About AWC:

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a global leader in conservation, providing hope for Australia’s wildlife with a science-informed, land management partnership approach which delivers high impact results. We protect endangered wildlife in iconic regions such as the Kimberley, Cape York, the Top End and Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre.

AWC's mission - to deliver effective conservation for all native animal species and their habitats - is achieved by:

• Science - delivering a nationally-coherent program of ecological surveys with a focus on monitoring key conservation assets and threats, conducting applied research relevant to wildlife conservation, implementing conservation programs including reintroductions, and providing advice to management. AWC currently employs over 70 professional ecologists to deliver our conservation science program.
• Operations - delivering effective large-scale land management including fire management, feral animal control, weed control and infrastructure management.
• Fundraising - mobilising finance (primarily, tax deductible donations) from the general public and philanthropists including through effective communication of AWC conservation programs.

Three of AWC’s sanctuaries are in the Kimberley region: Mornington, Marion Downs, and Charnley River – Artesian Range, along with three partnerships, the Dambimangari, Wilinggin, and Yulmbu Aboriginal Corporations. AWC also implements conservation management on Yampi Sound Training Area under contract with the Commonwealth Department of Defence. We work with Traditional Owners across all of our project areas. In total, these sanctuaries and partnerships cover a combined area of over 4.3 million ha and protect numerous threatened habitats and species.

About the role:

The Wilinggin Partnership Ecologist will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) and their Rangers in order to implement and report on ecological monitoring of culturally significant species and priority threatened species across the partnership area. The role is also responsible for sharing knowledge and providing training and skill building for Rangers in western scientific methodology. The Wilinggin Partnership Ecologist will be part of a team of ecologists responsible for implementing AWC’s science program in the Kimberley, WA.

The position requires demonstrated understanding of and experience working with Indigenous Rangers in nature conservation and land management, as well as experience in project management – including oversight of budgets, workplans, partnership documents and reporting. It requires knowledge of northern savanna ecology and someone who is confident in leading field trips with Rangers in remote environments. The role requires someone who will respect, listen and support Rangers and Traditional Owner knowledge and interests for looking after country. The appointee must be motivated to work in the private nature conservation sector and be willing to help develop and promote AWC’s conservation model.

The Wililnggin Partnership Ecologist will be based at Derby, or Broome, as agreed, with work on sites across the Kimberley as required. The job requires a balance of field work and office work.

Key duties:

Reporting to the Regional Ecologist, key duties of the Partnership Ecologist include:

• Working in partnership with Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation (WAC), Rangers and Traditional Owners to develop and implement biodiversity and threat monitoring across the WAC-AWC Partnership Area to meet the relevant objectives of WAC Healthy Country Plan and AWC Ecohealth Framework.
• Support and empower Rangers, working closely with them to develop their skills in planning, delivery and reporting on ecological monitoring projects and building their skills in western scientific methodology.
• Provide ecological advice, survey design, logistics and coordination support for field trips and training in data analysis.
• Assisting WAC to address major knowledge gaps in conservation through the development and implementation of monitoring and research projects and assisting them to take advantage of the opportunities presented by AWC’s research collaborations and industry connections.
• Communicating AWC’s science program to our partners, Traditional Owners, the scientific community and to the public through publications, reports, presentations, participation in workshops etc.
• Managing a small team of WAC rangers, AWC ecologists, interns and/or volunteers in the field.
• Working with AWC land managers and WAC Rangers to deliver effective conservation. As part of AWC’s approach to conservation, the science team helps design, implement (as required) and report on strategies for the effective management of fire, feral animals, weeds and other threats
• Assisting with AWC’s communication and fundraising activities.

Critical competencies:

1. Ecological understanding: you will have a well-developed knowledge of the nature and functioning of the Australian biota; and major threats to native wildlife and their habitats and how these threats can be mitigated. You will have experience working with land managers to design and/ or implement strategies for fire, feral and weed management.
2. Collaboration: you need demonstrated understanding of and experience working with Indigenous Rangers in nature conservation and land management. This involves good relationship-building and collaborative skills, including the ability to develop and maintain relationships with Corporation staff, Rangers and Traditional Owners.
3. Working with people: you need good interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. You will need to be able to get on with other people from diverse backgrounds to enable you to live and work in remote locations as required.
4. Getting things done: you need very well-developed planning and organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise and execute a range of tasks in an efficient manner.
5. Ecological survey: you will have field survey skills, in animal trapping, identification and handling, the use of camera traps, acoustic monitors and telemetry; as well as other fauna and flora survey skills.
6. Ecological data management: you will have knowledge of experimental design in ecology and the statistical analysis of ecological data, commensurate with the position, and experience in the use of computer software packages including analytical, graphing, word processing, spreadsheet/ database and GIS software.
7. Science communication: you will have the capacity to draft scientific reports, funding applications and reports, and communicate science and conservation messages to different audiences including Rangers and Indigenous communities.
8. Financial management, paperwork and compliance: you will have the ability to deliver projects in a cost-effective manner and to manage financial resources, and to ensure contracted obligations are met, commensurate with the requirements of the position.
9. Travel and time in the field: you must be willing to travel for consultation and conduct field work to meet the requirements of the position.
10. Living in the bush: You need to have the ability to work in an isolated small team environment. Ideally, you would have previous experience of working and living in a rural or remote area.

Qualifications:

A degree in ecology/ biological science, with experience in conservation ecology or a related field, ideally with honours or equivalent.

Experience:

Experience in working with Indigenous rangers in ecology and land management is essential.

Licenses & Certificates:

You will need to be able to drive a manual 4WD vehicle in outback conditions to perform this role.

Inherent Requirements of the Role:

The execution of tasks associated with the position will involve fieldwork in remote locations and can sometimes be away from an established field base, often in isolated locations. The working environment will be predominantly outdoors and often in the extremes of weather – hot and wet and/or dry. The position will be physically demanding and may require walking and climbing over rough terrain, heavy muscular activity including lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling loads, bending, climbing and driving a variety of vehicles. In addition, the applicant will conduct periods of office work, planning and supervising projects. The successful applicant must be physically and mentally capable of performing these activities in the locations required in order to carry out the inherent role responsibilities.

Position Description:

To view the detailed position description for this role, click here: Partnership Ecologist | North west | Position Description.

A position description is also attached.

NOTE: If viewing this advertisement on a recruitment website, we recommend you view our careers page to access the Job Description and apply.