Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) is the coordinating body for wildlife health in Australia, and initially began as a national initiative of the Australian Government in 2002[1]. WHA operates a virtual office and offers the flexibility of remote working arrangements.

WHA works with a network of government and private stakeholders across Australia to develop strong partnerships in order to better manage the adverse effects of wildlife diseases on Australia’s animal health industries, human health, biodiversity, trade and tourism. WHA participates in surveillance, investigation, monitoring, research and recording of wildlife disease events. WHA helps protect Australia’s trade, human health, biodiversity and tourism.

about the role

WHA is seeking a motivated Senior Project Officer (Koala Health Project) to join the Emergencies Program team on a fixed term, full-time basis (38 hours per week, until 30 June 2025, with the possibility of extension to 31 December 2025).

You will play a crucial role assisting with and delivering the following WHA projects on national koala health management:

• developing national guidance documents on vaccination of koalas against chlamydia
• developing national guidance documents on treatment and care of koalas in natural disasters.

Additionally, you will contribute to and actively engage in the WHA’s Emergencies Program work, which focuses on Australia's wildlife health preparedness and response systems. This role involves assisting WHA’s preparedness and response to wildlife health issues and events, such as high pathogenicity avian influenza, and managing WHA’s Fact Sheet development and revision program, as well as managing a WHA Focus Group, and assisting with WHA stakeholder liaison.

An ideal candidate will possess the following, specific to the Senior Project Officer (Koala Health Project) role:

Essential Selection Criteria

• High level knowledge and interest in wildlife health and management, including wildlife disease management.
• High level skills in project management and an understanding of complex stakeholder engagement, including committee chairperson duties and support.
• Experience in animal health preparedness and incident response programs.
• Understanding of government processes and functions relating to animal health issues, emergency preparedness and incident response.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communications, including computer skills, critical appraisal of literature and tailoring writing to a bespoke audience
• Demonstrated skills in time management including reprioritisation of work in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable

• Knowledge of, and experience in, managing health of koalas, and other aspects of koala management, at an individual and population level.
• Experience with website management.

Common Criteria (WHA)

• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Understanding of and commitment to conservation and environmental sustainability.
• Values and a commitment to a safe, secure and diverse workplace.

Qualifications & Licences

• A degree in an appropriate discipline such as veterinary science, animal health, biological sciences or environmental health.
• For a veterinary science degree: desirable, but not mandatory that is registrable in one of Australia’s states or territories.
• A current Australian Drivers’ License is desirable.

We appreciate it can be challenging to strictly meet all selection criteria and encourage candidates who predominantly do, to consider applying.

Salary for this position is $108,749 p/a pro rata plus 11.5% superannuation.

WHA is an equal opportunity employer and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally & linguistically diverse backgrounds, sex, sexuality and gender diverse (LGBTQIA+) community members, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We invite applicants to tell us if they require any adjustments during the recruitment and selection process if they choose to.

Applicants must have the right to live and work in Australia.

Before applying, please obtain a copy of the full position description and application guidelines, by contacting Trish Hennessy-Hawks, Head of Administration, People & Culture via email: [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Project Officer - Remote / Work from Home enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Please direct any specific queries regarding the position to Simone Vitali on 02 82512328 or [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Project Officer - Remote / Work from Home enquiry via EthicalJobs.

You can find out more about Wildlife Health Australia by visiting our website: www.wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au.

[1] Established as the Australian Wildlife Health Network in 2002, subsequently incorporated and commenced trading as Wildlife Health Australia in 2013.