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Waterwatch Coordinator

Molonglo Conservation Group

Waterwatch Coordinator

The Molonglo Conservation Group Inc requires a Waterwatch Coordinator to work with volunteers, community groups, and a wide range of other stakeholder organisations to promote and implement Waterwatch objectives and improve the health of the Molonglo catchment.

The Waterwatch Coordinator ideally has a sound understanding of freshwater ecology, in particular water monitoring techniques, macroinvertebrates and riparian vegetation. They should also have an understanding of environmental issues affecting the catchment and be outgoing with good communication, organisational, project management, computer and administration skills.

Molonglo Conservation Group is a not-for-profit coordinator of Landcare and Parkcare groups within the Molonglo Catchment and Southern tablelands of southern NSW and the ACT. Our work focuses on implementing programs that restore landscapes, enhance knowledge, and build community capabilities. Our activities cover urban, peri-urban, rural and conservation landscapes.

Role

The Waterwatch Coordinator coordinates Waterwatch program delivery to the satisfaction of the Upper Murrumbidgee Regional Waterwatch Facilitator. The Coordinator works closely with the Executive, staff, contractors, stakeholders and the wider community to realise Molonglo Conservation Group’s strategy and goals.

The Waterwatch Coordinator role will focus principally on the Waterwatch program and contributes to three core objectives of Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch:

  • Engage the community in monitoring and caring for our catchments: Volunteers make monthly measurements of water quality parameters in the ACT and region. Staff (with assistance from volunteers) also survey macroinvertebrates and assess riparian condition. Volunteers also assist in platypus surveys during August..
  • Educate and raise awareness in schools and the community about catchment health: Waterwatch coordinators visit schools and attend public events to educate and raise awareness on issues of catchment health.
  • Use data collected by volunteers to inform policy and on-ground catchment management: The range of water quality data collected by volunteers contributes to a holistic understanding of catchment health and is used in the Catchment Health Indicator Program (CHIP) report and the Molonglo Conservation Group’s Catchment Strategy.

Duties

In General, the Waterwatch Coordinator is required to:

  1. Coordinate Molonglo Conservation Group Waterwatch Program delivery.
  2. Work closely with the Molonglo Healthy Waterways program manager to encourage collaboration between the Waterwatch program and the Healthy Waterways program.
  3. Provide leadership and guidance to participating groups and individuals.
  4. Keep the program schedule on time and on target.
  5. Identify and evaluate program risks.
  6. Other duties as required.

In particular, the Waterwatch Coordinator is required to:

  1. Train and support volunteers to monitor a range of catchment health indicators and assist with processes for quality assurance.
  2. To support the Molonglo Conservation Group and the local community in facilitating the implementation of the Molonglo Catchment Strategy in areas pertaining to water quality improvement.
  3. Verify and analyse data to use in the annual CHIP report.
  4. Engage community and schools on catchment management issues and deliver awareness raising initiatives such as the Bug Blitz, Platypus Month and Frogwatch.
  5. To establish and maintain links (particularly cross-border links) between catchment management interest groups to encourage coordination, communication and collaboration on water quality improvement initiatives.
  6. Assist with Waterwatch communications such as via the website and newsletter.

Selection Criteria

  1. A sound understanding of freshwater ecology, such as water monitoring techniques, macroinvertebrates and riparian vegetation.
  2. Demonstrated skills in project management; ability to work unsupervised to establish priorities, and initiate, organise and complete work tasks within set timeframes.
  3. A high level of oral and written communication skills with particular emphasis on: a. Communicating with various stakeholders such as government and community groups, b. Delivering presentations to students and general public on catchment health issues, and c. Writing scientific material for the general public.
  4. Sound IT skills particularly regarding Microsoft Office.
  5. Awareness of Workplace Health and Safety principles and their application in the field of natural resource management.

Conditions

The Waterwatch Coordinator will be responsible to the Executive of the Molonglo Conservation Group Inc, which is comprised of representatives from community and Landcare groups, and reports on a more regular basis to the Healthy Waterways Coordinator. The Coordinator also collaborates strongly with the manager of Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch and other Waterwatch Coordinators within the region. This will be a part-time role (3.5 days per week) and the successful applicant will be required to work from home, however, this is viewed as a temporary arrangement while Molonglo Conservation Group works through some transitionary arrangements. The Officer will be appointed initially until 30 December 2021, when a review of the success of the position will determine continuation beyond then.

Required to start as soon as possible.

How to apply

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