Open Space Technical Officer

Narooma; Mullumbimby; Hybrid; AUD 102,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% Superannuation

Salary reviews

Long Service Leave

Flexible working arrangements

Education and training support

Fitness Passport

Job summary

Byron Shire Council is seeking an Open Space Technical Officer to shape and improve parks, reserves and natural spaces across the Shire. You will provide specialist technical advice, coordinate projects and support sustainable, high-quality community spaces.

This role blends technical work, project management and stakeholder engagement, involving collaboration with operational teams, contractors and community groups to deliver practical, long-term improvements.

Qualifications

• Experience in open space, parks, landscape, arboriculture, sports turf, bush regeneration or related fields.
• Proven project management experience, including budgeting and contractor coordination.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to support and develop teams.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and customer service skills.
• The ability to analyse complex issues and deliver practical solutions.
• A current Driver's Licence.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise across horticulture, arboriculture, sports field, bush regeneration and bushfire management activities.
• Coordinate and deliver open space improvement projects, ensuring works are completed safely, sustainably and within budget.
• Manage and support the Bush Regeneration team while providing technical guidance across the wider Open Space team.
• Assess and respond to tree, pest, weed and bushfire risk issues across Council-managed land.
• Work closely with sporting clubs, contractors, consultants and community stakeholders to enhance parks, sports fields and recreational facilities.
• Contribute to asset management, planning, landscape design, planting programs and long-term maintenance strategies.

Skills

Open space expertise

Parks management

Project management

Budgeting

Contractor coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Driver's Licence

Education

Horticulture / Arboriculture / Landscape Management

Job description

About the opportunity

Byron Shire Council is seeking an experienced Open Space Technical Officer to help shape and enhance the parks, sporting fields, reserves and natural spaces that make our Shire a great place to live and visit. Working across a diverse portfolio of public assets, you'll provide specialist technical advice, coordinate improvement projects and support the delivery of sustainable, high-quality community spaces.

This is a varied role that combines technical expertise, project management and stakeholder engagement. You'll work closely with operational teams, contractors, community groups and internal stakeholders to deliver practical solutions that enhance amenity, environmental outcomes and the long-term management of Council's parks and open spaces.

What you'll be doing

• Provide technical expertise across horticulture, arboriculture, sports field, bush regeneration and bushfire management activities.
• Coordinate and deliver open space improvement projects, ensuring works are completed safely, sustainably and within budget.
• Manage and support the Bush Regeneration team while providing technical guidance across the wider Open Space team.
• Assess and respond to tree, pest, weed and bushfire risk issues across Council-managed land.
• Work closely with sporting clubs, contractors, consultants and community stakeholders to enhance parks, sports fields and recreational facilities.
• Contribute to asset management, planning, landscape design, planting programs and long‑term maintenance strategies.

What we're looking for

You will bring qualifications or demonstrated experience in Horticulture, Arboriculture, Landscape Management or a related discipline, together with strong technical knowledge and a passion for delivering high‑quality public spaces. To be successful, you'll have:

• Experience in open space, parks, landscape, arboriculture, sports turf, bush regeneration or related fields.
• Proven project management experience, including budgeting and contractor coordination.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to support and develop teams.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and customer service skills.
• The ability to analyse complex issues and deliver practical solutions.
• A current Driver's Licence.

Why join us?

• Deliver projects that directly enhance Byron Shire's parks, reserves, sports fields and community spaces.
• Diverse mix of technical, project and leadership responsibilities.
• Opportunity to influence sustainable open space management and environmental outcomes.
• Work with passionate professionals committed to exceptional community outcomes.

Position Description

Position Description: Download Open Space Technical Officer PD here

We offer

• Full-time position (35 hours per week)
• Salary and Conditions will be in accordance with the NSW Local Government (State) Award with an appointment at a salary in the range of $102,109 to $118,309 annually (dependent upon skills and experience)
• 12% Superannuation

Other benefits include

• Annual salary reviews and identified salary increases based on award conditions
• Access to Long Service Leave from 5 years' service
• Education and training support
• Attractive salary packaging scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Employee Assistance Program (4 sessions per year)
• Fitness Passport
• MyLeave
• Partner with an organisation that is taking steps in all areas to reduce our carbon emissions and be an innovative and sustainable council.

Location: This position is based at Mullumbimby; however, Council can require you to work from other work sites as required for operational reasons.

Contact: Jim Roberts, Acting Manager Open Spaces & Facilities. Ph: [phone].

Closing date: 29 November 2026, 5pm (NSW time). Late applications will not be permitted.

We believe in diversity, inclusion and equality and are committed to ensuring that our workplaces are a reflection of our community. We recognise the benefits that diversity and inclusion brings, and in turn encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply for our vacancies.

We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to explore new ways of working – including part‑time, job‑share or working from different locations. Everyone can ask about it.

We strongly encourage applications from people with disability and will provide reasonable adjustments in our recruitment process and in the workplace. If you need an adjustmentduring the recruitment process, please call or email the contact person listed above, and also advise us of your preferred method of communication.

Byron Shire Council is committed to being a child safe organisation – we respect all children and their wellbeing. We will embed Child Safe Standards into our leadership, governance and culture. We will support our staff and volunteers in their responsibilities. We will strive to keep children safe from harm and abuse.

Pre‑Employment Screening Process

• Reference Checks:Referees will preferably be your current or most recent supervisor and must be able to comment directly on your abilities in a work situation. If you have any objection to this action, your concerns should be raised in your application and be discussed with the Selection Panel.
• Functional Health Assessment:If applicable, the functional health assessment evaluates your physical and functional capacity against the physical demands necessary to safely perform the job for which you have applied.
• Background Screening:Background checks verify the information you have provided in your application, and where applicable, also check for relevant criminal history. Checks may also include, for example, a confirmation of your employment history, qualifications/tickets and working with children clearance.