Australia nationals: Assistant Director

Who we are
The Environmental Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Division protects and restores Australia’s rivers, wetlands and groundwater ecosystems, ensuring they are understood and valued. The Division Head is the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH), a position established under the Water Act 2007 (Cth). The CEWH is responsible for managing more than 2,000 gigalitres of water each year, to protect and restore the rivers and wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin.

The CEWH is supported by the division to deliver water where and when native plants and animals need it most. This includes dedicated local engagement and scientific monitoring programs. The division provides international and national leadership and expert advice on the Convention on Wetlands, and the wise use of wetlands overall. The division also includes the Office of Water Science (OWS), which provides expert advice to support regulatory decision-making on the potential water-related impacts of large projects, such as coal mines and coal seam gas developments.

Staff in the division are based both in Canberra and in regional areas across Australia and undertake roles ranging from project and program management, policy development, program governance and coordination, monitoring and evaluation, community engagement and communications.

The Central Basin Section has responsibility for managing Commonwealth environmental water in the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Edward Kolety-Wakool River valleys. The Portfolio Management Section is responsible for managing, accounting and reporting on the Commonwealth environmental water holdings and the Environmental Water Holdings Special Account. The section also implements water trading activities, from which the proceeds can be used to fund the CEWH Environmental Activities grants program.

The Job
We are looking for candidates to fill vacancies in both the Central Basin and Portfolio Management Sections. The successful applicants will possess well-developed communication and project management skills, have attention to detail, be highly organised and have a demonstrated capacity to identify risks and resolve complex problems. The works involves a large element of teamwork, both within the Sections and across the Division.

Key duties of the role include:

Supporting the planning, use, monitoring and reporting of Commonwealth water for the environment within one or more valley(s) within the Murray-Darling Basin
Maintaining and building relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders such as state government agencies, First Nations peoples, local communities, industry representatives, scientists and non-government organisations to inform and improve the management of water for the environment.
Identifying impediments and risks to the management of Commonwealth environmental water and developing and coordinating strategies to resolve and manage them, including influencing broader policy settings.
Managing and analysing complex information to provide written and verbal briefings and advice to senior executives and the CEWH.
Administration of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holdings portfolio and the Environmental Water Holdings Special Account budget.
Procurement and managing contracts with service providers, assessing milestones and variation requests, supporting the delegate to make appropriate decisions in line with contract requirements, operational policies, legislative and regulatory requirements.

What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience

Experience working collaboratively and maintaining productive working relationships with a range of partners (including state agencies, non-government organisations, Traditional Custodian representative groups) and local communities on the planning and use of environmental water.
Experience in program and project planning and management, including the application of departmental legislative, financial and administrative frameworks and processes.

Skills and capabilities
We thrive when our teams are made up of people from different backgrounds, cultures, genders, education, training and skills. Skills and capabilities form the selection criteria that candidates will be assessed against.

Strong liaison, written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to adapt your communication to a variety of internal and external stakeholders, and negotiate confidently.
Strong organisational skills including the ability to manage available resources to complete multiple tasks in tight timeframes. Demonstrated capacity to identify, articulate and manage risk.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to identify and analyse complex datasets, manage complex issues, consider options and recommend and implement appropriate and timely solutions

The successful applicant must:

Hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers licence

Please note: Roles in the Central Basin Section require the ability to travel interstate on a regular basis for stakeholder meetings.

Desirable qualifications

Experience or qualifications in natural resource management (particularly water management)
Experience or qualifications relevant to the management of water in the Murray-Darling Basin, such as science, economics, accounting, law or engineering.

Eligibility and other requirements
Citizenship – To be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.

Security Clearance – This position requires a Baseline Vetting security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Pre-employment Check – Your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period of 6 months.

For additional information, please read the Job Description below.

Candidate Information Pack (Docx)

Candidate Information Pack (PDF)

Job Description