Who we are
Australia's natural and cultural heritage is unique. Our land and seascapes are distinctive, home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, and to some of the oldest living cultures on earth. These environments and cultures are an essential part of our national identity, and visitors travel from across the country and the world to experience them. The Director of National Parks (the Director) is responsible for six national parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 58 Australian Marine Parks and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Parks Australia is the federal park agency that supports the Director, and they are a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department). We work to showcase these natural and cultural wonders to the world, demonstrating to all why these places are so special, and inspiring communities to become more invested in their care and future.
The Science and Australian National Botanic Gardens Branch leads science and conservation planning and policy for Parks Australia and conducts research in conservation and biodiversity management through a range of programs. We engage in and coordinate diverse research partnerships and ensure First Nations knowledge and innovative solutions are core to our work, enabling us to enhance engagement and embed science into decision-making at all levels.
Our work includes:
* Strategic science planning and prioritisation and shaping research partnerships for Parks Australia
* Leading cross-cutting research to support Parks Australia – in areas such as climate change adaptation, nature positive and knowledge weaving
* Providing scientific support for Protected Areas policy and Park Management Plans
* Managing the Australian National Botanic Gardens, home to our Branch and the nation's largest living collection of native plants
* Innovation in the cross-cutting application of new technologies and data analytics to meet science and application outcomes
* Facilitating research and science capacity building and education
* Curating national collections of biological data and conserving and protecting plants through systematics research, seed banking and ex situ conservation
* Delivering data and information services, products and governance for Parks Australia
* Providing management planning guidance and management effectiveness frameworks to support adaptive protected area management and planning
* Delivering Parks Australia's corporate planning and performance reporting including Corporate Report and Annual Plan
The job
The Director, Conservation Science is a key senior leadership role responsible for the strategic development of Parks Australia's science portfolio covering Australia's Commonwealth marine, terrestrial and island parks, the coordination of Parks Australia's science partnerships, and the leadership of key cross-cutting science initiatives. The position is part of the executive leadership team for the Science and Australian National Botanic Gardens Branch. In this role you will be responsible for:
* Establishing methodologies and collaboratively working with Parks Australia teams and other partner programs to develop best practice monitoring, evaluation, reporting and management effectiveness approaches and assessments of the significant natural values of Commonwealth protected areas including threatened species, ecosystem and landscape scale approaches and integrated approaches across natural and cultural values.
* Engaging with contemporary and emerging natural systems conservation concepts and approaches to link the conservation science programs of Parks Australia to broader national activities and goals.
* Establishing co-development and inter- and transdisciplinary approaches for the inclusion of multiple values and knowledge systems, especially of First Nations peoples, in the design of conservation science priorities and projects and management effectiveness activities.
* Guiding and supporting the section's unit leaders (EL1s) in their daily management of staff, contractors and volunteers, and leading work units in their coordination of "on park" terrestrial conservation policies, programs and research projects; including plant research and conservation undertaken as part of the National Seed Bank.
* Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships, collaborative research projects and cooperative ventures with public and private sector stakeholders, and establishing and maintaining networks with internal and external stakeholders and being seen as a trusted leader who delivers value to Parks Australia.
* Contributing fit-for-purpose advice and reporting into national and international protected area policies and agreements.
* Supporting and advising the Branch Head and executive including through the preparation of briefings and submissions and the provision of expert advice, and contributing to leadership of the Science and ANBG Branch as a member of the Branch's leadership team.
Mandatory qualifications
* Postgraduate PhD qualifications in conservation science, environmental management, or an associated field, or equivalent professional experience.