Local Landcare Coordinator - Macarthur

Location

The Local Landcare Coordinator will work in the Macarthur area covering Wollondilly, Camden and Campbelltown local government areas.

This role will work flexibly between Wollondilly, Camden, Campbelltown Council offices, Wild Seed Landcare Network locations, GSL Castle Hill office and from home. The principal place of work will be with Wollondilly Shire Council.

Classification/Tenure

Part-time position working 21 hours per week (0.6 FTE) for the duration of the funding, funded by the NSW Landcare Enabling Program 2023-2027 (LEP). There is potential to extend this role to assist in other grant projects within the Macarthur area.

Remuneration

Up to $43 per hour plus superannuation and entitlements – dependent on experience.

Organisation Profile

Greater Sydney Landcare Network, known as Greater Sydney Landcare, has a broad range of members, partners and potential members, including Landcare groups, groups of councils, professional land managers and major regional environmental networks.

The Greater Sydney region takes in Sydney down to Wollondilly / Sutherland, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and other areas as described by the Greater Sydney Local Land Services boundaries.

This role will focus on the Macarthur area and is one of 9 Local Landcare Coordinator roles funded by the LEP grant in Greater Sydney. The Local Landcare Coordinator (Macarthur) role supports the partnership with Wild Seed Landcare Network, Wollondilly Shire Council, Camden City Council and Campbelltown City Council. Wild Seed Landcare Network is a district Landcare network with five member groups on the southern Cumberland Plain.

Position/Role Objectives

The Local Landcare Coordinator is responsible for providing support and assistance coordinating existing and new local community volunteer Landcare groups, empowering them to meet their own goals.

The Local Landcare Coordinator will work with Greater Sydney Landcare / Wild Seed Landcare Network, local councils, Landcare groups and others to deliver the target outcomes of the NSW Landcare Enabling Program 2023-2027 (LEP) to  grow and strengthen the capacity of Landcare groups to care for the local natural environment and agricultural systems by:

• Monitoring, evaluating and reporting on LEP grant activities and outcomes for the Macarthur area
• Increasing the capacity of Landcarers to produce effective outcomes by developing their knowledge, skills and experience
• Leveraging ongoing capacity building opportunities for Landcare volunteers that meet their identified needs
• Increasing the self-sufficiency of Landcare groups and networks through leveraging investment to activate a diverse range of funding sources.
• Engaging regularly with existing and new Landcare groups
• Increasing the number of regular Landcare volunteers in the Macarthur area
• Increasing the number of young adult Landcare volunteers in Macarthur area with support from the GSL Young Adult Coordinator
• Providing support to strengthen the Wild Seed Landcare Network and grow a Macarthur-wide landcare network.
• Increasing the visibility of Landcare achievements in social media and local media channels
• Leveraging funding that directly benefits Landcare groups' financial sustainability, conservation, citizen science and community education activities
• Increasing collaboration and sharing between the Steering Committee members
• Providing governance support to the Steering Committee, Wild Seed Landcare Network and other landcare groups
• Increasing the number of productive partnerships between Landcare groups and networks, with Local Land Services, government (local, state and federal) and corporates
• Developing and maintaining trusting and genuine relationships with First Nations Communities in collaboration with the Regional Co-ordinator
• Representing local group needs through participation in Regional and State Community of Practice and participating in regular Greater Sydney Local Landcare Coordinator meetings.

Reporting/Supervision arrangements

This position reports to the Greater Sydney Landcare (GSL) Operations Manager. The LEP local priority work plan will be governed by the Macarthur Steering Committee. 

The Macarthur Steering Committee will include 1 member from each of the Wild Seed Landcare Network, Camden City Council, Campbelltown City Council, Wollondilly City Council, the Georges Riverkeeper and GSL Operations Manager or Chair.

Key relationships

The Local Landcare Coordinator will directly interact with Landcare and agencies at the local district and network scale with guidance from the Macarthur Steering Committee and Greater Sydney Landcare.

The Local Landcare Coordinator is expected to collaborate with a range of Landcare support mechanisms including the Regional Landcare Coordinator, other Local Landcare Coordinators, Project Officers, Landcare Committees, Local Government and Local Land Services as required.

Links to existing programs

The successful applicant will be working in a broader Landcare network, with support available.  The Local Landcare Coordinator will work closely with Greater Sydney Landcare, its staff and committee, along with a broader network of staff and volunteers from the organisations represented on the Macarthur Landcare Steering Committee. Moreover, the successful applicant will work with other Local Landcare Coordinators, Regional Landcare Coordinators and Local Land Services staff across Greater Sydney and surrounding regions.

The successful applicant will work with Greater Sydney Landcare staff implementing major projects and programs to find opportunities to collaborate on shared objectives (e.g. Southwest Sydney Koala Project, Creating Canopies, Streamwatch).

Competencies

Essential skills

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written
• Strong time management, organising and work efficiency skills
• Interpersonal skills – ability to liaise and engage with a broad range of people effectively and maintain relationships
• Excellent networking and stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong interest in, and commitment to, local environmental and agricultural land management issues.
• Proactive and community minded attitude.
• Social Media – ability to create and implement communication across social media on various platforms
• Current Driver’s License and access to a vehicle

Highly desirable skills and experience

• Knowledge of partnerships, key stakeholders and on-ground network
• Experience in project planning, management, record keeping and report writing and grant writing and web design and creation
• Sound coordination, administration, and computer skills
• Flexible about their working hours over the period of employment

Selection Criterion

Please address each of the following criteria:

1. Sound understanding of natural resource management issues in the region and empathy with the local community and demonstrated experience or a qualification in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Sustainable Agriculture or similar.
2. Demonstrated well developed written and oral communication skills, including competency in the use of Word, Excel, email, and the internet.
3. Demonstrated ability to work with and develop community groups, including group facilitation, action planning and mediation skills.
4. Proven ability to work with Government agencies, community groups and landholders, schools and indigenous groups.
5. Demonstrated ability to work with minimum supervision, use initiative and work as part of a team or network.
6. Ability and willingness to work outside office hours from time to time, to contact landholders and attend community group meetings and events.
7. Ability to travel from time to time.

Additional Information

Greater Sydney Landcare is an equal opportunity employer, with employment under the organisation’s standard employment agreement or as negotiated.

Attendance at meetings outside of normal work hours will be required.

Travel around the Macarthur region and infrequent travel and overnight stays will be required.

You will be required to use your own vehicle for work purposes and provide copies of current Comprehensive or at least Third Party Property insurance policies for your vehicle.  Vehicle use will be reimbursed on a per kilometre basis.

nrmjobs.com.au/job/20021033