ABOUT Mackay Conservation Group

Mackay Conservation Group works to protect our local environment. We are the lead community environmental organisation in the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday Region in Central Queensland. The group was formed in 1984 and has a history of taking on major campaigns. MCG is known for its work for real action on climate change. We have also worked to end rainforest logging in our region, ensure we have a representative system of National Parks that are adequately resourced and that our precious river ecosystems are protected.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Mackay Conservation Group Coordinator/Director leads a team of passionate staff and volunteers to ensure the region has a healthy natural environment valued and protected by our community. This is a great career opportunity, providing the right applicant with the chance to lead professional and impactful campaigning work in a nationally significant region. This role requires both management and campaign skills in order to achieve important environmental outcomes for the region. Mackay Conservation Group is part of a state and nation wide network of environmental organisations that the coordinator connects and works with.

ABOUT YOU

You love working with people and supporting them to achieve their personal and community goals. You’re able to manage a workplace and keen to create and share a vision for your team’s work to protect the local environment.

Whether you have experience working in the environment space, or have management skills in other areas of work, you’re passionate about working with locals to advocate for benefits to the local environment.

Preferably you are already a resident of the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region or you are familiar with life in regional communities and keen to lead a team to protect the local environment. If we’re welcoming you from elsewhere, you’ll be eager and able to quickly learn about the local region.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead MCG to achieve its vision and mission
• Develop (and oversee implementation of) MCG program and operational plans jointly with the management committee and staff
• Lead and oversee fundraising via grant applications, major donor engagement and fundraising drives.
• Lead recruitment and management of staff including ensuring MCG complies with Workplace Health & Safety, staff leave and other requirements
• Work with staff and Management Committee to liaise with government agencies and politicians to inform and influence environmentally and socially responsible public policy.
• Build and maintain alliances with relevant stakeholders and organisations in Mackay and elsewhere.
• Represent MCG in the media and develop communications plans and practices
• Identify campaign opportunities that align with program plans and support staff and volunteers to take on campaign roles including planning, organising and public engagement
• Ensure annual budget is prepared and adhered to
• Establish plans to ensure staff can train, recruit and support volunteers to actively participate in MCG campaigns and build MCG membership.

Mackay Conservation Group places a high value on experience gained from grassroots initiatives or through lived experiences, even if it was unpaid. We acknowledge that prejudices such as racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and classism create structural obstacles that hinder access to formal education and opportunities for experience. Therefore, we consider a variety of methods through which candidates have acquired skills and knowledge when assessing their suitability for a position. We will evaluate applicants based on their responses to our application questions rather than solely on paid work experience.