Senior Director, Office of Nature Conservation | Full-time Temporary

Australian Capital Territory; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The ACT Government Office of Nature Conservation seeks a Senior Director to provide strategic leadership, integrating policy, science, and data to improve biodiversity outcomes across the ACT. The role reports to the Executive Group Manager of Environment, Heritage and Parks and leads governance, staff, and resources.

Located in Canberra, this temporary full-time position offers hybrid working options and a chance to influence conservation policy at a territorial level through collaboration with

Qualifications

• Teritary qualifications in ecology or related discipline.
• Extensive leadership experience.
• Experience in experimental design and statistical analysis.
• Experience in the ACT government or other NRM agencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, implementation and continuous improvement of conservation strategies, frameworks and statutory instruments.
• Oversee research, monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks to ensure evidence-based investment.
• Oversee threatened species and community recovery planning in partnership with agencies and communities.
• Provide leadership to embed conservation considerations in planning, infrastructure and land use decisions.
• Represent ACT in forums and negotiations, influencing policy reform and maintaining relationships with Commonwealth, state and regional bodies.
• Ensure governance, probity and statutory compliance, including Secretariat support for the ACT Scientific Committee.
• Build capability in conservation planning, ecological science, data stewardship and adaptive management.
• Lead, manage and develop staff, finances and information resources with a safe, high-performing culture.

Skills

Leadership

Policy development

Data stewardship

Ecology

Education

Teritary qualifications in ecology or related discipline

Job description

Senior Director, Office of Nature Conservation
Full-time Temporary

Details: The Office of Nature Conservation (ONC) brings together policy, science, and data expertise to accelerate unified thinking and action to respond to the conservation challenges facing the ACT. The team focuses on an outcomes-based philosophy to guide and inform on-ground conservation efforts undertaken by partners including the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, volunteer environmental partners and the community.

We are looking for a committed, dynamic and results-driven leader for the Office of Nature Conservation. This position reports to the Executive Group Manager of Environment, Heritage and Parks. The Senior Director provides strategic leadership and direction, integrating policy, science, research, monitoring and data to deliver improved biodiversity and conservation outcomes for the ACT.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Lead development, implementation and continuous improvement of conservation strategies, frameworks, legislation and statutory instruments, including implementation of the Nature Conservation Strategy, and administration of the Nature Conservation Act 2014 and the Fisheries Act 2000, ensuring robust, defensible and contemporary approaches.
• Oversee research, monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks to ensure investment in conservation effort is evidence-based, transparent and aligned to government priorities.
• Oversee the development and implementation of threatened species and community recovery planning, working in partnership with delivery agencies, land managers, community and volunteer groups.
• Provide leadership across government to help embed conservation considerations within planning, infrastructure, land use and operational decision-making.
• Represent the ACT in interjurisdictional and national forums, negotiations and expert bodies as required, influencing policy reform and maintaining productive Commonwealth, state and regional relationships.
• Ensure high standards of governance, probity and statutory compliance, including oversight of secretariat functions supporting the ACT Scientific Committee.
• Build organisational capability in conservation planning and policy, ecological science, data stewardship and adaptive management, fostering innovation, collaboration and a strong service culture.
• Lead, manage and develop staff, financial and information resources, promoting a safe, respectful and high-performing workplace.

Eligibility/Other requirements:

• Visa holders are eligible to apply.
• This position does not require a Working with Vulnerable People Check.

Mandatory:

• Teritary qualifications in ecology or related discipline
• Extensive relevant experience in a leadership role

Highly Desirable:

• Extensive experience in experimental design and statistical analysis, including postgraduate qualifications
• Extensive experience in the ACT or other government / NRM agencies

Notes: This is a temporary position available immediately for a period of three months with the possibility of extension up to six months. This position is available to ACT Government officers and employees only.

A merit pool will be established from this selection process and may be used to fill future identical vacancies over the next 12 months. Selection may be based on applications only.

The position operates from an activity-based working workplace where officers will not have a designated workstation/desk. Opportunities for flexible working options could include hybrid working, being a combination of working from home, designated office based and FlexiSpace working locations across the ACT, part-time hours, job-sharing, flexible start, and finish times.

Note: Under the ACTPS employment framework you may be placed in another role where required for the efficient administration of the service.

Where an offer of employment is for a fixed-term period, any related temporary contracts within the Territory will be issued in compliance with the requirements and applicable exceptions outlined in the Fair Work Act.

The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal .

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Note

This is a temporary position available immediately for a period of three months with the possibility of extension up to six months. This position is available to ACT Government officers and employees only.