Assistant Directors, Regional Planning

EL 1 - $115,663 - $124,403 per annum plus superannuation
- Nature Positive Integration Division
- Canberra, ACT
- _Assist in delivering nature positive outcomes at a landscape scale through regional planning. _
- _Operate in a dynamic environment that responds directly to the concerns and priorities of the present political landscape. _
- _Work with states and territories to establish regional plans in a highly collaborative process with the local community, all levels of government, business, natural resource management organisations, environmental NGOs, First Nations people, and technical experts._

**Who we are**
Nature Positive Integration Division delivers strategic policy with a sole focus on the environment, providing governance, high-level policy oversight and program delivery by implementing the Nature Positive Plan as part of the EPBC Act reform. The Division consists of three branches including Regional Planning and Landscapes, Environmental Policy and National Heritage Trust.

The Regional Planning and Landscapes Branch is a new branch that brings together the government’s policies and initiatives to promote conservation at the landscape level. The branch is responsible for policy on regional planning, protected and conserved areas and the intersection between forestry and the environment. We develop and deliver landscape-scale conservation initiatives, such as Indigenous Protected Areas and regional plans, and we contribute to the implementation of Regional Forest Agreements.

The Regional Planning Initiative Section is responsible for the Australian Government’s commitment to delivering nature positive outcomes at a landscape scale through regional planning. This is a key commitment under the Nature Positive Plan, released by the Australian Government in response to the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). To enable better and faster decision-making under the EPBC Act, regional plans will provide clear guidance on areas for protection, which areas are appropriate for development and which areas need caution.

The section operates in a dynamic environment that responds directly to the concerns and priorities of the present political landscape. We are currently working in partnership with states and territories to establish an initial set of regional plans. The development of regional plans is a highly collaborative process that requires working with a variety of stakeholders including the local community, all levels of government, business, natural resource management organisations, environmental NGOs, First Nations people, and technical experts.

The newly established Environment Forest Policy Section is a small but active and growing section contributing to and coordinating Australian Government positions on complex forestry issues, especially in (but not limited to) Regional Forest Agreements (RFA) areas. The section plays a critical role to integrate policy, program and regulatory functions on forestry, such as environmental law reforms, the impacts of forestry on threatened species and threatened ecological communities and opportunities for forestry in carbon and nature repair markets. The work is a high priority for government, fast-paced and quickly evolving, requiring staff to be adaptable to changing priorities.

The Protected and Conserved Areas Policy Section leads the Department’s engagement on national protected and conserved area policy matters. The Section leads policy development and implementation of the government’s commitment to protect and conserve 30% of Australia’s landmass, by 2030, a key priority of the government’s Nature Positive Agenda. The section works with a diverse range of stakeholders including the jurisdictions. As part of the Australian Government’s environmental reform, the work of the Regional Planning and Landscapes Branch is novel and challenging, but with that comes the opportunity to contribute to improving Australia’s most significant piece of environmental legislation.

**The Jobs**
As an Assistant Director, you will be responsible for a variety of these activities which includes:

- Leading part of the development of plans and policies in priority locations.
- Developing and maintaining productive working relationships with a network of internal and external stakeholders, including user centred approaches to developing regional plans and providing consolidated advice to government on forest policy.
- Contributing to project management including agile and practical approaches.
- Leading and managing diverse teams of staff across various locations, which may include contractors and consultancies, to design and implement policies and programs.
- Supporting Directors with delivering the strategic direction of each section and managing project management and strategic planning documentation to support environmental policy and legislative reform.
- Building and fostering key rela