Position Description – Reserve Manager Ethabuka Bush Heritage Australia POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE: Ethabuka Reserve Manager ROLE GRADE: 7 COST CENTRE: North $69-72k (inclusive of 9.5% superannuation) REMUNERATION: commensurate with qualifications and experience) LOCATION: Ethabuka Reserve DATE REVIEWED: December 2017 POSITION BASIS: Full time 1.0 FTE, ongoing Introduction Bush Heritage Australia is a national non-profit organisation protecting the natural environment through the management of land and water of high conservation value. This is achieved through three complementary strategies: directly purchasing land that has outstanding conservation values, purchasing and revegetating land that will reconnect fragmented landscapes and building partnerships with other landowners, particularly traditional owners. Bush Heritage works across 19 priority landscapes and owns around 1.2 million hectares of reserves. In addition we partner with Aboriginal and agricultural landowners to achieve conservation outcomes. Currently, Bush Heritage is working across more than 6.2 million hectares in our priority landscapes. Established in 1991, Bush Heritage has around 30,000 supporters Australia wide and an annual operating budget of over $20 million. Bush Heritage is primarily funded by donations from individuals and philanthropic sources. In pursuing its mission, Bush Heritage engages staff and volunteers across all the States and mainland Territories of Australia. Bush Heritage’s culture requires a commitment to a collaborative and supportive approach to leadership and management, with a strong commitment to safety and the development of our people. Page 1 of 5 Position Description – Reserve Manager Ethabuka Bush Heritage Australia Our values are: Conservation: Conservation impact is essential. Our decisions are informed by best available science and evidence; Culture: We respectfully engage with Traditional Owners of the land, and recognise Aboriginal culture, connection to Country and traditional knowledge. Working together and applying two-way science leads to greater understanding and better conservation outcomes; Collaboration: Collaboration, pragmatism and innovation are essentials. We listen to and respect each other, finding creative solutions together; Community: The broad Bush Heritage community underpins our success. By engaging with and within communities around Australia we achieve so much more than we could working alone; and Safety: Our people’s wellbeing and safety is critical. The organisation has six teams – West Region, North Region, South East Region, Conservation, Marketing and Fundraising, and Corporate Services. Position Summary The function of the Reserve Manager is primarily to ensure that day to day management of Ethabuka Reserve meets the conservation and organisational goals of Bush Heritage. Management of the Reserve occurs within the context of day to day implementation of the Ethabuka Reserve Management Plan. The Reserve Manager will be expected to represent and promote Bush Heritage in the region. Bush Heritage relies on its supporters taking a role in the ongoing management of its reserves. This will occur in the following ways at Ethabuka: camping; supporter visitation; and volunteer and research projects including through a Volunteer program. Reserve-based staff, in collaboration with non-reserve staff, play a key part in ensuring these activities contribute to the operation of the Reserve. The Reserve Manager will require a sound understanding of the principles of ecological and natural resource management, and will have experience in applying these principles. Amongst other attributes they will possess skills for managing land, plant and equipment, and supervising staff and volunteers, in a remote bush environment. Accountability The Reserve Manager reports to the Healthy Landscape Manager and collaborates with the conservation support centre teams, the Executive Manager North and the North Australia Team. The Reserve Manager will have researchers, volunteers, and contractors reporting directly to them. Accountabilities and performance indicators will be set against the Reserve Management Plan, Performance and Career Development Plan and reviewed annually against work plans. Key Responsibilities and Duties The Reserve Manager will ensure that the day to day management of Ethabuka Reserve meets the goals of Bush Heritage. The key responsibility is to manage Ethabuka Reserve for conservation by implementing the Reserve and Fire Management Plans, via an annual Works plan. The Reserve Manager is responsible for the development and management of the reserve budget, maintenance of equipment, and other infrastructure plus the management & development of relationships with Page 2 of 5 Position Description – Reserve Manager Ethabuka Bush Heritage Australia Traditional Owners, neighbours, partnerships in the community and other key stakeholders in collaboration with the conservation support teams. Key Responsibilities include 1. The operational management of Ethabuka Reserve as per the reserve management plan including maintenance and repair schedules for all infrastructure, plant and equipment, housing, tracks, fence lines, water points, etc., to ensure effective reserve operation. 2. The natural resource management of Ethabuka Reserve as per the reserve management plan including feral animal control, effective stray stock management, woody weed and exotic pasture grass control, to ensure conservation outcomes for the reserve operation. 3. Carry out the induction of all staff and visitors, safety reporting, and adherence to work place OH&S policy and procedures. 4. Development and implementation of search and rescue procedures, medical emergency procedures and natural disaster contingency procedures. 5. Development, implementation and reporting against the reserve works & management plans, budgets; production of reports as required. 6. Implement and supervise infrastructure development projects. 7. Building relationships and work with Traditional Owners, neighbours, Local Government, and Regional State representatives to promote effective reserve management and build community relationships. 8. Supervision, training and appraisal of additional reserve staff, researchers, contractors and volunteers. 9. Providing assistance to the Healthy Landscape Manager and Ecologist, and other researchers and volunteers with the establishment of monitoring and research projects as appropriate. 10. Other duties, as required from time to time, consistent with the position grading. Key Outcomes 1. Development and implementation of the Ethabuka Reserve work and management plan specifically - feral animal control, weed control, restoration activities, fire control measures, and infrastructure and plant maintenance; 2. Healthy, positive and productive stakeholder relationships, especially with Traditional Owners, the local community; Queensland Department of Parks and Wildlife, scientific institutions and volunteers. 3. Safe reserve operations. Qualifications, Skills and Selection Criteria Essential 1. A relevant qualification or demonstrated experience in ecological, natural resource management principles and practices relevant to conservation land management. Page 3 of 5 Position Description – Reserve Manager Ethabuka Bush Heritage Australia 2. Demonstrated experience in the development, implementation and tracking of reserve works plans & budgets, preparing reports against management targets, presentations and public speaking. 3. A wide variety of skills for maintaining infrastructure, plant and equipment 4. A demonstrated experience in planning and implementing feral/pest animal control programs and weed control programs 5. Ability to work independently, exercise delegated authority, lead and supervise a team in a remote location 6. Experience and formal certification in with fire management including planning and implementation of prescribed burning and other fire mitigation activities. 7. Experience and demonstrated success in negotiating and maintaining relationships with Aboriginal communities, pastoral neighbour’s and regional communities. 8. Demonstrated communication, negotiation, project management and problem solving skills. 9. Manual drivers license, with extensive off road and 4WD experience. Desirable 1. A demonstrated ability and experience in living and working in remote locations, preferably in arid or semi-arid landscapes. 2. Computer literate with experience in use of basic Microsoft and other software packages, and experience in GIS or related mapping and GPS software and hardware. 3. A commitment to the vision and mission of Bush Heritage Australia, and conservation of Australian wildlife. 4. Formal tickets, certification or competency assessments applicable to the role; Firearms license Loader Chemical handling Chemcert/ ACDC OH&S Senior First Aid All-Terrain Vehicles Chainsaw Direction and Guidance The Ethabuka Reserve Manager receives guidance and general direction from the Healthy Landscape Manager and Ecologist, the Science and Research Manager, other Reserve Managers and the North Region Executive Manager. As a self-starter it is expected that the incumbent will identify opportunities to establish and improve effectiveness of the systems being managed and implement new arrangements. To achieve the goals associated with the position the incumbent has some autonomy. Page 4 of 5 Position Description – Reserve Manager Ethabuka Bush Heritage Australia CEO and the Board Gerard O’Neill