• Location: Brisbane preferred - remote working possible.
• Hours: This position is part-time 4 days a week. Will require flexibility in working outside standard office hours
• Employer: Queensland Conservation Council Incorporated
• Responsible to: QCC Organising Lead
• Term of employment: Permanent part-time position - we are open to job-sharing this position.
• Remuneration: 0.8 FTE Pro rata of $85,982 - $$98,362 per annum full-time salary. All QCC staff get 11.5% superannuation (rising to 12% in July 1 2025, and 17.5% holiday leave loading, as well as additional Christmas to New Years eve holidays .

Special Provisions: Willingness to travel within QLD for up to five days a month.

The Organisation

Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) is the state's peak non-government environment group. Our mission is to protect the environment, wildlife and landscapes, conserve our precious natural resources and make Queensland businesses and communities more sustainable.

We achieve our goals by advocating to the government, engaging with the community and informing through the media. We apply the latest scientific research to develop policies. We monitor progress and rate the performance of governments, their programs, and companies, holding them accountable to their environmental commitments.

Incorporated in 1969, we are a non-profit community organisation with no political affiliations. We have a membership of 54 environment groups throughout Queensland, whom we consult and coordinate with. QCC is governed by a Board elected by our members. The QCC Directors lead a small, dedicated staff team, and enthusiastic volunteers assist us. We have a bold vision for QLD, and our 2024-2026 Strategic Plan’s five strategic focus areas are:

1. Taking action for a safe climate
2. Protecting nature and biodiversity
3. Moving beyond colonial practices
4. Bringing people together to create change
5. Strengthening the foundations for sustainable growth and impact.

We are committed to developing and implementing our Innovation Reconciliation Action Plan, and continuing to expand the importance of First Nation’s voices in our work.

The Role

Join our team as the Protect Country Strategist and you will play a key role in supporting QCC campaigns and the QCC team to develop and maintain partnerships with First Nations communities, with the aim to Protect Country in Queensland. Your voice will be heard across the organisation as we seek to learn and improve our partnership with Queensland’s First Nations.

Roles and responsibility

Reporting to the Director, this position leads co-design and collaboration with key partners and supports the delivery of QCC environmental campaigns through research, recommendations and engagement with First Nations communities.

This position will suit someone who is organised and self-directed, capable of working in a busy office environment, has proficient interpersonal skills, and can engage and build relationships with all stakeholders and staff.

Duties

• In partnership with the QCC Director, identify opportunities for QCC to campaign in pursuit of nature and Australian First Nations cultural outcomes.
• Support QCC’s nature campaigns by managing connections with First Nations communities to encourage collaborative strategy making to achieve greater recognition and involvement of First Nations in decision-making and management of protected areas and land carbon projects.
• Develop relationships that strengthen QCC's partnership with First Nations Peoples to deliver outcomes for nature and Country in Queensland.
• Identify and understand environmental issues that First Nations communities in Queensland are working on through open dialogue with them.
• Actively seek opportunities, plan, negotiate, develop and maintain effective relationships and collaborations with First Nations leaders, stakeholders and other organisations.

Key Selection Criteria

1. Demonstrated knowledge of both nature conservation and Aboriginal or Torres Straits' cultural heritage, preferably within the Queensland context.
2. Demonstrated experience working with and knowledge of environmental, cultural, social, or economic issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
3. Demonstrated ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
4. Experience in writing for advocacy purposes.
5. Well-developed communication and engagement skills with a range of stakeholders.
6. Ability to travel across QLD and into remote First Nations communities.
7. Commitment to and understanding of First Nations self-determination.

Essential Personal Qualities

1. Ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
2. Maintaining confidentiality with First Nations' cultural knowledge and QCC's business.
3. Diligence and a commitment to creating meaningful and long-lasting relationships with diverse stakeholders.
4. A commitment to safe work practices.
5. Capacity and willingness to accept direction and to work as part of a team in a busy, multi-skilled working environment.

Queensland Conservation Council considers that being Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational requirement for this position under s25, 104 and 105 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) and 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).