Manager - Australian Biological Resources Study

EL 1 - $120,290 - $129,379 per annum plus superannuation
- Parks Australia Division
- Canberra, ACT

**Who we are**
Australia’s natural and cultural heritage is unique. Our land and seascapes are distinctive, home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, and to some of the oldest living cultures on earth. These environments and cultures are an essential part of our national identity, and visitors travel from across the country and the world to experience them. The Director of National Parks (the Director) is responsible for six national parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 58 Australian Marine Parks and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Parks Australia is the federal park agency that supports the Director, and they are a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department). We work to showcase these natural and cultural wonders to the world, demonstrating to all why these places are so special, and inspiring communities to become more invested in their care and future.

The Science and Australian National Botanic Gardens Branch leads science and conservation planning and policy for Parks Australia, and conducts research in conservation and biodiversity management through a range of programs. We engage in and coordinate diverse research partnerships and ensure First Nations knowledge and innovative solutions are core to our work, enabling us to enhance engagement and embed science into decision-making at all levels.

Our work includes:

- Strategic science planning and prioritisation and shaping research partnerships for Parks Australia.
- Leading cross-cutting research to support Parks Australia - in areas such as climate change adaptation, nature positive and knowledge weaving.
- Providing scientific support for Protected Areas policy and Park Management Plans.
- Managing the Australian National Botanic Gardens, home to our Branch and the nation’s largest living collection of native plants.
- Facilitating research and science capacity building and education.
- Curating national collections of biological data and conserving and protecting plants through systematics research, seed banking and ex situ conservation.
- Regulatory compliance, operational frameworks and capability support for the use of drones across the Department.

The ABRS is part of the Biodiversity Science and Knowledge Section, together with the curatorial team for the Australian National Herbarium, the biodiversity informatics development team, and the Bush Blitz program. These four work units deliver outcomes for taxonomy and systematics and connect to broader biodiversity conservation and management via research and research funding for taxonomic research, provision of nomenclature and taxonomic data in authoritative databases and publications, curating and managing large collections of biological specimens, and providing policy advice to all levels of government.

**The Job**
- Manage the operations for the ABRS team, including supervising staff, planning and managing budgets.
- Overseeing projects and contracts to deliver outcomes for ABRS.
- Develop and maintain partnerships and attract collaborative projects with internal and external stakeholders.
- Build the capacity of the ABRS team to deliver on its strategic goals, and the goals of the Director of National Parks and the Department.
- Contribute to the strategic development of the Biodiversity Science and Knowledge Section.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
- Demonstrated experience in effectively managing diverse teams, and in managing budgets, workplans and delivering projects.
- Evidence of building capacity in teams, and building and maintaining positive working relationships.
- Demonstrated expertise in taxonomic science.

**Skills and capabilities**
- Demonstrated people leadership skills and the ability to shape team direction to align with strategic and operational goals.
- Demonstrated evidence in managing complex projects relating to delivering biodiversity data/taxonomic information to a broad range of stakeholders.
- Knowledge of and insight into the needs and challenges for the taxonomic research sector, and ability to align with these to achieve longer-term government goals and objectives.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to edit and write executive briefs, and presentations to stakeholders and the public.
- Demonstrated evidence of developing and managing relationships with stakeholders, collaborators, and end-users, and to identify new opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.

**Mandatory Qualifications**
- Postgraduate qualification in relevant biological science field.

**Eligibility and other requirements**
**Citizenship** - To be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you