Operations Manager

EL 1 - $120,290 - $129,379 per annum plus superannuation
- Parks Australia Division
- Uluru-kata tjuta National Park

**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**
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.

Beyond the spinifex sand plains of arid central Australia lies Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, 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.

**The Job**
- Provide leadership within the park and participate as an active member of the UKTNP senior management team to promote a collegiate and supportive workplace culture.
- Supervise, motivate and mentor park operations staff in a cross-cultural workplace, including managing resource allocation, staff rostering and managing performance.
- Foster the participation, development and leadership of Anangu in park management operations.
- Manage and oversee programs that maintain visitor facilities, fulfill land management duties and asset protection of UKTNP.
- Provide leadership in emergency and law enforcement situations and ensure that park staff have the capacity to effectively respond to emergency and law enforcement situations in a professional manner under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Regulation.
- Respond to and manage critical incidents.
- Lead effective budget management, project and contract management and high-level planning, monitoring, and reporting on plan of management implementations.
- Promote and implement relevant WHS legislation, policies and procedures across all sections the park and working with relevant section managers, maintain a reporting system that enables continuous improvement in systems and processes in line with corporate WHS requirements.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
- An awareness of issues affecting First Nations people in remote locations, and a capacity to contribute sensitively and effectively to the joint management of a dual listed World Heritage National Park.
- Demonstrated experience to think strategically and prepare annual workplans (previous experience undertaking this in a protected area will be highly regarded).
- Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, mentoring and training and the ability to provide leadership in a cross-cultural environment.
- Demonstrated experience in emergency response, compliance and work health and safety and an ability to implement systems and processes which accurately reflect corporate and legal requirements for these.

**Skills and capabilities**
- Ability to work in a team environment and provide a high level of leadership in a culturally diverse workplace.
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to liaise, consult, negotiate and manage conflict between staff, and internal and external stakeholders.
- Well-developed written communication skills.
- Excellent project management and planning skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a busy operational environment.
- Ability to ensure compliance with relevant procurement and work health and safety legislation and policies.

**Desirable Qualifications**
- Qualifications and/or extensive experience in protected area management and/or emergency management would be advantageous.

**Eligibility and other requirements**
**Citizenship**:

- To be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Au