Indigenous Land Management Programs Manager

Nrmjoenvironmental Jobs, Nrm; City Of Karratha; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Ngarda-Ngarli Marlpa is seeking an Indigenous Land Management Programs Manager to lead Pilbara Ranger Network programs, coordinating across ranger teams and funders. The role focuses on tracking funded work, identifying opportunities, and ensuring strategic alignment with on‑the‑ground activities in the Pilbara.

You will report to the General Manager, work with staff, funders and partners, and oversee growing program teams while maintaining strong cultural governance and community respect.

Qualifications

• A background in Indigenous land management, natural resource management, ecology or biodiversity conservation.
• Experience coordinating programs or projects in this context.
• Familiarity with Indigenous ranger sector in Australia and its land management role.
• Ability to translate multiple workstreams into clear priorities and actions.
• Experience with reporting and acquittals for funders and governance bodies.

Responsibilities

• Hold the overview of PRNs funded programs across the network, track progress and report status to the General Manager.
• Identify connections, priorities and opportunities for collaboration between program managers.
• Lead response to emerging issues, risks, or gaps within the network.
• Develop scopes of work for consultants and contractors, monitor progress and quality.
• Own program reporting to funders and manage acquittals with the finance team.
• Supervise program staff as the team grows and provide development support.

Skills

Indigenous land management

Natural resource management

Ecology or biodiversity conservation

Program coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Autonomy in a small team

Travel across Pilbara

Job description

• Help shape a stronger future for Country by connecting people, programs and purpose across the Pilbara.
• Karratha (with regular travel in the Pilbara)
• Full-time

About you

We are looking for someone who cares deeply about Country and the people who protect it an authentic, thoughtful leader who listens first, builds trust and brings people together around a shared purpose. You will combine strong program management, strategic thinking and sound judgement with the cultural awareness, humility and relationship skills needed to work respectfully alongside Aboriginal ranger teams, communities, funders and partners. Resilient, practical and comfortable navigating complexity, you will see the bigger picture without losing sight of the detail and be motivated by the opportunity to help ranger programs thrive across the Pilbara.

About us

Ngarda-Ngarli Marlpa, together caring for ngurraRanger teams across the Pilbara are caring for their country, combining cultural practice with contemporary land management. The Pilbara Ranger Network is an Aboriginal-led corporation that grew out of eight years of regional collaboration between eleven ranger teams and more than 200 rangers, across a region of more than 178,000 square kilometres.

Everything PRN does rests on good cultural governance and cultural protocols. From that foundation, we work with ranger teams to come together and support each other as rangers and coordinators, and to strengthen ranger programs and grow careers and pathways. We also help build partnerships the right way, connecting teams with the expertise they need and lifting the profile of the Pilbara ranger sector.

Each ranger team is independent and works on its own country. PRN supports teams individually with what they need and brings them together on the challenges and opportunities that reach across the region.

We are a small and growing team based in Karratha, working closely with ranger teams across the region. Working here means working alongside ranger teams continuing one of the world's oldest living traditions of caring for country, in one of Australia's most biodiverse regions.

About the role

Pilbara Ranger Network's (PRN) programs support cultural land management priorities across ranger teams and the region, including fire, water, biodiversity, data and technologies. Keeping those programs connected, funded, and moving is what turns a set of separate projects into a network supporting its members. This role will provide leadership and linkage across programs, identifying resource requirements and steering the growth of a sustainable support network.

PRN connects and supports Aboriginal ranger programs across the Pilbara, bringing people together to share knowledge, build skills, and strengthen land and sea management across Traditional Owner groups. PRN now spans eleven ranger teams, several funded programs, and a growing staff and consultant team.

As the Indigenous Land Management Programs Manager, you hold the overview of PRN's funded work - tracking progress, managing program consultant and contractor arrangements, and keeping funded commitments on track. You identify where programs connect, spot emerging priorities and risks across the network early, and keep strategy and activity aligned with what is happening on the ground. This includes day-to-day coordination and working with members to identify future network opportunities and initiatives.

You report to the General Manager and work closely with PRN staff, ranger teams, funders, partners, and consultants. The role has no direct reports at present. As PRNs programs grow, program-based positions are expected to report to this role. You work with a high degree of autonomy, setting your own priorities across programs, with regular check‑ins and support from the General Manager. The role is based in Karratha and requires regular presence across the Pilbara, strong relationships with ranger teams and grounding in cultural land management work to understand what is happening and why it matters to support Pilbara Ranger Programs.

Position and broad outline of duties

Program coordination and oversight

• Hold the overview of PRNs funded programs across the network, tracking progress against commitments and keeping the General Manager informed of status, risks and decisions required
• Identify connections, shared priorities, and opportunities for collaboration that individual program managers or consultants may not see
• Identify emerging issues, risks, or gaps across the network early, and lead PRNs response, working with the General Manager as required
• Develop and manage scopes of work for program consultants and contractors, and monitor the quality and progress of their work
• Own PRNs program reporting to funders, including progress reports and acquittals, working with the finance team to meet deadlines and funding conditions
• Supervise program staff as the team grows, setting priorities and supporting their development

Strategic thinking and program development

• Contribute to PRNs strategic and program planning, bringing knowledge and feedback from the member network and the land management sector into organisational decision-making
• Identify and develop new program directions as regional priorities, funding opportunities, or network needs evolve
• Lead the program design and content in funding proposals, supported by other PRN staff members as required

Funder and partner relationships

• Maintain relationships with key funders and partners, attending meetings and providing updates as required
• Represent PRNs program work externally to build the relationships and profile that strengthen future funding and partnership opportunities

Organisational systems

• Develop and maintain PRNs program management systems, including project management, reporting templates, and internal processes
• Develop policies and procedures where gaps are identified
• Manage program budgets in conjunction with the finance team, tracking expenditure against funded commitments
• Support governance processes, including preparing program papers for the Board and Ranger Program Committee

Work Health and Safety

• Undertake all activities per WHS best practices, policies, and procedures
• Adhere to Safe Work Methods, including wearing PPE as required or directed
• Complete all documentation and reporting as required
• Participate in WHS continuous improvement

Other Duties

• Build relationships across the network and with partners and stakeholders, through the contact your role brings
• Represent PRN professionally in all interactions
• Other duties as required

Selection Criteria

Essential Requirements

• A background in Indigenous land management, natural resource management, ecology or biodiversity conservation, with demonstrated experience coordinating programs or projects in this context
• Familiarity with the Indigenous ranger sector in Australia, including the role of Indigenous ranger programs in land management
• The ability to see connections across programs and disciplines, and to translate that into clear priorities and action
• Experience working with or alongside Indigenous communities or organisations, and the interpersonal skills to do that well
• Experience managing program budgets and tracking expenditure against funded commitments
• Experience preparing and managing reporting and acquittals for government, philanthropic, industry or other funders
• Experience supervising or mentoring others, or readiness to take on direct reports as the PRN grows
• Sound written communication skills, including experience preparing reports and funding submissions
• Capacity to hold multiple workstreams simultaneously without losing detail
• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy in a small growing team
• Willingness to travel regularly across the Pilbara region

Desirable Requirements and Experience

• Experience in a peak body, alliance, or network organisation
• Experience in managing activities out of remote or arid zone Indigenous communities.
• Experience in driving 4WD vehicles on dirt roads and off‑road.

Personal attributes

• Passionate about country and the people who manage it
• Able to listen and learn before drawing conclusions, particularly in communities and contexts that are not your own
• Comfortable with ambiguity and with working in an organisation that is still growing
• Straightforward in communication with colleagues and partners
• Willing to work at all level of ranger programs from occasional field support to strategy development

Licenses and requirements

• Australian residency or citizenship
• Current Drivers License
• National Police Clearance
• Working with children check

This vacancy is open to all applicants with experience working in remote or regional Australia and we strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Remuneration

A competitive base salary of level 5-6 of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award will be negotiated dependent on experience. The role will also include standard award allowances and superannuation, 5 weeks annual leave, salary sacrifice, rental and well being subsidies and an annual flight allowance.

nrmjobs.com.au/job/20030242