Assistant Director, Stakeholder Management Drone Operations

EL 1 - $120,290 - $129,379 per annum plus superannuation
- Parks Australia Division
- Brisbane, QLD,Canberra, ACT,Sydney, NSW
- Work with a dynamic team with a range of expertise to deliver science, compliance and land management solutions.
- City based location with flexible work options.
Who we are.

**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.

Kakadu National Park is a world-heritage listed site for its natural and cultural values, and one of three national parks, leased by their Aboriginal owners to the Director of National Parks, and jointly managed by Traditional Owners and Parks Australia. Parks Australia assists with ongoing management of the park’s natural and cultural heritage. In addition to ongoing management of the park’s natural and cultural heritage, this branch also manages strategic priorities for Parks Australia, managing a range of strategic planning and major capital projects across the three jointly managed parks.

The Office of the Chief Remote Pilot (OCRP) ensures the safe and compliant use of drones in accordance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations and Departmental policy whilst delivering business outcomes using drones across the Department. The Department operates drones throughout Australia and Antarctica to meet the outcomes and key activities of the Department’s Corporate Plan. RPA are a foundational technology being used to:

- deliver innovative and expert advice to the Australian Government grounded in evidence and science.
- undertake compliance and surveillance activities in carrying out regulatory functions.
- engage and partner with First Nations Peoples in program delivery
- increase the efficiency of land management activities, contribute to visitor safety and infrastructure assessment in Commonwealth National Parks.
- improve our staff’s safety and wellbeing in operational settings.

**The Job**
This is an exciting opportunity to work with a highly innovative team that uplift drone use and capability across the Department and portfolio. The role will provide support to the Chief Remote Pilot in managing drone operations and will require liaising with internal and external stakeholders and strategic partners to deliver operational outcomes. You will facilitate and enable the use of drone across the department, ensure compliance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulations and assist in the planning, coordination and conduct of drone operations. The role will assist in managing and developing networks, managing diverse stakeholders and support governance and business management functions, including cost recovery and scheduling of delivery of work, developing MOUs and agreements, and the maintenance of complex procurements. The successful applicant will undertake work that is complex and operate independently under broad direction.

The duties include:

- providing high level specialist technical and professional advice on the operation and implementation of drones across the department.
- managing and developing safety and quality assurance programs operating procedures and reporting to ensure ongoing drones regulatory and departmental policy compliance. Provide oversight of the Drone Safety Management System and Senior Base Pilots.
- developing and interpreting complex policy to ensure the safe and effective use of drones across the department.
- providing guidance and expertise on WHS requirements for drone operations and represent the OCRP in relevant WHS forums.
- facilitating cooperation, developing and maintaining networks to achieving outcomes through relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and partners (e.g. other agencies, industry, relevant professional bodies and associations).
- supporting governance and business management functions including cost recovery and scheduling delivery of work, developing MOUs, agreements and project proposals, and maintenance of complex procurements.
- contributing to assessing the requirements for drone