Sanctuary Manager | Newhaven

About AWC:

AWC is a pragmatic global conservation leader, restoring landscapes and securing the future of Australia’s most endangered wildlife through science led, measurable impact at scale. Inspired by the richness of Australia’s biodiversity, we are united by a shared commitment to protect its unique animals and habitats.

Delivering this mission depends on OneAWC: a cohesive, engaged and high performing organisation, guided by strong leadership and shared values. Every role at AWC contributes to our mission and works collaboratively towards shared conservation, safety and organisational outcomes.

AWC’s work is guided by the following values. In pursuing our mission, 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:

Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary is currently recruiting for several positions, including Sanctuary Manager, Land Management Officer and Facilities Maintenance Officer.

AWC's Central region spans almost two million hectares across ten sanctuaries and partnership sites in the Northern Territory and South Australia, protecting a rich diversity of threatened species and habitats. Each property brings its own challenges, from fire and invasive species management to ecosystem restoration and visitor management, with more sites potentially to come as part of AWC's ambitious 10-year strategy.

The Central region is made up of a team of permanent staff, several interns and research students, and draws on a range of casual staff and volunteers. Day-to-day operations are overseen by the Operations/Sanctuary Managers, while science programs are led by the Regional Ecologist. The operations and science streams work together to design, implement and measure the effectiveness of land management strategies.

Covering 262,000 hectares, Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Australia's largest non-government protected areas and a recognised hotspot for Central Australian wildlife. Dramatic quartzite mountains overlook extensive parallel sand dunes, spinifex grasslands, shimmering salt lakes and mulga woodlands, creating a diverse landscape that supports an extraordinary range of native species.

To help protect and restore this unique wildlife, AWC is delivering a conservation project of global significance: the establishment of a large-scale feral cat-free area. Currently spanning 9,400 hectares, with future stages planned to expand to up to 100,000 hectares, the project is among the largest feral cat eradication efforts ever undertaken. It provides a secure refuge for at least 10 nationally threatened mammal species, including the mala (currently extinct in the wild), central rock-rat and golden bandicoot, helping to restore wild populations at a landscape scale.

As the Newhaven Sanctuary Manager, you will lead day-to-day operations and manage resources efficiently in line with an approved budget and operations plan, informed by science-based strategies. Working closely with the Regional Ecologist and the wider science team, you'll help design, deliver and measure effective land management, with success reflected in healthy populations of indicator species, reduced threats (unprescribed fire, feral animals and invasive weeds), and delivery of conservation outcomes.

You will lead and support a team that includes Land Management Officers, an Indigenous Ranger Group Coordinator and Indigenous Rangers, and work alongside regional staff, contractors and volunteers. Reporting to the Regional Operations Manager, Central, you'll also partner with our Philanthropy and Communications team to deliver Supporter Events and promote AWC's work. As a strong advocate for our conservation model, you'll play a key role in showcasing what we achieve on the ground.

Critical competencies:

1. Getting things done:  exceptional planning and organisational skills, including proven ability to coordinate, prioritise and execute a large number of tasks in an efficient manner. 
2. Leadership:  This is a key leadership position—you need excellent people management skills, including proven ability leading,  recruiting, developing, managing and coordinating remote teams of staff, volunteers and contractors, as well as working effectively with Indigenous partners in a small community.
3. Collaboration: you need good relationship-building and collaborative skills, including the ability to develop and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including colleagues, Indigenous groups, the broader CLM and scientific community, and other conservation and land management organisations. 
4. Conservation Land management: demonstrated knowledge and practical experience delivering land management programs including:
   • Planning and hands-on delivery of feral eradication programs both within fenced areas and across unfenced landscapes;
   • Planning and hands-on delivery of prescribed fire programs, including wildfire response; and
   • Planning and hands-on delivery of weed management programs.
5. Financial management: demonstrated ability to help deliver projects in a cost-effective manner and to assist in the management of financial resources including:
   • Developing and operating within an agreed budget and operational plan for the Sanctuary; 
   • Coding and tracking expenditure and preparing written financial and operational reports; and
   • Preparing written financial and operational reports.
6. Infrastructure and asset management: demonstrated knowledge and practical skills in asset maintenance and infrastructure projects including:
   • Supervising and hands-on implementation of infrastructure projects such as fencing, buildings, services i.e. energy and water systems;
   • Supervising and implementation of an asset maintenance program; and
   • Ability to use a wide range of plant and equipment, including performing routine repairs and maintenance (including mechanical).
   • 4WD experience in difficult conditions is essential
7. Paperwork/compliance: demonstrated ability to maintain records, manage data, write letters and reports, manage permit/authorization processes and undertake contract management.   
8. Resourcefulness: the ability to improvise and ‘problem-solve’, developing practical solutions with limited resources.
9. Living in the bush: You will need to have the ability to work in an isolated small team environment and have previous experience of working and living in a rural area, preferably remote.
10. Information technology: demonstrated competence in using standard business software packages, including Word, Excel and Outlook, as well as other systems and applications used for asset management, safety, human resources and finance. 
11. A passion for conservation: a passion for, or strong interest in, conservation.
12. Willingness to travel.  

Qualifications/Experience:

1. Formal qualifications in a relevant discipline would be an advantage, but is less important than strong, practical experience and a good track record of delivering ‘on-ground’ results.
2. Demonstrated experience in delivering ‘on-ground’ results in land management.

Licenses, Certificates and/or Training:

1. A valid manual driver’s licence with 4WD experience in difficult conditions is essential. 4WD training can be provided to the successful candidate prior to commencement.
2. Senior first aid certificate (remote certification – highly desirable).
3. Valid agricultural machinery licences such as trucks, tractors and other machinery as relevant (desirable).  
4. Valid firearms license (highly desirable).
5. Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, or willingness to obtain. 

PLEASE NOTE: These roles are based at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary, approximately 4.5 hours north-west of Alice Springs. Basic on-site accommodation is provided, and there are currently several opportunities available, including Sanctuary Manager, Land Management Officer and Facilities Maintenance Officer. The Sanctuary Manager role includes access to a three-bedroom house on site, making it an ideal opportunity for two people who know each other and are comfortable sharing accommodation.

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. 

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.