Sanctuary Manager | Yookamurra

Australian Wildlife Conservancy; South Australia; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation organization in South Australia seeks a Sanctuary Manager to lead hands-on conservation at Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary. This role involves managing resources within budget, overseeing key activities such as feral animal control and stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate will have strong planning, communication, and land management skills, with a passion for conservation and experience in a rural environment.

Qualifications

• Exceptional planning and organisational skills.
• Excellent people management skills, including remote teams.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Practical experience delivering land management programs.
• Ability to manage projects cost-effectively.
• Competence in compliance and regulatory paperwork.
• Resourcefulness in problem-solving.
• Experience living and working in rural areas.
• Proficiency in standard business software.
• Passion for Australian conservation.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations of Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Oversee feral animal control, weed management, and fire management.
• Lead hands-on conservation efforts with measurable impacts.
• Engage stakeholders and inspire support through events.
• Coordinate with science and operations teams for conservation actions.

Skills

Planning and organisational skills

People management skills

Communication skills

Land management experience

Financial management

Problem-solving ability

Technology proficiency

Understanding Australian ecology

Education

Formal qualifications in a relevant discipline

Tools

Standard business software

4WD vehicle operation

Chainsaw operation

Job description

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a pragmatic global conservation leader, restoring landscapes and providing hope for Australian wildlife. Guided by science, AWC delivers measurable conservation impacts at scale to secure the future of our most endangered species.

At AWC, we are inspired by the unparalleled richness of Australia’s wildlife and we are united by our determination to protect its unique animals and landscapes. It is our mission to effectively conserve all Australian wildlife and habitats and our vision is for a world where Australia’s biodiversity is valued and effectively conserved by an engaged community.

The delivery of AWC’s mission is highly reliant on all AWC working collaboratively with each other as a cohesive, engaged, collaborative, high performing group guided by strong, effective leaders.

AWC’s work is guided by the following values. At AWC, we are:

• Accountable – taking ownership of our actions and outcomes
• Informed – working together to acquire and apply evidence, knowledge and experience
• Respectful – demonstrating care, recognition and integrity
• Dedicated – committed to delivering effective outcomes, with resilience and tenacity
• Innovative – applying creative thinking for effective solutions
• Sustainable – delivering long-term financial and ecological viability.

About the role:

We are looking for a passionate and Sanctuary Manager to join the team based at Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary in South Australia. Yookamurra is located in the Mid-Murray region and is one of Australia’s longest-running ‘safe havens’, with a 1,100 ha fenced feral predator-free area supporting a number of reintroduced species such as the Numbat, Greater Bilby, Brush-tailed Possum, Burrowing Bettong, Brush-tailed Bettong, and Malleefowl. The property protects over 5,000 ha of habitat, including regionally rare old-growth mallee.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to lead hands-on, science-driven conservation. You will manage resources effectively within an approved budget and operations plan, overseeing key on-ground activities such as feral animal control, weed management, and fire management. Your impact will be measured and celebrated, and you will also engage with stakeholders and inspire AWC supporters through events and communications, proudly championing AWC’s conservation model and achievements.

This reports directly to the Senior Operations Manager, with oversight from the Regional Operations Manager, and is responsible for the sanctuary’s day-to-day operations while supporting the delivery of AWC’s land management programs. Science programs are led by the Regional Ecologist and Wildlife Ecologist, and together, the operations and science teams work in an integrated way to design and implement conservation actions across Yookamurra. The sanctuary also hosts AWC’s major school education program, providing students with curriculum-linked environmental learning through day trips or overnight camps featuring guided science-based activities.

Key responsibilities:

• Getting things done: you need exceptional planning and organisational skills, including a demonstrated ability to prioritise and execute a large number of tasks in an efficient manner.
• Managing staff: you need excellent people management skills, including the leadership of, and managing and coordinating remote teams of Operational Staff, Volunteers 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: You need to demonstrate knowledge and practical experience delivering land management programs including fire management, weed and feral animal control programs or comparable experience that is readily transferable.
• Financial management: demonstrated ability to deliver projects in a cost-effective manner and be able to coding and track expenditure, operating within the budget.
• Paperwork/compliance: demonstrated ability to maintain records, and implement permit/authorization processes.
• 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, preferably remote, and the supervision of teams in geographically diverse locations. Ability to work in an isolated small team environment.
• Information technology: Ability in using standard business software packages (including Word, email, Excel) is essential.
• A passion for conservation: Understanding of and interest in Australian (with a particular focus on the arid region of Australia) ecology and conservation issues.
• Willingness to travel.

Qualifications:

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:

Required:

• A manual driver’s licence, and 4WD experience in difficult conditions.
• Firearms licence and experience.
• First Aid certificate.
• National Police Check.
• South Australian Working with Children Check (or ability to obtain one).
• Recognised certificate in safe handling and use of chemicals e.g. Chemcert.
• Experience in the use of tractors fitted with front-end loader buckets and grader blade attachments.
• Training and experience in use of chainsaw and working at heights.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates.