Senior Permit Assessor

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority; Townsville City; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 15.4% employer superannuation

Flexible working arrangements

Wellbeing initiatives

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is seeking a scientist/environmental impact assessment professional to join the assessments and permissions team in Townsville. The role focuses on environmental impact assessments, mitigation, pre-application advice, and post-permit management within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The position requires applying legislation and policy to complex projects, providing technical advice on permissions, and engaging stakeholders to ensure sustainable

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in environmental or marine science or related discipline.
• Knowledge of GBR management framework and uses.
• Experience with environmental impact assessment processes and permits.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and coordinate complex environmental impact assessments and permits for activities in the Marine Park.
• Provide specialist and technical advice informed by legislation, policy and guidelines.
• Research, interpret and apply legislation in complex situations.
• Prepare briefing material and analytical reports; support decision-making on permissions.
• Build and sustain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Attention to detail

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Spatial data literacy

Regulatory knowledge

Teamwork

Education

Environmental/marine science degree

Tools

ArcGIS

GIS

Job description

We are seeking a scientist/environmental impact assessment professional to join our assessments and permissions team. The team works to protect the marine park whilst providing for a range of sustainable user experiences, varying from popular tourism activities, research permissions, structures and major projects.

This position is responsible for undertaking environmental impact assessments for proposed activities within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, including impact mitigation, pre-application advice, and post permit management. The position will assess applications in accordance with the relevant legislation, policies and guidelines, make recommendations and provide technical advice on the issue of permissions and related conditions.

What you'll bring

You have exceptional attention to detail, maintain focus on quality, and a high task completion rate.

You are capable of applying relevant statutory and regulatory information to cartographic datasets, maps, and associated outputs.

You are an excellent communicator with strong internal and external stakeholder engagement capabilities.

You have the ability to communicate spatial information clearly to non‑technical audiences.

You thrive under pressure, manage competing priorities and user expectations, and can adapt to changes in requirements.

You are an effective member of a team, are flexible and versatile, show initiative, and develop and maintain positive relationships.

Why join the Reef Authority?

At the Reef Authority, you'll build a meaningful career while helping protect one of the world's most iconic natural assets. We offer a supportive, flexible and purpose-driven workplace where your work has real impact.

You'll enjoy competitive APS employment conditions.

• up to 15.4% employer superannuation
• flexible working arrangements
• wellbeing initiatives
• professional development opportunities
• a collaborative culture committed to protecting the Great Barrier Reef for future generations

The key duties of the position include:

Apply working knowledge, precedent and established legislation, policy, procedures and guidelines to manager, prepare and coordinate complex environmental impact assessments and permits relating to activities in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park including:

• Provision of specialist and technical advice that is informed, timely, practical, transparent and risk-based;
• Research, interpretation and application of legislation in complex and/or sensitive situations;
• Preparing briefing material and analytical reports; and
• Exercising delegations appropriately in relation to permit process and decisions.
• Build and sustain collaborative relationships, consult and partner with internal and external stakeholders on issues relating to environmental impact assessment and management within or adjacent to the Marine Park.
• Contribute to the development of policies and processes to streamline decision-making, improve regulatory practice, and drive continuous improvement in the delivery of permissions.
• Mentor and guide Permit Assessors within the broader team.

Eligibility

Desirable qualifications or equivalent experience

• Tertiary qualifications (or equivalent experience) in environmental or marine science, environmental impact assessment, natural resource management, marine ecology or related discipline.
• Knowledge of the multiple uses of, and the management framework for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Notes

Employment with the Reef Authority is subject to:

• Conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999.
• Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) granting a security clearance at the required level.
• Evidence of citizenship status.
• Evidence of qualifications required of the role.
• Evidence of a completed national police-check with no risks identified by the Reef Authority.
• The CEO of the Reef Authority, or their Delegate, approving a Notice of Engagement.
• The Australian Government Security Clearance Application Guide Book provides information on minimum eligibility requirements for holding a security clearance at the required level. Please ensure that you are able to provide the necessary documents if you apply for the position. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the AGSVA website.