Local Engagement Officer

APS 6 - $88,408 - $100,378
- Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
- Dubbo - NSW, Walgett - NSW, Moree - NSW, Tamworth - NSW, Narrabri - NSW, Bourke - NSW, Gunnedah - NSW, Narrabri - NSW, Canberra - ACT
- Spend your time working with a variety of community and stakeholder groups to protect and restore river, wetland and floodplain health in the northern Murray-Darling Basin.
- Represent the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.
- Work in a regional area, supported by a highly motivated and professional, centrally-based team.

**Identified position**
This position is an ‘Identified’ position which signifies that the role has a strong involvement in issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The successful applicant must have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and an ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People.

**Who we are**
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (the Office) supports the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, who is responsible for managing Commonwealth environmental water to protect and improve the health of rivers, floodplains and wetlands within the Murray-Darling Basin. The Office works with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to achieve environmental outcomes under the framework of the Water Act 2007 and the Basin Plan 2012. The Office works closely with other government agencies, non-government organisations, First Nations, community and industry groups, local landholders and scientists to plan and manage the delivery of environmental water. The Office includes a range of roles ranging from water planning, portfolio management, monitoring and evaluation, policy development, statutory reporting and communications. The Office also supports the Australian Government in its international engagement on the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention).

The Northern Basin Section is responsible for the planning, coordination and delivery of water for the environment in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin, which spans from the Border Rivers (top of the Basin, southern Queensland) to the Menindee Lakes (in Western NSW).

**The Job**
Local Engagement Officers are part of a team that plans and administers the delivery of Commonwealth environmental water to rivers and wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin.

In this role you will be required to:

- engage and build partnerships with regional communities, organisations and groups including First Nations communities, local water managers, land management organisations, local governments, landholders, environmental groups and irrigators to help facilitate understanding and management of Commonwealth water for the environment
- represent and communicate the CEWO’s interests within the community and actively advise the CEWH on community views, knowledge and issues to assist decision making on the use and management of Commonwealth water for the environment
- initiate, collaborate in, participate in, or support local community or engagement events or experiences to help promote and increase understanding of Commonwealth water for the environment management and outcomes
- assist in preparing communication materials of CEWO activities in the region, and effectively distribute content through local networks, media and other channels
- work collaboratively with others, including within the CEWO, other agencies, organisations and community at local, regional and basin scales to build and share knowledge, relationships and networks
- contribute to the identification, planning and management of water for the environment, including assessment of potential risks at a local scale
- travel extensively and often in regional and rural areas on sealed and unsealed roads.

**Please note,** the successful applicant must:

- hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers licence
- note that the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work
- note that you may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work
- note that you will be required to complete specific training (including refresher training) related to the role including remote area training, defensive driving, first aid and CPR courses
- the ability to obtain and maintain a working with children and vulnerable people check.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**
- Demonstrated experience in building productive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, particularly in regional areas.
- An awareness of issues affecting First Nations people in regional and remote locations as well as experience developing and supporting relationships based on mutual trust, respect and consideration of values and culture.
- Practical experience working remotely as part of a team to achieve agreed outcomes including sharing information and particip