Director, Biodiversity Impact Assessment

Department-of-Energy,-Environment-and-Climate-Action; Victoria; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (Victoria) seeks a Director, Biodiversity Impact Assessment to provide strategic leadership over statewide biodiversity programs, regulatory frameworks, and offset systems. The role coordinates across housing, energy, transport and planning initiatives, guiding risk and policy decisions.

The position is fixed-term, with hybrid work within Victoria and regular travel across the six regions.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading complex technical functions and strategic programs.
• Experience developing high-performing teams to deliver biodiversity outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and senior technical leadership for Victoria-wide biodiversity impact assessment portfolio.
• Oversee biodiversity assessment processes and environmental approvals.
• Manage native vegetation regulation and biodiversity compensation/offset systems.
• Balance biodiversity outcomes with government priorities across housing, transport, renewable energy and major projects.

Job description

Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time or part-time

Grade: VPS SES1

Occupation: Leadership and management

Reference: VG/50970740A

As Director, Biodiversity Impact Assessment, you will provide strategic and senior technical leadership for DEECA's statewide biodiversity impact assessment portfolio, overseeing biodiversity assessment, environmental approvals, native vegetation regulation, and biodiversity compensation and offset systems. You will play a pivotal role in balancing biodiversity outcomes with key government priorities across housing, transport, renewable energy, major projects, land use planning and risk management.

About you

You will have a proven track record leading complex technical functions, driving reform, navigating risk and ambiguity, and developing high-performing teams that deliver meaningful outcomes for Victoria.

If you're passionate about biodiversity, thrive on complex challenges and want to lead a talented statewide team delivering work that matters, we'd love to hear from you.

About the organisation

We employ approximately 6,300 staff, including around 600 seasonal staff, across more than 86 locations throughout Victoria, across energy, environment, climate action, water, agriculture, and resources portfolios.

Our challenge is to maintain Victoria's liveability, with a population expected to almost double by 2050, while responding to climate change and protecting our natural environment, infrastructure and heritage for future generations. We take a community-centered approach and involve communities and key stakeholders in decisions and policies that affect them and we collaborate across our portfolios to design and deliver services and programs.

This is a fixed term position available for a period of up to 5 years. While the work location for this position is flexible within Victoria with hybrid work arrangements available, a regular physical presence is required in the Loddon Mallee Region, as well as the ability to travel on a regular basis to work and meet with staff located across all 6 regions of Victoria (frequency is negotiable with the successful applicant).

Applications close at midnight on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.

Other relevant information

Preferred candidates will be required to:

• undertake pre-employment screening, including completion of a Declaration and Consent form and a National Police Check
• have their misconduct declarations validated, irrespective of whether misconduct has been declared or not
• provide at least two appropriate referees, including their current direct line manager or where relevant (i.e. because they are not employed) most recent direct line manager in accordance with the requirements set out in executive reference checks.
• provide evidence of their right to work in Australia

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants must be an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

DEECA fosters an inclusive workplace culture and is committed to a fair, accessible, and equitable recruitment process.

We strongly encourage Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people to apply. We recognise the strengths, knowledge and perspectives First Nations people bring and DEECA is committed to a culturally safe and respectful workplace. If you need support to participate, please contact [e-mail] .

We support flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work, varied hours, part-time work and job sharing. For more information about our recruitment processes, visit applying for a role with us .

Applications close Wednesday 4 November 2026 at 11.59pm