• Reports to: Advocacy Manager - Northern
• Basis: 4 days per week.
• Location: Work from home or a shared office in Brisbane or Gold Coast.
• Duration: 12 months, with extension possible depending on performance and funding.
• Salary range: $75,000 – $85,000 per annum pro rata plus super, depending on skills and experience. (Salary packaging, paid study or field work leave, plus extra Christmas/New Year leave are part of the package.)

About the role

From fire ants to feral deer, Queensland experiences some of the worst of invasive species - one of the main causes of the state’s biodiversity and habitat loss.

The community organiser is a new position that plays a central role in building the network of local people who are aware of the impact and willing to take action to drive change to address the severe impact of invasive species on the environment. You will engage people in Queensland and northern New South Wales to participate in Invasive Species Council campaigns.

You will organise and mobilise volunteers for boots-on-the-ground events like community briefings, market stalls, MP visits, and snap actions. You will also connect, support and empower volunteer leaders in their communities. Some of this work will be delivered through building coalitions with partner organisations.

Job description

The Community Organiser builds local networks and coordinates and runs events on the ground to mobilise the community and key stakeholders in Queensland and northern NSW.

The position will report to the Advocacy Manager - Northern and will initially be focussed on opportunities ahead of the Queensland election and raising awareness about our fire ants campaign.

Responsibilities

• Mobilise the community and key stakeholders to take action to influence political decisions about invasive species.
• Grow the number of volunteers and supporters engaged with Invasive Species Council’s campaigns in Queensland and northern NSW.
• Develop and run regular public events including meetings, market stalls and MP visits.
• Raise public awareness about the environmental impact of invasive species.
• Work closely with the Advocacy Manager and other Invasive Species Council campaigners to develop, organise and promote meaningful, innovative, and high-impact real world actions and events.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships, networks and engagement with stakeholders, decision makers and volunteers contributing to our work.
• Proactively contribute to a positive, collaborative and values driven culture with the team and organisation.
• Adhere to ISC policies and procedures
• Attend staff meetings and training as required including a twice-yearly face to face meeting
• Other duties as determined by the Advocacy Manager from time to time.

Selection Criteria

Essential:

• At least two years’ experience in a campaigning or organising role, with a track record of successfully engaging and mobilising people and stakeholders to take campaign actions
• Strong communication skills: Experience motivating people to take action, ability to write clear and concise content and comfortable approaching people in person, on the phone, and digitally.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects and events and to recruit and manage volunteers.
• Motivated by a passion to achieve positive outcomes for nature
• A current driver's licence and access to a vehicle

Desirable:

• Understanding of political processes and knowledge of and experience in campaigning to achieve change
• Experience in engaging with traditional and social media
• Understanding of invasive species issues and/or environmental science
• Extensive network of local environmental, Indigenous and community organisations in Queensland and northern NSW.

Location

Remote home or shared office in the Brisbane or Gold Coast areas.

More info

ISC is an equal opportunity employer. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

It is a requirement of working with the Invasive Species Council that you provide evidence that you are up to date with your COVID19 vaccinations.

Contact Reece Pianta on 0422 935 665‬ for specific questions about the role.‬

About the conservation team

The Invasive Species Council conservation team aims to tackle some of our most challenging invasive species threats and drive systemic reform to Australia’s biosecurity system and environmental laws.

The values of the conservation team:

• We are relentless in pursuing outcomes and having impact.
• We are not scared to fail and learn from the experience.
• We own and drive the work that we do.
• We are creative and open minded.
• We connect to and are motivated by our passion for nature.

About the Invasive Species Council

You will be joining a team that advocates for nature, is committed to science, is fearless and persistent and is collaborative with first Australians.

The Invasive Species Council is a non-government donor-funded organisation formed in 2002 that seeks better laws and policies to protect the Australian environment from invasive plants, animals and diseases. Over the last couple of years, the organisation has embarked on a ten-year journey of growth as we make the 2020s the ‘decade of biosecurity’.

Invasive species have been the main driver of environmental loss of Australia’s native animals since colonisation and remain one of the main threats to the future survival of all our unique wildlife on land and sea. Unless we take action, work with others and speak out, Australia’s biodiversity crisis will only worsen.

The Invasive Species Council has made numerous interventions that have reduced the environmental impacts from invasive species. Over recent years we:

• Played a major role in ensuring the establishment of the national office of environmental biosecurity.
• Secured $411 million over ten years to eradicate red fire ants from south east Queensland.
• Secured $24.8 million to eradicate yellow crazy ants from Cairns and Townsville.
• Co-hosted the 1st and 2nd Australian Biosecurity Symposium.
• Jointly conducted ground-breaking research to identify harmful invasive insects that could establish in Australia.
• Led efforts to recognise the national threat from expanding populations of feral deer.
• Driven the Reclaim Kosci campaign that seeks to reverse the protection of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park.

We work remotely from home in many different parts of Australia. Support for your development will be a priority.

Our 2022-2030 Strategic Plan can be found here.​​

More details about all our campaigns can be found on our website.

A position description is attached.