Sanctuary Manager | Waulinbakh

Australian Wildlife Conservancy; Stroud; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is seeking a Sanctuary Manager to lead land management programs at Waulinbakh Wildlife Sanctuary in NSW. You will coordinate resources, manage staff and contractors, and work with scientists and stakeholders to deliver conservation outcomes on time and within budget.

You will oversee feral animal control, weed management, fire planning, infrastructure projects, and on-site events, while aligning operations with AWC’s science-driven approach and national

Qualifications

• Proven practical experience delivering on-ground land management or conservation results.
• Formal qualifications are an advantage but not essential if you have a strong track record.

Responsibilities

• Lead land management programs to conserve habitats and species.
• Manage staff and remote teams of staff and contractors.
• Coordinate resources within approved budgets and plans.
• Collaborate with scientists, land managers, volunteers, and government partners.
• Plan and deliver sanctuary events and contribute to communications.

Skills

Project management

People management

Stakeholder engagement

GIS

Education

Environmental science degree

Conservation experience

Tools

GIS software

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About the role:

Reporting to the Senior Operations Manager, Regional Operations Manager, and ultimately to the Chief Operations Officer, the Sanctuary Manager is responsible for ensuring the delivery of land management programs to effectively conserve all Australian Animals and their habitats at Waulinbakh Wildlife Sanctuary.

You will be able to demonstrate the ability to manage people and co-ordinate major projects simultaneously and integrate these projects with AWC’s science program. You will need sound experience in conservation and land management (including fire management, feral animals, weeds, roads, erosion, sediment control, buildings, and fencing), and ingetting things done on time and within budget. You will be capable of working with a wide range of stakeholders, including land managers, scientists, students, volunteers, visitors, neighbouring landholders, including indigenous communities and government, and will be committed to helping AWC develop and implement a new model for conservation. You will also work closely with the Philanthropy team to plan, facilitate, and actively participate in on-site events, providing operational and administrative support before, during, and after each event.

To achieve success, you will need to manage and direct resources efficiently and in accordance with an approved budget and operating plan, informed by science-based strategies. The level of on-ground activity (feral animal control, weed control, fire management) is measured and reported on a regular basis.

You will ensure close integration with the science team across the Sanctuary as part of AWC’s national approach to conservation. You will be regularly working alongside other AWC staff (Land Management Officers, Field Ecologists, and Wildlife Ecologists).

Engagement with key stakeholders and AWC supporters, including through sanctuary events and the operation of visitor programs, and contributing to AWC’s communications program are also important functions of this role. In this respect, you need to be a strong advocate for AWC’s conservation model and achievements.

• Planning & Organisation: You need sound planning, organisational, and project management skills, including a demonstrated ability to prioritise workloads, manage multiple projects simultaneously, coordinate resources, and execute a large number of tasks efficiently to achieve organisational and workplan objectives.
• Managing staff: you need excellent people management skills, including the leadership of, and managing and coordinating remote teams of staff and contractors.
• Working with people: excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Practical land management and asset management or comparable skills/experience: demonstrated knowledge of and practical experience in delivering land management programs, including fire management, weed, erosion, sediment control and feral animal control programs. Demonstrated practical skills in managing assets and infrastructure is desirable, including:
  • The planning, supervision and implementation of infrastructure projects such as fencing and buildings;
  • The management and safe operation of a wide range of plant and equipment (tractors and implements, generators, pumps and power tools, including chainsaws, welders etc)
  • Basic skills and experience across a number of areas (building, mechanical, fencing, plumbing, welding & electrical), including the ability to carry out routine tasks and maintenance.
  • Knowledge of prescribed burn operations and bushfire control training and experience.
  • 4WD experience in relevant off‑road conditions.
• Contribution to events: ability to assist with stakeholder events on site, by both preparing the sanctuary for visitors, and contributing to the event by engaging with and/or presenting to a variety of stakeholders about AWC and their mission.
• Paperwork/compliance: demonstrated ability to keep and maintain records and the preparation of reports.
• Resourcefulness: the ability to improvise and ‘problem‑solve’, developing practical solutions with limited resources.
• Living in the bush: previous experience of working and living in a rural area, and the supervision of teams in geographically diverse locations is desirable.
• Information technology: Sound ability in using standard business software packages (including Word, email, Excel) is essential and well‑developed GIS skills are highly desirable.
• A passion for conservation: Understanding of, and interest in, ecology and conservation issues.
• Willingness to travel: An ability and willingness to work in diverse locations is desirable.

Qualifications:

• Proven practical experience in delivering ‘on‑ground’ results in land management or conservation is essential.
• Formal qualifications in a relevant discipline would be an advantage, but is less important than strong, practical experience and a good track record of delivering ‘on‑ground’ results.

Licenses, Certificates and/or Training:

• Valid agricultural machinery licences for machinery such as trucks, tractors and other vehicles/equipment as relevant (or the capacity to readily obtain these licences).
• Remote Senior first aid certificate (or the capacity to readily obtain).
• Current Police clearance certificate (or capacity to readily obtain)
• Valid firearms license (highly desirable)

Initial enquiries:**********@australianwildlife.org

Applicants must be an Australian citizen/permanent resident or have a suitable visa in place in order to apply. Sponsorship is not available.

Applicants will undergo relevant pre‑employment checks, which may include a national police clearance, online medical and a values‑based assessment. Please note that the cost of the police check is the responsibility of the applicant.

If you apply for this role, AWC will include you in its ongoing updates and communications about its events, activities and fundraising initiatives. You may opt out of these communications at any time.

Any application submitted to AWC will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available at www.australianwildlife.org/privacy-policy. By providing us with your contact details, you consent to receive communications and direct educational material will remain current until you advise us otherwise.

AWC is a welcoming and inclusive organisation that invites individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as those who identify as First Nations and Torres Strait Islander, individuals with disabilities, the LGBTIQA+ community, neurodivergent individuals, and those from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, to apply for the opportunity. AWC values and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable to be themselves, and where a range of perspectives, cultures, and voices are respected and recognised as a key part to the success of AWC. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must also have the right to live and work in Australia.