Senior Team Leader, Stewardship Support Program

NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 157,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is seeking a Senior Team Leader for the Stewardship Support Program to drive biodiversity site assessment and management across NSW.

You will lead a small team, engage landholders and Local Aboriginal Land Councils, and shape offers and feasibility assessments to advance conservation outcomes. The role is full-time, hybrid, with salary in the upper range of the NSW public service.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading biodiversity conservation programs.
• Ability to influence across government, industry and communities.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision making.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of statewide offers to bring stewardship sites into program.
• Manage site feasibility assessments for landholders.
• Develop relationships with landholders and Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
• Maintain knowledge of offset market to identify risks and opportunities.
• Lead a small team to deliver outcomes-focused projects.
• Deliver targeted communications to promote the program.

Skills

Complex biodiversity programs

Stakeholder negotiation

Strategic leadership

Team leadership

Policy interpretation

Education

Ecological/environmental science degree

Job description

Do you want your work to make a difference for NSW?

Working to protect the state’s environment and heritage.

• Senior Team Leader, Stewardship Support Program (Environment Officer Class 12)
• Ongoing full-time (35 hours per week) opportunity
• Office location upon negotiation across NSW, hybrid working supported
• Salary relative to experience, and ranges from $157,257 to $172,589 + super
  

The Senior Team Leader, Stewardship Support Program plays a key leadership role in ensuring a pipeline of potential stewardship sites are available for biodiversity assessment under the program to deliver in-demand biodiversity credits.

This role is responsible for delivering state-wide and targeted offers to landholders to select sites for assessment and for managing ongoing site feasibility assessments across the program to support landholders and on-ground assessment teams.

Working across government, industry and community stakeholders, the role supports evidence-based decision making, builds strong partnerships and oversees the successful delivery of complex agreements and programs that contribute to the success of the scheme and long-term conservation goals.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading delivery of state-wide and targeted offers to bring potential new biodiversity stewardship sites into the program for on ground assessment
• Managing site feasibility assessments to ensure landholders have a clear understanding of the potential of their proposed BSA
• Establishing effective collaborative relationships with landholders, including Local Aboriginal Land Councils to encourage participation in the scheme
• Maintaining a detailed knowledge of the state of the offset market, to identify risks and opportunities from emerging trends and issues
• Leading a small team and driving high-quality, outcome-focused project delivery
• Developing and delivering targeted communication and engagement activities to promote the program
  

About You

You are a strategic and driven leader with a passion for delivering complex projects that create meaningful environmental outcomes. You bring a collaborative approach, strong commercial and analytical skills, and the ability to influence and negotiate across a diverse stakeholder landscape. With a focus on achieving results, you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to long-term conservation outcomes across NSW.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Brings strong experience leading complex biodiversity conservation programs or projects
• Has a strong understanding of the NSW Biodiversity Offset scheme and the state and operation of the biodiversity credit market
• Understands how the biodiversity assessment method applies to stewardship sites, including how biodiversity assessment, management plans and total fund deposits are prepared.
• Has a proven ability to negotiate and influence diverse stakeholders, including government, industry and community partners
• Can translate complex data and policy into clear, practical strategies and outcomes
• Demonstrates strategic thinking, sound judgement and the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment
• Is a confident communicator who can tailor messaging for different audiences and build trust at all levels
• Has experience leading and developing teams to deliver high-quality, outcomes-focused work
• Is passionate about driving meaningful environmental outcomes and contributing to long-term conservation goals
  
• Tertiary qualification in a relevant ecological or environmental science discipline and/or demonstrated equivalent experience.
• Current NSW driver's licence and ability and willingness to travel throughout the state when required, including overnight travel.
• Willing and able to assist with ecological fieldwork.
  

For more information read the full Role Description: Senior Team Leader Stewardship Support Program CPHR CPO

Who we are

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) works to protect the state’s environment and heritage. It leads the way on climate change, driving the sustainable transition to a net zero economy, powered by affordable, reliable, and clean energy.

DCCEEW conserves and protects the state’s natural environment. It manages the NSW national park estate, including its rich and diverse biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage for future generations.

DCCEEW also ensures sustainable management of water resources across the state, to support the environment, communities and industry.

We acknowledge the ongoing custodial responsibilities of the Aboriginal peoples of NSW to care for Country and water and are committed to establishing meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal peoples in the management of the environment.

Participation in the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme (BOS)

Please read the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Protocol to understand if it applies to your circumstances. All applicants for this role and new employees with an existing defined interest in the BOS will be required to disclose their personal (or a close family member’s) participation to ensure potential conflict of interests are declared and managed appropriately.

Please note to be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or hold a valid Australian working Visa for the duration of the appointment.

Applications close: Sunday, 20 September 2026 at 11:55PM.

Should you require further information about the role please contact Justin Williams via [e-mail] or on 0467 186 151.

A recruitment pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months.

Our goal is to build a workforce that not only represents but also understands and serves the diverse communities of New South Wales. We are committed to making our state a vibrant and inclusive place to live, work, and thrive for everyone. Our workforce represents people of all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, the LGBTQI+ community, and people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Looking for more information or assistance in applying?

• Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace.
• How we encourage and support people with disability
• Information and adjustments for individual needs for the recruitment process and the workplace.
  

If you require an adjustment for your application process, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team by emailing [e-mail] or contacting Vithiya Yogarajah on 02 9995 5011 (please mention reference number 552580).

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander use our Aboriginal applicants guide to assist with applying for roles or our Aboriginal Career pathways team at [e-mail] for a yarn.

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