Approvals and Cultural Heritage Specialist

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• Partner with Traditional Custodians to protect heritage and guide projects
• Play a key role in Unitywater's commitment to cultural heritage
• Thrive in Unitywater's diverse, flexible, and supportive workplace

About us:

Unitywater operates in one of Australia's most exceptional environments in terms of natural beauty, geographical and demographic breadth. We operate on Kabi Kabi, Jinibara and Turrbal Country, proudly providing safe and reliable water to customers in Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa. We are a water utility serving one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

We think a pretty good job starts here.

About the role:

The Approvals and Cultural Heritage Specialist is responsible for providing advice and integrating approvals, native title and cultural heritage considerations, including Traditional Custodians' environmental knowledge, into the planning, development and delivery of infrastructure projects to ensure compliance with statutory requirements and alignment to Unitywater's Strategic Ambition.

The role works collaboratively across the business as part of the Approvals and Regulatory Planning team to optimise approvals outcomes to enable the 5-year rolling Capital Works Program.

Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Lead the preparation of approvals, native title and cultural heritage impact assessments and management plans
• Work in collaboration with the Program Delivery Office to build work processes to efficiently manage approvals, regulatory requirements and native title and cultural heritage considerations throughout the program lifecycle
• Identify key issues, risks and opportunities for engagement with the Traditional Owners on matters of native title and cultural heritage and advice on appropriate strategies to manage risks.
• Lead relationships with Traditional Custodians, consultants, and advisors, and manage native title notifications and cultural heritage surveys.
• Manage procurement processes to establish Traditional Custodian organisations and consultants as vendors and co-ordinate development and tracking of project budgets for cultural heritage and agreement making activities.
• Lead and co-ordinate the development, maintenance and implementation of Cultural Heritage Management Agreements, Reconciliation Action Plan initiatives, procedures and training to embed Cultural Heritage management principles into business and project processes.

About you:

Our One Unitywater behaviours - Create the Future, Care Together, and Own It– define how we work together at Unitywater. To contribute to this, you will demonstrate the following skills and qualities for the role:

• Experience in leading the design and implementation of cultural heritage relationship models, management plans, projects, reporting and governance
• Proven approvals, native title and cultural heritage knowledge, education and management skills to lead the development of relationships, perform assessments and negotiate agreements.
• Previous experience facilitating cultural heritage education campaigns with a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to produce clear, concise technical documentation, including assessments, reports, and business requirements.
• Demonstrated planning and project management skills with expertise in regulatory policies, native title, and cultural heritage approvals.

Working at Unitywater:

As a Unitywater team member you will enjoy a range of benefits:

• Flexibility:We value flexibility and support work-life balance with hybrid and flexible working, purchased annual leave and access to floating public holidays. Tell us what this looks like for you
• Wellbeing:We offer several initiatives to support your wellbeing, such as discounted private health insurance, salary packaging, employee assistance program, and access to retailer discounts and benefits.
• Learning and Development:We offer a range of opportunities to feed your curiosity such as: Walk on Country experience, study assistance, and access to a dedicated learning program and professional memberships.
• Extras:We invite you to join our dedicated employee networks focused on First Nations Reconciliation, LGBTIQ+, CALD, Gender, Life Stage diversity, and Accessibility.

We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, gender and expressions, sexualities, cultures, bodies and abilities. We are committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve and fostering a workplace that is diverse and inclusive, where you feel connected, are safe to be yourself and supported to be the best version of yourself.

We strive to have a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve and encourage all suitable applicants to apply for this role. Please feel free to share your pronouns and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.

If you would like to speak to a team member about our commitment to diversity and inclusion, please contact our Inclusion Specialist emma.guest@unitywater.com or Reconciliation Action Plan Advisor rebecca.williams@unitywater.com .

Additional information:

• We are proud to be recognized as an employer of choice for women byWORK180.
• We are proud members ofPride in DiversityandAustralian Disability Network.
• We are a2025 Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.

How to apply:

Please apply online following the links, and make sure to upload your up-to-date CV.
If you're successful we will need you to undergo a few checks…. We know they might not be the fun part, but you will need to confirm your right to work in Australia and complete relevant pre-employment checks, including verification of criminal history, drivers licence and driving history, alcohol and other drug screening.

Applications close: COB Wednesday 20 August.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are especially encouraged to apply.

For further information please contact the Careers team at careers@unitywater.com

Unitywater respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waterways in which we live, work and operate, the Kabi Kabi, Jinibara and Turrbal peoples. We honour their enduring connection to these places and their deep cultural, spiritual and environmental knowledge and stewardship over the waterways that sustain us all. We pay our deepest respects to Elders past and present, who hold the wisdom, traditions and stories of their people.

The National Indigenous Times acknowledges and pays respect to past and present Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation. We recognise Aboriginal Community's continuing connection to their lands, waters and stories and acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded.