Project Manager - Culturally Relevant Climate Adaptation

Bush Heritage Australia are looking to fill a Project Manager - Culturally Relevant Climate Adaptation position to join the Science and Conservation team.

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a very real contribution to the protection of Australia’s unique wildlife and their habitat.

• Fantastic opportunity to work within a leading conservation organisation.

About us

For over 30 years we’ve supported and protected some of the most fragile ecosystems across the continent and seen the impact of our science-based approach. We keep our eyes on the horizon and focus firmly on long-term, landscape scale impact. As a national, not-for-profit, we want to continue to expand the areas we protect and deepen the impact we have. We work in partnership with Traditional Owners, listening to and learning from the customs and cultures that came before us.

Together we can heal and protect the bush, now and into the future.

About the role

Project Manager - Culturally Relevant Climate Adaptation has responsibility for driving all activities and communications around the Culturally Relevant Climate Adaptation Project, with the support of the Healthy Country Planning Manager, Conservation Planning Team, Aboriginal Partnership Managers, Science Team and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island (ATSI) Leadership Team. The Project Manager will understand the best climate science available for a specific landscape, engage with Traditional Custodians, including Bush Heritage partners, and other experts to exchange thoughts and concerns on the impacts of those changes on biodiversity and cultural health.

Workshops, generally held on Country, will be supported by an Integrated Knowledge System that will facilitate Bush Heritage to recognise, respect and protect the Intellectual Property of Traditional Custodians, and other experts as they identify key concerns and impart knowledge on the impacts of the emerging threats. Key concerns and the elements of the ecosystem most likely to be impacted will be tabulated and analysed across multiple landscapes to identify key issues that need new technology or approaches to address and manage these emerging threats.

The Project Manager will convene Traditional Custodian led expert ideation forums (Eco-thons) to explore new approached to mitigating 3-5 of the identified threats with the support of Bush Heritage and University of Sydney staff. Eco-thons will be led by Traditional Custodians and include experts from a wide array of fields including scientists (materials, soil, conservation biology etc), farmers, engineers etc to design new approaches to threat mitigation. These ideas will be vetted by peers in the room and the most viable ideas will be published for further review by a broader network of relevant experts and end users. The Project Manager will coordinate all activities and communications relevant to this project. It is expected that the Project Manager will publish and communicate the framework and the emerging systems and tools to a wide variety of audiences, including Aboriginal groups and individuals, donors, entrepreneurs, government and the public.

The Project Manager is responsible for promoting safe work practices and culture within their team and in their work.

What you'll need to succeed

• Applicants must be of Aboriginal descent through parentage, identification as being Aboriginal and accepted in the community as such. Aboriginality is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorized under:
  • Cth - Racial Discrimination Act 1975
  • ACT - Discrimination Act 1991
  • NSW - Anti-Discrimination Act 1977
  • NT - Anti-Discrimination Act 1996
  • QLD - Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
  • SA - Equal Opportunity Act 1984
  • TAS - Anti-Discrimination Act 1998
  • VIC - Equal Opportunity Act 2010
  • WA - Equal Opportunity Act 1984
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including well-developed facilitation skills working with Traditional Owners/Custodians
• Tertiary qualification (or equivalent) (>5 years' experience) in Conservation planning, biology, environmental management, social sciences.
• Demonstrated experience in cross-cultural conservation planning and project management including skills in project management, preparing and analysing data, report preparation and communication.
• High level analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively independently as part of a diverse and dispersed staff and volunteers, regional bodies, and representatives of other organisations.
• High level of computer literacy and proficiency with personal computers including word processing, spread sheets, data software and editing; and
• Knowledge of WHS and risk assessment procedures and requirements.
• Understanding and compliant with the protection and storage of Intellectual Property - particularly Ingenious and Cultural Intellectual Property.

What sets us apart

• Great life-work balance: flexible work arrangements, home based opportunity or hybrid working options available.
• Access to 20 days personal leave per year, 10 of these available from commencement if employment. We also offer cultural leave and gender transition leave.
• Employee Resource Groups for women, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent employees as well as a social group for bird lovers.
• Professional development activities including access to LinkedIn Learning.
• Equitable 12 weeks paid leave to all parents, irrespective of their role as primary or secondary carers.
• Remote staff are supported through an education allowance for kids, additional annual leave and possible casual works arrangements for partners.
• Access to support and counselling via our Employee Assistance Program and free access to Headspace app.
• Brand new Melbourne office in Docklands with access to state-of-the-art end of trip facilities and a gym.