Help lead a Traditional Owner-led initiative driving systems change towards an empowered future for Healthy Reef and Healthy People!

• Identified positions for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates (strong preference for a Reef Traditional Owner).
• Flexible Location – preference for Queensland within the Reef catchment.
• Fixed-term appointment until 31/03/2028
• Will require regular travel within Queensland.

Job description

As the Operations Manager reporting to the Director, Programs & Engagement, you'll have the chance to apply your community development and engagement expertise, contributing to a transformative vision for the Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef. You'll also play a key role in helping to ensure the team of Regional Coordinators is delivering high quality, consistent and accurate messaging. You’ll support logistics and invoicing for all Regional Coordinators, plus you’ll lead on compiling, synthesising and analysing the information from all regions to develop key insights to support decision-making.

About ReefTO

The Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owner Taskforce (ReefTO) is a Traditional Owner-led initiative dedicated to the health, management, and protection of the Great Barrier Reef. ReefTO honours the decades of work by Elders to assert their cultural authority and rights to sea country and to drive genuine partnerships across the Reef.

Guided by the Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan (TO Implementation Plan), ReefTO focuses on six critical areas: climate change, land & coast, sea country, partnerships and capacity, knowledge systems, and investment.

ReefTO has three key objectives over the next 2-3 years:

• Engage with Traditional Owners to establish a Sea Country Alliance.
• Oversee strategic policy and capacity building actions in the TO Implementation Plan.
• Monitor and report on the delivery of actions in the TO Implementation Plan.

ReefTO is hosted by Pollination Foundation until a Sea Country Alliance is set up.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ROLE (HOWEVER NOT LIMITED TO)

Over the next 12-18 months, you and a team of three (3) Regional Coordinators will be at the forefront of building authentic, lasting relationships with Traditional Owners across the Great Barrier Reef.

You’ll do the same job as a Regional Coordinator, leading regional engagement in your allocated geographic zone, but you’ll also have an additional set of operational responsibilities.

• Genuine interest in elevating the role of Traditional Owners in the management and governance of the Great Barrier Reef.
• Comfortable presenting in front of groups and preparing short briefs to report on progress and outcomes.
• Analytical, organised, and a team player.
• Strong cultural competency is a must, and you should be able to develop and follow processes while also being flexible and adaptable.
• Plan meeting logistics across regions.
• Developing SOPS (Standard Operating Procedures).
• Supporting the selection and onboarding of vendors and/or service providers and keeping things humming smoothly so Regional Coordinators can focus mainly on yarns.
• Familiarity with ICIP/ID and FPIC would be ideal but is not essential.

ABOUT YOU

You’ll love this role if you thrive in a fast-moving, dynamic team environment and have exceptional attention to detail. You are resourceful, adaptable, and proactive, staying calm under pressure and communicating effectively. You can prioritise and manage the needs of diverse stakeholders with ease.

You’ll bring solid experience in managing or coordinating the work of operational teams. Operations, logistics and streamlining processes are concepts that resonate strongly with you. Your curiosity, commitment to good process, and belief in the rights of Traditional Owners mean that even when the going gets tough, you will find a way to work through the weeds because what you’re doing really matters. You are excited to work in a purpose-driven organisation, sharing our ambition and commitment to honouring and amplifying the voices of Reef Traditional Owners.

You have experience working in an Aboriginal organisation or corporation, and perhaps also in a government agency or not-for-profit organisation, making you familiar with different systems and ways of doing things. Your background equips you with the skills and insights needed to excel in this role and make a meaningful impact. Most importantly, you have a positive, can-do attitude, and a sense of humour, making you a good fit in our high-performing team!

workplace culture

We are committed to building a strong, agile team and to fostering a positive, flexible and supportive work culture. We are a small team – we think it is important to have each other’s back and for us all to be aligned and working towards a shared vision and goals. To achieve this, we need different points of view, and we encourage the team to respectfully disagree and challenge one another.

ReefTO is supportive of flexible working arrangements. This includes consideration of preferences to work-from-home and/or in an office, job share arrangements, and of course, appropriate leave entitlements to enable team members to fulfil cultural and family responsibilities. What is important to you in terms of flexible working arrangements? Let us know!

How to Apply

Apply directly through our ReefTO careers page at www.reefto.au/join-us or click 'Apply Now' to submit your application by the closing date.

Download the Info Pack for applicants below or through our website.

To perform this role, it is essential that the person is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. It is therefore a genuine occupational requirement under section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991. Applications will only be considered from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

A position description is attached.