Senior Advisor

Northern Land Council; Darwin; Hybrid; AUD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging and superannuation

Annual airfare benefit

5 weeks annual leave

Paid Christmas close down

Employer-provided District allowance

Job summary

The Northern Land Council is seeking a senior strategic adviser to strengthen governance and drive organisational effectiveness. Reporting to the Director of Leadership, you will coordinate priorities, advise on complex matters, and support executive decision-making across the organisation.

You will build relationships with Council Members, Traditional Owners, government agencies and internal teams, translating the Strategic Plan into practical outcomes. Remote travel in NT may be required.

Qualifications

• Degree in Public Policy, Governance, Business Management or related field.
• Significant experience providing high-level strategic advice in government, statutory authority, Aboriginal organisation or similarly complex environment.
• Experience managing complex governance matters and strategic projects.
• Willingness to undertake remote travel in a manual 4WD vehicle or light aircraft.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen governance, organisational effectiveness and executive decision-making.
• Coordinate strategic priorities and oversee resolution of high-profile complaints.
• Translate the NLC Strategic Plan into practical organisational outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with Council Members, Traditional Owners, executive leaders and agencies.
• Prepare high-quality executive and ministerial briefings and identify emerging risks.

Skills

Strategic advisory

Governance

Stakeholder management

Policy guidance

Education

Public Policy degree

Job description

Status: Full-time 1-year Fixed Term Contract

Influence decisions that matter. Strengthen governance. Help turn strategy into organisational action.

About the Role

This is a senior, trusted advisory role at the centre of the NLC. Reporting to the Director of Leadership, you will work across the organisation to strengthen governance, organisational effectiveness and executive decision-making. You will provide clear advice on complex and sensitive matters, coordinate strategic priorities, oversee the resolution of high-profile complaints and help improve the systems and frameworks that support accountable, effective leadership.

You will build strong relationships with Council Members, Traditional Owners, executive leaders, government agencies and internal teams. From preparing high-quality executive and ministerial briefings to identifying emerging risks and removing barriers to delivery, your work will help translate the NLC Strategic Plan into practical organisational outcomes.

What You Will Bring

You are an experienced strategic adviser who can make sense of complexity, exercise sound judgement and communicate with clarity. You are comfortable working on sensitive issues, influencing across organisational boundaries and building trust with diverse stakeholders. You combine strong governance and organisational improvement experience with genuine respect for Aboriginal perspectives, priorities and ways of working.

In addition, you will have:

• Relevant degree-level qualifications in Public Policy, Governance, Business Management or a related field.
• Significant experience providing high-level strategic advice in a government, statutory authority, Aboriginal organisation or similarly complex environment.
• Experience managing complex complaints, governance matters and strategic projects.
• Demonstrated success leading organisational improvement, governance, transformation or strategic performance initiatives.
• Current NT driver's licence and the ability and willingness to undertake remote travel in a manual 4WD vehicle or light aircraft.

For a full copy of the Position Description, refer to the link provided below.

What's in it for you?

At the NLC, you will use your strategic skills in a role with genuine organisational reach and purpose. You will work closely with senior leaders, contribute to decisions that affect the organisation and its constituents, and help strengthen the systems that support Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people across the Top End.

We offer:

• A base salary of $106,570 per annum plus 15% superannuation paid on Base and District Allowance
• Salary sacrificing up to $15,900 + Meal Entertainment and Holiday Accommodation benefit up to $2,650 per year.
• Other benefits under our Enterprise Agreement include:
• District allowance of up to $4,884 (DA2) per annum for individuals with dependents and $2,678 (DA1) without dependents.
• Generous leave provisions 5 weeks annual leave, 18 days personal leave;
• Paid Christmas close down;
• Upon completion of 12 months of service an Annual airfare with a net (in hand) value of $3,177

Applications close: Wednesday 16 September 2026

About the NLC

The Northern Land Council is an independent statutory authority of the Commonwealth established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. We serve Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal people across the Top End of the Northern Territory. Cultural knowledge and lived experience are central to our work, and we support Aboriginal people's social, political and economic participation by advancing their aspirations and amplifying their voices on matters affecting their lands, seas, culture and communities.

The Northern Land Council is committed to increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment. This is a prioritised position, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants who meet the selection requirements will be given priority consideration in accordance with the NLC's Special Measures provisions and section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.