Join Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC): Protect Australia’s Unique Wildlife!

Are you passionate about conservation and making a real difference for Australia’s endangered wildlife? AWC, a global leader in conservation, is looking for a Wildlife Ecologist for our Pilliga National Parks partnership.

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: 

• Operations - delivering effective large-scale land management including fire management, feral animal control, weed control and infrastructure management. 

• 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 on land management.  

• Fundraising - mobilising finance (primarily, tax deductible donations) from the general public and philanthropists including through effective communication of AWC conservation programs.   

OneAWC is defined as ‘a cohesive, engaged, collaborative, high performing group guided by strong, effective leaders. A group of people who all understand AWC’s mission, vision and their role in contributing to the achievement of mission and vision, all connected and working towards a common purpose, guided by a set of shared values’. The delivery of AWC’s mission is highly reliant on all AWC working collaboratively with each other.

About the Role:

Reporting to AWC's Regional Ecologist South East, the position will lead implementation of a major conservation management project in NSW. The position will manage a small team of skilled ecologists and will also work closely with AWC’s operational staff in scoping the works program.

The project involves an innovative partnership between AWC and the NSW Government. AWC has been contracted by NSW to deliver a rewilding program, conservation management and an associated science program (monitoring, research) at two NSW protected areas. This role is focused on the project in the Pilliga forest in northern NSW; the companion project is at Mallee Cliffs National Park in south-west NSW.

The Pilliga project extends over 36,000 ha, within which AWC has constructed a conservation fence to establish a 5,800 ha feral predator-free area. To date, five regionally extinct mammal species have been reintroduced to the Pilliga – the Greater Bilby, Bridled Nailtail Wallaby, Brush-tailed Bettong, Plains Mouse and Shark Bay Bandicoot. Additional species may be reintroduced in the coming years, subject to agreement with NSW.

The position will play a lead role in all aspects of delivery of the Pilliga project. At present, this includes the monitoring of reintroductions; the conduct and reporting of ecological monitoring; and the development and implementation of a research program. In future, the work may extend to the planning and conduct of reintroductions, including ‘outside the fence’, subject to agreement with NSW.

This job would suit a vertebrate ecologist motivated to take a leading role in a major rewilding project situated within an innovative public-private partnership. The successful conduct of the role is expected to result in tangible improvements to the conservation status of threatened mammal species, as well as other native species such as ground-active birds that are adversely impacted by feral predators.

This is an applied conservation ecology role. Key attributes we are looking for in applicants are:

• A strong drive to personally make a positive difference to the conservation of Australian wildlife
• The desire to work as part of a high-performing team of conservation ecologists, contributing what you can and learning from the skills and ideas of your colleagues; and
• A willingness to learn from the experience and world-view of others, particularly the diverse range of stakeholders involved in the program, including AWC’s Operations Managers, our NPWS partners, Traditional Owners and the broader community.

Critical Competencies:

• Advanced knowledge of the conservation of Australian wildlife and ecosystems including the nature and functioning of the Australian biota; and major threats to native wildlife and their habitats and how these threats can be mitigated. Ideally, you will have experience working with land managers to design applied conservation strategies (e.g., for fire, feral animal and weed management).
• Excellent ecological field and research skills including high level knowledge of the ecological literature; advanced knowledge of experimental design and sampling methods; strong skills in vertebrate ecology and sound skills in field ecology generally; advanced skills in statistical analysis of ecological data and the use of computer software packages relevant to the position.
• Commitment to conservation: you must have a strong drive to make a positive difference to the conservation of Australian wildlife.
• Getting things done: you need well-developed planning and organisational skills, including a demonstrated ability to prioritise tasks in an effective manner to deliver your role.
• Leadership: you need strong leadership and team-building skills, including the ability to manage and coordinate a team of staff and volunteers working in a remote area.
• Collaboration: you will want to work as part of a high-performing team of conservation ecologists, contributing what you can and learning from the skills and ideas of your colleagues. More generally, you need to have good relationship-building and collaborative skills. You need to be willing to learn from the experience and world-view of the diverse range of stakeholders involved in the program, including operations managers, NPWS partners, Traditional Owners and the broader community.
• Good communication skills including a well-developed capacity to write and review scientific reports and publications, compose funding applications and reports, and communicate science and conservation messages to a general audience.
• Competence in financial management, paperwork and compliance: the ability to deliver projects in a cost-effective manner and to manage financial resources, and to ensure contracted obligations are met and reported on in accordance with the contract requirements.
• Resourcefulness: the ability to improvise and problem-solve, developing practical solutions with the resources at hand, and/or the ability to obtain additional resources if required.
• Willingness to travel as required to conduct the requirements of the position.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Appointment to Wildlife Ecologist will require, as a minimum, a PhD and experience in vertebrate ecology. Appointment to Senior Wildlife Ecologist will require, in addition, 10 or more years postgraduate experience in a relevant field, plus aptitude/ capacity for managing programs and staff at a sub-regional level.
• Valid manual Australian Drivers Licence
• Remote First Aid (Desirable)

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 working alone. The working environment will include extremes of weather – hot and wet and/or dry. The position can 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 office work, planning and supervising projects. The successful applicant must be physically capable of performing these activities in the locations required in order to carry out the inherent role responsibilities.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a full time role contracted till April 2026.

Join our Journey:

Take the leap and start your next adventure with the AWC! AWC reserves the right to start screening applicants and interviewing throughout the recruitment process.

• For Initial enquiries: [email protected] using the subject line: Wildlife Ecologist / Senior Wildlife Ecologist - South East enquiry via EthicalJobs.

APPLICATIONS: To submit an application, click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts to complete an online application form. Your application must include CV and covering letter, briefly addressing the critical competencies listed in the detailed job description attachment.

PLEASE NOTE:

1. Applicants must be an Australian citizen/permanent resident or have a suitable visa in place in order to apply. Sponsorship is not available.
2. Applicants will under go relevant pre-employment checks, which may include an online medical and a values-based assessment.
3. If you apply for this role, AWC will include you in its ongoing updates and communications about its events, activities and fundraising initiatives. You may opt out of these communications at any time.
4. Any application submitted to AWC will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available here. By providing us with your contact details, your consent to receive communications and direct educational material will remain current until you advise us otherwise.

AWC is a welcoming and inclusive organisation that invites individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as those who identify as First Nations and Torres Strait Islander, individuals with disabilities, the LGBTIQA+ community, neurodivergent individuals, and those from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, to apply for the opportunity. AWC values and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable to be themselves, and where a range of perspectives, cultures, and voices are respected and recognised as a key part to the success of AWC. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must also have the right to live and work in Australia.

A position description is attached.