ABOUT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF FOUNDATION (GBRF)

The Great Barrier Reef is a global icon and an irreplaceable ecosystem. It holds significant cultural, environmental, and economic value to Australia and is home to thousands of species of marine life. Our Reef is facing increasing pressure from multiple threats, the most pressing being climate change. Without intervention, including a rapid upscaling of restoration and conservation actions, we are projected to lose 90% of coral reefs by 2050.

For over 20 years the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) has served as the lead charity for the Reef, forging partnerships and investment across business, philanthropy, science, conservation, community, First Nations and government to design and deliver solutions that deliver a better future for coral reefs. Right now, the GBRF manages a portfolio (valued at $800m) of over 400 projects involving more than 500 delivery partners.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Blue Carbon Program is a relatively new initiative for the Foundation that aims to catalyse the restoration and enhanced resilience of coastal wetlands through climate markets. It focuses on translating the best available science into management actions and funding mechanisms to support adoption by private enterprise, Traditional Owners, and other land and sea managers.

The Program Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Blue Carbon Program, including a range existing projects and contracts. This includes delivering core project management functions, reporting to funders, contracting, tracking budgets, reviewing project workplans and strategies. The role will also support program design and play a lead role in tracking program and project monitoring and evaluation.

The role will manage relationships with project delivery partners and support integration of projects across the Program and more broadly across GBRF projects. The role will also support delivery partners to drive project communications and work collaboratively with the GBRF fundraising, marketing and communication teams to ensure that the outcomes of projects are effectively and accurately communicated to our stakeholders.

The role is suited to a highly organised person who thrives when working collaboratively across sectors, sites and stakeholders, and is experienced in complex project/program delivery and administration. The role requires a strong ability to work with a range of partners and to work autonomously. As part of a small team managing a growing portfolio of projects this role would best suit a candidate who is comfortable juggling competing priorities. Experience effectively working with Reef Traditional Owners would be an asset to this role.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Capability in project management including excellent organisational skills, synthesising multiple lines of information, strong time management, good written and verbal communications, contract and budget management.
• Experience designing, measuring, evaluating, and reporting or delivering on the impact of projects and programs and drawing on the lessons learned.
• A track record in building and maintaining effective partnerships, to support information exchange and collaboration across projects, including effectively engaging with diverse partners (such as industry, Traditional Owners, community, government) to support information exchange and progress the collaborative design and delivery of projects.
• A track record of working effectively in teams and with other people.
• Ability to travel on occasion to support project activities.
• Ability to work independently and being comfortable taking initiative.
• Experience applying domain expertise to practical impact-driven implementation (e.g., through NGO, government, or corporate sector).
• A degree in a technical discipline such as science, conservation or business management would be an asset, as would a keen interest and enthusiasm in science, emerging climate and nature markets and the Great Barrier Reef.

JOB LOCATION

Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, or other for the right candidate

OTHER

• Full-time fixed term for 2 years
• Flexible work arrangements are available
• First Nations people strongly encouraged to apply.
• Applications will be assessed as we receive them

A position description is attached.