duties & key responsibilities

You will work with the CEO and the broader team on:

• Engagement Strategy: Design and deliver a coordinated federal government relations engagement strategy for our organisation and the regional NRM organisations, in collaboration with partners across the environmental, agricultural, climate change and aligned sectors, including for the forthcoming renewal of the regional NRM organisations’ five-year funding agreements under the Natural Heritage Trust.

• Relationship building: Work with the CEO to strengthen trusted and productive non-partisan parliamentary and stakeholder relationships across the political spectrum and with other relevant stakeholders.

• Policy & briefing: Monitor policy consultation processes, discussions and parliamentary and public debates to identify engagement opportunities for the NRM sector. Prepare high-quality briefings, and correspondence, ensuring alignment with the engagement strategy. Lead and contribute to policy submissions as time permits.

• Other duties as directed.

Key deliverables:

• An engagement plan tailored to the strategic goals of NRM Regions Australia and its members.

• A stakeholder engagement map and ongoing relationship management strategy.

• High-quality briefing notes and submissions for federal government and other relevant processes.

Key selection criteria

1. Strategic thinking & political acumen

• Demonstrated expertise in government relations, policy advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, particularly in Canberra.

• Strong understanding of Cabinet, Budget, and parliamentary processes.

• Outstanding strategic thinker with the capacity to identify opportunities for the NRM sector within the political landscape.

2. Communication, engagement & partnership building

• Proven ability to develop trusted, non-partisan parliamentary and stakeholder relationships.

• Superior written, editorial, and verbal communication skills, with a track record of producing high-quality briefs and submissions.

• Well-developed influencing and relationship-building skills.

3. Organisational Skills

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently while supporting the CEO.

• Excellent planning and time management skills, with the ability to coordinate projects with tight deadlines.

4. Qualifications & Experience

• Proven experience in a Ministerial office, government department, or in-house/agency government relations role.

• Experience in the environmental, sustainable agriculture or related sectors is desirable.

• Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience.

Additional factors

• Location/Travel: The position is preferably based in Canberra or a location suitable for frequent travel to Canberra.
• Right to Work: You must be eligible to work in Australia (Australian citizen, permanent resident, or holder of a valid visa with work rights).
• Remuneration: Competitive pro-rata salary based on a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) range of $115,000 - $125,000 + super, commensurate with experience.

EEO statement

NRM Regions Australia is committed to applying Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws. We aim to ensure that when employment decisions are made, they are based on merit, not on irrelevant attributes or characteristics that an individual may possess.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact CEO Marnie Lassen ([email protected] using the subject line: Strategic Engagement Lead - Canberra / Flexible Location enquiry via EthicalJobs or 0402 429 404).

A position description is attached.