Branch Head, Strategic Partnerships

Senior Executive Service Band 1
- Parks Australia
- 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 (ANBG), 60 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 is a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department). We work to protect and 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 Strategic Partnerships and ANBG Branch invests in a great diversity of scientific activities, supporting the DNP and all parks and gardens by providing centralised strategic scientific coordination and support. We contribute to national and international protected area policies and coordinated on-park conservation research. Much emphasis is given to collaborative relationships and coordination of strategic partnerships to establish effective agency-wide partnership capability, embedding science into decision-making at all levels.

The ANBG is a primary research institute maintaining, conserving and protecting a scientific collection of native plants from all parts of Australia. With over 500,000 visitors a year, it is one of Australia’s national treasures and is recognised as one of the Nation’s Cultural Institutions.

The Garden’s living plants are displayed for the enjoyment and education of visitors and are used for research into plant classification and biological studies. The National Seed Bank forms part of the ex-situ collections, and through collaborative conservation research, the ANBG applies horticultural expertise to cultivate plant species threatened in the wild, helping to protect them against extinction and supporting reintroduction into natural habitats. The Australian National Herbarium is managed in partnership with CSIRO through a joint venture - the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research.

**The job**
- Manage the day-to-day administration and running of the ANBG (including effective management of budget and staffing) to meet its corporate objectives and deliver core services and outcomes in accordance with the Management Plan and government priorities.
- Build strategic relationships with stakeholders and work across all sectors to develop high-quality policy and strategy on issues impacting the preservation and operations of the ANBG.
- Ensure protection, development and management of the ANBG living, seed and herbarium collections for present and future generations.
- Act as the primary spokesperson, ambassador and face of the ANBG in the local community, nationally and internationally with effective communication and advocacy of the vision and programs of the Gardens.
- Provide leadership, expert advice and centralised scientific coordination that contributes to national and international protected area policies, coordinated on-park research, scientific programs and activities, and scientific partnerships.
- Identify opportunities and support development of cutting-edge conservation science in conjunction with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide strategic leadership to a high performing and cohesive workforce, including staff, volunteers and support groups.
- Ensure the safe, effective and compliant operation of the Gardens.
- Work collaboratively and persuasively with ministerial offices, state and federal government agencies, enforcement agencies, Traditional Owners, reserve users, community networks, science stakeholders and the public.
- Take an active role as the Ex-officio for the National Parks Conservation Trust, assisting with its philanthropic endeavours.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**
- Experience in providing high level strategic direction, advice and support on a broad range of issues relevant to a large, geographically dispersed organisation with a functionally diverse workforce.
- Demonstrated experience and understanding of conservation, operational planning, strategic planning and capital programs budget and procurement, community engagement and business operations.
- A strong track record and experience in a manager role of a national park, botanic garden, scientific organisation, or major attraction is highly desirable.

**Skills and capabilities**

To be successful in this role