Principal Ecologist

**_Do you want your work to make a difference for NSW?_**
- Together, we create thriving environments, communities and economies._
- **Principal Ecologist**:

- **Temporary full-time opportunity for 24 months**:

- **Office locations - Parramatta, Queanbeyan or Newcastle.**:

- **Salary ranges from 139,823 - 154,095 + super**

The Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) is looking for a **Principal Ecologist**to provide overarching guidance and program implementation of the BCT state-wide ecological monitoring program; project manage the BCT research agenda; and provide leadership and advice related to pest and weed management within the private land conservation network.

**About You**

To be the right person for this role, you will:

- Be a systemic forward thinker passionate about operationalising data collection.
- Be skilled at project management, with the capacity to plan and prioritise different moving parts to ensure overall project delivery.
- Be able to carry out sophisticated analysis to generate insights that can inform decision-making.
- Enjoy working collaboratively in undertaking and supporting fieldwork.
- Be committed to demonstrating the values that make the BCT a great place to work.

Knowledge and Experience
- Experience in managing multidisciplinary teams
- Extensive experience in surveying and assessing vegetation, flora, and fauna, consistent with the requirements for accreditation as an assessor using the biodiversity assessment methodology.
- Experience in developing and delivering environmental programs and collaborating with diverse stakeholders

Essential requirement
- A degree in a relevant ecological or environmental science discipline.
- A valid Australian driver’s licence and willingness to travel.

For more information, read the full Role Description: Principal Ecologist

**About the Biodiversity Conservation Trust**

The Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) is a small, focused agency with a clear statutory mission and functions. We manage over 2,000 existing long-term agreements with landholders by actively supporting them to protect biodiversity on their land, and we have funded strategies to grow private land conservation. We have an important statutory role as part of delivering conservation outcomes under the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme.

We are a group of motivated staff delivering high-integrity biodiversity outcomes in NSW, under the direction of a strong statutory Board. A majority of staff are regionally located, and we value respectful, collaborative culture internally and with our stakeholders.

**About the team**

This role operates within the Agreements and Technical Services Team of the BCT, a high-performing team of content experts who have a leading role in driving strategic direction and standards for the BCT. This role will provide a unique opportunity to work closely with BCT ecologists to lead a series of strategic projects that underpin the scientific rigour and integrity of the work the BCT delivers. It's an exciting, challenging, and important role that helps to ensure that the BCT has the evidence it needs to make informed decisions around future priorities and investments.

In this role, you will provide leadership and support for a range of existing programs including:

- the management and strategic coordination of the BCT Ecological Monitoring Module (EMM) in partnership with our regional delivery teams and supporting communication to and training of external BAM Accredited Assessors.
- the analysis of EMM data, including supporting the publication of a report exploring the biodiversity outcomes aligned with the private land conservation network
- the delivery of the BCT Research Strategy 2025-2029.
- the BCT responses to the BAM 5-year review.
- the BCT Student Internship program.
- contributing to a citizen-science and landholder-led monitoring programs that extend existing ecological datasets.
- Participating in fieldwork to support regional teams.

**Participation in the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme (BOS) & BCT’s Private Land Conservation (PLC) Programs**

The successful applicant for this role will be required to declare any conflict of interests related to the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme, as defined in the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Conflict of Interests Protocol. This ensures the department is made aware of potential conflicts of interest so they can be appropriately managed.

Where an applicant has a high-risk “defined interest” in the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme, they may be required to divest this interest before being employed by the department.

**If you think you might have a conflict of interest related to the scheme, or you are unsure, please discuss this with the hiring manager.**

The department is committed to protecting the public interest and public trust in the exercise of its functions. These values, together with transparency and accountability, are integral to the administration of the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme. F