Wildlife Ecologist (South-west)
~ Advance your career in conservation biology and applied ecology ~
Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is the largest private (non-profit) owner of land for conservation in Australia, protecting endangered wildlife at 30 sanctuaries in which we own or manage in partnership, covering a total of more than 6.5 million hectares in iconic regions such as the Kimberley, Cape York, the Top End and Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. With a focus on practical land management, informed by world-class science, AWC is implementing a dynamic new model for conservation.
AWC’s mission- to deliver effective conservation for all native animal species and their habitats- is achieved by:
- Operations – delivering effective large-scale land management including fire management, feral animal control, weed control and infrastructure management.
- Science – delivering a nationally-coherent program of ecological surveys with a focus on monitoring key conservation assets and threats, conducting applied research relevant to wildlife conservation, implementing conservation programs including reintroductions, and providing advice to management.
- Fundraising – mobilising finance (primarily, tax deductible donations) from the general public and philanthropists including through effective communication of AWC conservation programs.
In Western Australia, AWC implements a suite of conservation projects in the Kimberley and in south-west WA. In SW WA, AWC manages four wildlife sanctuaries: Karakamia and Paruna, in the Perth hills; Mt Gibson, in the northern wheatbelt; and Faure Island, in Shark Bay. AWC runs a nationally-significant reintroduction program on these sanctuaries, with feral predator-free ‘safe havens’ established on Karakamia, Mt Gibson and Faure Island, currently supporting nine threatened mammal species. In addition, AWC’s SW wildlife sanctuaries are important for conserving a range of native species and their habitats.
The Wildlife Ecologist will play an important role in helping to design, implement, evaluate, and report on AWC’s science program in the south-west. A PhD in ecology or related discipline is essential. Post-graduate experience in conservation biology, applied ecology, ecological monitoring/research, or reintroductions will be highly regarded. In addition to scientific credentials, the successful applicant will require strong leadership, team building and communication skills; the capacity to work with a wide range of stakeholders including land managers, government agencies, Indigenous groups, volunteers and the broader science community; and an ability to get jobs done on time and within budget.
Key duties of the Wildlife Ecologist include the following:
- Contributing to the development, implementation and reporting of AWC’s science program in SW WA. Major tasks in the science program include ecological monitoring, the reintroduction of locally extinct species, and applied ecological research.
- Working in an integrated way with AWC operations staff to help design, (as relevant) implement and report on conservation and land management strategies in SW WA.
- Working effectively with key stakeholders, including government agencies, threatened species recovery teams and the local community, in relation to progressing AWC’s projects in SW WA.
- Communicating AWC’s science program to the scientific community and to the public through publications, reports, presentations, participation in workshops, etc.
- Assisting with AWC’s communication and fundraising activities.
This is a good opportunity to join the science program of Australia’s largest non-government conservation organisation and make a substantive contribution to our nationally significant conservation projects.
The position is based at AWC’s Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary in the Perth hills, WA. No onsite accommodation is available for this role.
Enquiries only:
Dr Michael Smith, Regional Ecologist SW | Michael.Smith@australianwildlife.org
Applications via: australianwildlife.org/work-with-awc/careers/
To submit an application, visit our careers page (linked above), select the relevant job vacancy, click ‘APPLY’ and follow the prompts.
Your application must include CV and covering letter. Please also include a brief document that addresses the critical competencies listed in the detailed Position Description on our website or attached. Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted.
Closing date for applications: Friday 30 April 2021
Please note:
- Applicants must be an Australian citizen/permanent resident or have a suitable visa in place that allows ongoing full-time work in Australia, in order to apply for this position. Sponsorship is not available.
- 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.
- Any application submitted to AWC will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available at www.australianwildlife.org/privacy. By providing us with your contact details, your consent to receive communications and direct educational material will remain current until you advise us otherwise.
To learn more about AWC’s sanctuaries, please visit our website www.australianwildlife.org/sanctuaries/
