About AWC:

AWC is a pragmatic global conservation leader, restoring landscapes and providing hope for Australian wildlife. Guided by science, AWC delivers measurable conservation impacts at scale to secure the future of our most endangered species.

At AWC we are inspired by the unparalleled richness of Australia’s wildlife and we are united by our determination to protect its unique animals and landscapes. It is our mission to effectively conserve all Australian wildlife and habitats and our vision is for a world where Australia’s biodiversity is valued and effectively conserved by an engaged community. 

The delivery of AWC’s mission is highly reliant on all AWC working collaboratively with each other as a cohesive, engaged, collaborative, high performing group guided by strong, effective leaders. 

AWC’s work is guided by the following values. At AWC, we are:

• Accountable – taking ownership of our actions and outcomes
• Informed – working together to acquire and apply evidence, knowledge and experience
• Respectful – demonstrating care, recognition and integrity 
• Dedicated – committed to delivering effective outcomes, with resilience and tenacity
• Innovative – applying creative thinking for effective solutions
• Sustainable – delivering long-term financial and ecological viability. 

About the role:

As the Senior Operations Manager, you will lead the delivery of effective conservation across AWC's sites in the Mid West and Gascoyne. You will be directly responsible for Faure Island and will also support Sanctuary Managers across the wider portfolio in the southwest region. Reporting to the Regional Operations Manager (South West), you will lead a remote team of permanent staff, casual staff and contractors. Your focus will be on measurable on-ground outcomes: protecting indicator species, limiting the impact of wildfire, and reducing feral animals and invasive weeds, all while managing resources efficiently.

In this role, you will:

• Develop and deliver operational plans and budgets for Faure Island, and oversee planning and budgeting for Mt Gibson and future properties in the southwest region
• Lead fire management, feral animal and weed control, and landscape restoration programs
• Oversee asset and infrastructure projects, including fencing, buildings and road maintenance
• Work closely with the local science team and Regional Ecologist so that science and land management go hand in hand
• Make sure safety systems, risk assessments and inductions are in place and followed
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, including the Malgana Aboriginal Corporation, DBCA, local councils, landholders and contractors
• Support volunteer programs, supporter events, fundraising and AWC's communications

This is a hands-on leadership role with a mix of office-based planning and time in the field. The Faure Island part of the role usually involves around six on-site visits a year, each lasting two to three weeks. Fieldwork can be remote, physically demanding and carried out in extreme weather.

Critical competencies:

1. Getting things done:  you need exceptional planning and organisational skills, including a demonstrated ability to prioritise and execute a large number of tasks in an efficient manner.  
2. Managing staff:  you need excellent people management skills, including the leadership of, and managing and coordinating remote teams of staff and contractors.
3. Working with people: excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to establish and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
4. Practical land management and asset management: demonstrated knowledge and practical experience delivering land management programs including fire management, weed and feral animal control programs.  Demonstrated practical skills managing assets and infrastructure including:
   • The planning, supervision and implementation of infrastructure projects such as fencing and building;
   • The planning and delivery of feral eradication programs both within fenced areas and across unfenced landscapes;
   • The planning and delivery of prescribed fire programs, including wildfire response;
   • The ability to use a wide range of plant and equipment (generators, pumps, power tools, heavy machinery, etc, and perform routine repairs, including mechanical, and maintenance.
   • 4WD experience in relevant off-road conditions is essential.
5. Financial management: demonstrated ability to deliver projects in a cost-effective manner and to manage financial resources including:
   • Preparing and maintaining a budget
   • Coding and tracking expenditure, operating within the budget; and
   • Preparing written financial and operational reports.
6. Paperwork/compliance: demonstrated ability to maintain records, manage data, write reports, manage permit/authorisation processes and undertake contract management.   
7. Resourcefulness: the ability to improvise and ‘problem-solve’, developing practical solutions with limited resources.
8. Working in the bush: previous experience of working and living in a rural area, preferably remote, and the supervision of teams in geographically diverse locations. 
9. Information technology:  advanced ability in using standard business software packages (including Word, Outlook, Excel, and QGIS software) is essential. 
10. A passion for conservation: a passion for, or strong in interest in, conservation.
11. Willingness to travel. 

Qualifications:

1. Relevant trade/ TAFE and/or Conservation focused Diploma / Degree qualifications (desirable).
2. Strong, practical experience and diverse team management experience is essential.
3. Proven experience in delivering ‘on-ground’ results.

Licenses, Certificates and/or Training:

1. Valid manual driver’s licence.
2. Valid agricultural machinery licences for machinery such as trucks, tractors and other vehicles/equipment as relevant (or the capacity to readily obtain these licences).
3. Bushfire control training and experience (desirable). 
4. Firearms experience and licence (highly desirable).
5. Senior first aid certificate or the capacity to readily obtain it (remote certification – highly desirable).
6. Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC), or willingness to obtain.

PLEASE NOTE: The location for this role is negotiable, with a preference the successful candidate to be based in the Gascoyne region

To view the detailed position description for this role, click here: Senior Operations Manager | Gascoyne & Sanctuary Manager | Faure Island

Join our Journey:

Take the leap and start your next adventure with the AWC!  AWC reserves the right to start screening applicants and interviewing throughout the recruitment process. 

Initial enquiries: employment@australianwildlife.org

Applications: To submit an application, click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts to complete an online application form. Your application must include CV and covering letter, briefly addressing the critical competencies listed in the detailed job description attachment.

Please note: 

1. Applicants must be an Australian citizen/permanent resident or have a suitable visa in place in order to apply. Sponsorship is not available.
2. Applicants will undergo relevant pre-employment checks, which may include a national police clearance, online medical and a values-based assessment. Please note that the cost of the police check is the responsibility of the applicant.
3. If you apply for this role, AWC will include you in its ongoing updates and communications about its events, activities and fundraising initiatives. You may opt out of these communications at any time.
4. Any application submitted to AWC will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available at www.australianwildlife.org/privacy-policy. By providing us with your contact details, you consent to receive communications and direct educational material will remain current until you advise us otherwise.

AWC is a welcoming and inclusive organisation that invites individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as those who identify as First Nations and Torres Strait Islander, individuals with disabilities, the LGBTIQA+ community, neurodivergent individuals, and those from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, to apply for the opportunity. AWC values and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable to be themselves, and where a range of perspectives, cultures, and voices are respected and recognised as a key part to the success of AWC. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must also have the right to live and work in Australia.