VACANT POSITION: HEALTHY COUNTRY MANAGER

Salary Package Range: $120,000-$130,000

Want to work with Indigenous Rangers on some of the most spectacular and remote Kimberley country and coastline? This role oversees Ranger activities, marine patrols, visitor management and cultural programs on the Dambimangari Indigenous Protected Area and jointly managed marine park, and manages partnerships, budgets, staff and new strategic projects.

• Competitive salary package ($120,000-$130,000) plus super with salary sacrificing up to $15,899.
• Training and development opportunities in a supportive team environment.
• 5-weeks annual leave with office closure over the Christmas period.

About the Role:

The Healthy Country Manager is responsible for overall management of the Dambimangari Indigenous Protected Areas and Lalang-gaddam Marine Park. Under the guidance of our Board of Directors, Healthy Country Advisory Committee and Joint Management Board (JMB), you are responsible for ensuring conservation and land management activities deliver on Traditional Owners’ aspirations, as set out in our Healthy Country Plan 2022-2032. The role manages a team of 25+ staff, including Coordinators and Rangers and oversees all Ranger operations including fire, ferals, weeds, threatened species, biosecurity, visitor management, marine park patrols, training and development, cultural activities and back to country programs. The Healthy Country Manager also manages budgets, grants, key partnerships and stakeholder engagement, sources new funding, and develops new strategic partnerships and projects. The Healthy Country Manager leads planning, logistics and administration of large on-country events and projects, including extensive on-country trips to remote and isolated locations.

About Us:

We are the Traditional Owners of the land and waters along the north-west Kimberley coastline, extending from the Robinson River, just north of Derby to the Prince Regent River in the far north of the Kimberley region in WA. It has been our home for many thousands of years. We carry the cultural responsibilities of our ancestors to look after Country.  Our Country is of great conservation significance, home to many threatened and endemic species, mighty rivers, coral reefs, powerful whirlpools, rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and more than 700 islands.

Dambeemangaddee are part of the Wandjina Woongudd community. We all share a unique body of beliefs and cultural practices going back to Lalai, the Dreaming when the creator beings Wandjina and Woongudd helped shape the land, sea, heaven, and all living things in our Country. They set out how we must look after culture, plants, animals, people, and country to keep them healthy. We maintain strong connections to our land through our Law, Culture, songs and stories. We visit our Country when we can and have set up homeland communities on our remote coastline.  We want to return to Country, live on our homelands, regain control, and teach future generations.

About the Corporation: 

Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation (DAC) provides a unique opportunity to work closely with Aboriginal people in one of the most remote and spectacular regions of the Kimberley. DAC is a small Aboriginal Corporation dedicated to the benefit of our members, Dambimangari Traditional Owners. DAC is the governing body for all Dambimangari business on behalf of our members, and in line with traditional Law and Culture. We employ more than 30 staff, the majority of whom are Traditional Owners. The Corporation’s key functions include:

• Managing Native Title including engaging with mining, tourism and other access and development proposals.
• Members Services like health and education.
• Land and sea management (Indigenous Protected Area, Ranger Program & Jointly Managed Marine Park).
• Cultural heritage management.
• Economic development.
• Visitor management.
• Cultural programs.
• Remote infrastructure.
• Corporate Services including finance, administration and payroll.

About the Healthy Country Team:

The Healthy Country Team and Ranger program provides jobs for our young people and supports them to work on Country and reconnect with culture. The broader Healthy Country Team consists of the Ranger operations, led by the Ranger Coordinator and supported by the Marine Operations Officer, seven full-time and ten casual rangers, both men and women, working across land and sea Country.

The Ranger team is supported by a Healthy Country Manager, Ranger Coordinator, Marine Operations Officer, Marine Park Joint Management team and other staff. They also work closely with the Visitor Management team and new Cultural Programs Team. Ranger Operations are overseen by the Healthy Country Advisory Committee and the Marine Park Joint Management Body. The Dambimangari Rangers deliver activities across the Indigenous Protected Area and Lalang-gaddam Marine Park including:

• Fire management, including aerial burning.
• Feral animal & weed management.
• Biodiversity and threatened species.
• Cultural heritage management.
• Visitor management and education.
• Marine Park Patrols and sea country science.
• Back to Country trips and community events.
• Biosecurity.
• Indigenous knowledge transfer.
• Training and development.

We work closely with expert partners like Parks & Wildlife (DBCA), the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, WA Fisheries (DPIRD), the Department of Agriculture and researchers to deliver our programs.

What We Are Looking For:

You will be someone with strong experience in land and sea management, including managing complex projects, large teams, multiple grants, partnerships and remote logistics. We’re looking for someone with a logistical mind, practical bush skills and experience in community development or environmental management. You will be comfortable working in a cross-cultural setting, keen to further develop your knowledge of Indigenous culture and explore the remote Kimberley. You will be a leader and mentor with a passion for building the skills and capacity of Indigenous Rangers. You are a positive problem-solver who can work under pressure and respond quickly to change in a dynamic, remote and challenging work environment.

Duties will include:

• Manage the implementation of the Dambimangari Healthy Country Plan across the Indigenous Protected Area, jointly managed Marine Park and all Dambimangari land and sea country.
• Meet regularly with the Healthy Country Advisory Committee (HCAC), Marine Park Joint Management Body and DAC Board of Directors to seek guidance and ensure programs align with Traditional Owner aspirations.
• Facilitate strategic planning with Traditional Owners and key partner organisations including the Healthy Country Plan 2022-32, annual work planning and collaborative planning with partners and stakeholders (Fire Plans, Weed Management Plan, Sea Country Research & Monitoring Plan, Ferals & threatened species action plans).
• Facilitate and support Dambimangari participation in the regional working groups (North Kimberley Fire Abatement Project, Indigenous Salt Water Advisory group and other collaborative, regional projects).
• Develop and manage effective relationships with stakeholders including members, government, corporate, research institutions and industry to further Dambimangari aspirations, economic growth and development.
• Provide leadership and direction to Healthy Country Team, including direct reports and the Ranger team.
• Manage budgets, including setting, tracking and expenditure reports for grants and internal DAC processes for all DAC Healthy Country programs.
• Work with HR to develop a staff development plan for the Healthy Country team including recruitment, training, retention, talent management and succession planning framework.
• Provide timely and relevant monthly reports (verbal and written) to DAC CEO, Board, HCAC, JMB and relevant sub-committees regarding all activities and projects including performance and significant issues. Deliver on deadlines as required by DAC, grant reporting, key partners and other stakeholders.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience managing conservation and land management programs including fire management, feral animal and weed control, threatened species, marine science, cultural programs, infrastructure and asset management.
• Extensive experience and capability working with a wide range of stakeholders, leading and supervising teams and the capacity to plan work, motivate staff and monitor performance in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Experience managing community development, training and capacity building with Indigenous people, preferably in a remote setting.
• Experience in the delivery of Healthy Country Planning, Conservation Action Planning or Open Standards Framework (Desirable).

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge:

• High level of competency in stakeholder engagement and collaborative working relationships with diverse stakeholders including government agencies, community members and industry.
• Be able to manage multiple tasks effectively with a high degree of flexibility and confidentiality within a changing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to be collaborative and build stakeholder relationships to further the reputation and success of DAC.
• Ability to compile, manage and deliver budgets, financial management, reporting and compliance.
• Proven ability to work independently and take ownership to resolve factors that may influence the delivery of service to client a timely and accurate manner.
• Proven capability to source new grant funding and partnerships.
• Current ‘C’ class driver’s licence and remote 4WD experience.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Strong existing industry networks (Desirable).
• Possess and maintain a level of physical fitness for working in remote, hot, humid Kimberley conditions.

Further Information: 

For more information about the role please email Ryan via [email protected] or call (08) 9383 3293.

Role is based in Derby WA 6728, relocation support provided to the successful candidate.

All appointments are subject to the successful applicant having at least two COVID-19 vaccinations, WWC check and police clearance prior to commencement of employment.

Full Australian Working Rights are a requirement of this role.