Senior Heritage Officer

Northern Land Council; Darwin; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary and 15% superannuation

Salary sacrificing up to AUD 15,900

Meal Entertainment and Holiday Accomm.

District allowance up to AUD 5,064

5 weeks annual leave

18 days personal leave

Annual airfare after 12 months

Job summary

The Northern Land Council is seeking a Senior Heritage Officer to develop and deliver cultural heritage initiatives across the NLC region. You will provide technical heritage advice to staff and constituents, working with Anthropology, Legal, and Resources and Energy teams.

You will lead projects, produce technical reports, and help develop policies to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage, while engaging with Traditional Owners and government partners.

Qualifications

• Honours-level degree in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Anthropology or related field.
• At least five years’ practical experience in archaeology or cultural heritage.
• Knowledge of Heritage Act 2011 (NT) and Commonwealth heritage laws.
• Experience using GIS tools, databases and relevant software applications.
• Current C Class Drivers Licence and willingness to undertake remote travel in a 4WD or aircraft.

Responsibilities

• Lead cultural heritage projects and deliver technical heritage reports.
• Develop internal policies and guidelines in line with best practice.
• Monitor compliance of heritage management provisions.
• Conduct archaeological surveys and assessments; review technical reports.
• Support repatriation projects and advise on heritage protocols.

Skills

Archaeology

Cultural heritage management

Cross-cultural communication

Education

Honours degree in Archaeology / Cultural Heritage Anthropology

Tools

GIS software

Databases

Reporting software

Job description

Salary package: $140,700 inclusive of Base rate DA and 15% Superannuation per Anum

This is an exciting new opportunity to work in an emerging space in the Northern Land Council. Apply your expertise in archaeology and cultural heritage management to support Aboriginal people in protecting culturally significant places, landscapes and knowledge across the NLC region!

About the Role

The Northern Land Council is seeking an experienced Senior Heritage Officer to develop and deliver cultural heritage initiatives that support the protection and management of cultural values across the land and waters of our region. Reporting to the Native Title Manager Anthropology you will provide technical heritage advice to NLC staff, committees and constituents, working collaboratively with our Anthropology, Legal, and Resources and Energy service areas.

You will lead cultural heritage projects, produce technical heritage reports and advice develop internal policies and guidelines in line with leading practice monitor compliance of heritage management provisions.

Your work will include archaeological surveys and assessments, reviewing technical archaeological reports, supporting repatriation projects, strengthening the land council’s internal heritage practice, and advising on heritage protocols and provisions to support Traditional Owners in agreement making.

This role will involve working closely with constituents, government agencies, proponents and GIS specialists, you will translate research and fieldwork into practical measures to identify, manage and protect cultural heritage.

What you will Bring

You are an experienced archaeologist or cultural heritage professional who combines rigorous research and fieldwork experience, as well as demonstrated experience working with Aboriginal communities in Australia. You can assess complex heritage information, provide clear advice and build productive relationships across disciplines. You bring strong cross-cultural communication skills, respect for Aboriginal knowledge and perspectives, and the ability to work collaboratively on sensitive cultural heritage matters.

In addition to this, you will have

• A minimum Honours-level degree in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Anthropology or a related field.
• At least five years’ relevant practical experience in archaeology or cultural heritage, including archaeological fieldwork, analysis, investigations, excavation and reporting.
• Knowledge and understanding of heritage legislation, particularly the Heritage Act 2011 (NT) and Commonwealth heritage laws.
• Experience using GIS tools, databases and relevant software applications.
• Current C Class Drivers Licence and the ability and willingness to undertake remote travel in a manual 4WD vehicle or chartered light aircraft.

What’s in it for you?

The Northern Land Council provides a unique opportunity to work directly with Traditional Owners across the most remote parts of Australia. This role will provide the successful applicant with the opportunity to work diverse regions, communities and cultures, applying your technical expertise to projects that will support the management and protection of cultural heritage values in the Top End.

Your professional expertise will contribute directly to cultural heritage protection. This is an opportunity to combine fieldwork, research and strategic advice while supporting Aboriginal people’s aspirations for their lands, waters and culturally significant places.

We offer

• A base salary of $119,571 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 includes:
  • District allowance of up to $5,064 (DA2) per annum for individuals with dependents and $2,777 (DA1) without dependents.
  • Generous leave provisions5 weeks annual leave, 18 days personal leave;
  • Paid Christmas close down;
  • Upon completion of 12 months of service anAnnual airfare with a net (in hand) value of $3,453

Applications Close

Sunday 15 November 2026

About the NLC

The Northern Land Council (NLC) is an independent statutory authority of the Commonwealth. The NLC is established under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) 1976 and its purpose is to serve its constituents who are Traditional Owners (TOs) and other Aboriginal people living in their region. Cultural knowledge and lived experience are central to the work that we do here at NLC. We are committed to enhancing Aboriginal peoples social, political and economic participation by supporting their aspirations and amplifying their voices on a range of issues impacting on their lands, seas, culture and communities.