TUMRA Program Manager

TUMRA Program Manager (Affirmative Measures)

APS6

Townsville / Cairns

Ongoing; Full-time

Applications close Wednesday 1 October, 2025

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the Reef Authority) is a Commonwealth non-corporate entity, and a statutory agency established by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Marine Park Act), reporting to the Minister for the Environment and Water. Our objective is the long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community through the care and development of the Marine Park.

Managing a reef roughly the size of Italy demands many skills and talents, so you don't have to be a marine biologist to contribute to our mission. From finance to marketing roles, we have a team almost as diverse as the ecosystem we protect. Our commitment and dedication to the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian public have a long-lasting impact, and we are looking for individuals who can bring their unique skills, experience, and knowledge to our high-performing and inclusive organisation.

The Position

We are seeking an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person with extensive experience in both Traditional Owner engagement and government processes, along with strong communication and project management skills.

This position will be responsible for developing and maintaining Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA) between Great Barrier Reef Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners, the Queensland Government and the Reef Authority. The role will engage and liaise extensively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who identify as Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, their communities and their legal representative bodies to facilitate their involvement in Marine Park management.

The role includes project and contract management of the development of new mapping projects, coordination of this work and implementing its outcomes with other areas of the Marine Operations Branch and the broader Reef Authority.

As part of the broader drive of the Reef Authority to increase co-management, you will engage with Traditional Owners and across the Reef Authority and other managing agencies to increase meaningful partnerships between Traditional Owners. This will include delivering Sea Country Values Mapping projects, in partnership with Traditional Owners.

You will communicate and promote activities to a diverse range of audiences and coordinate an interrelated range of projects to ensure alignment and results. You will be a team player, working closely and collaboratively with other areas of the Reef Authority, the Australian and Queensland governments' Reef Joint Field Management Program and a diverse network of stakeholders and Traditional Owners.

The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under subsection 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and is only open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants (further information is provided in the eligibility requirements section below).

About You

• You have extensive experience in Traditional Owner engagement, with a strong track record of fostering collaborative partnerships that bring benefits and outcomes for both Traditional Owners and environmental management.
• You are a natural problem solver, a doer and an innovator, known for taking initiative and seeing things through to completion.
• You have experience in government processes, including project management, governance, procurement and contract management.
• You have strong written and verbal communication skills.
• You have exceptional interpersonal and team skills, to work collaboratively across a range of internal and external stakeholders and assist on a range of diverse projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Liaise, consult and negotiate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including Traditional Owner groups, Registered Native Title Body Corporates, Prescribed Body Corporates and government agencies, to facilitate the development and/or implementation of Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements.
• Manage and support a range of complex projects, and to lead/participate in project teams to develop, implement and monitor contracts in partnership with Traditional Owners for the delivery of Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreements and/or other Marine Park policies and plans.
• Work collaboratively to achieve results by engaging effectively with internal and external stakeholders on both strategic and operational matters, including representing the views of the Reef Authority in a range of meetings and forums.
• Report and provide advice to management on Traditional Owner related issues relevant to Marine Park management and/or on culturally appropriate approaches to Sea Country and Marine Park planning.
• Contribute to and build organisational Traditional Owner knowledge by building and nurturing internal and external relationships to assist the Reef Authority in delivering its goals and objectives.
• Actively participate, as part of a committed team, to the work of the TUMRA Section, including contributing to delivering the broader Reef Authority's corporate objectives, and be responsible for managing work priorities and monitoring progress to achieve results, demonstrating the ability to be agile and responsive to changing requirements.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Michelle Tapim, Assistant Director - TUMRA, Ph

Eligibility

As this is an affirmative measures process, applicants must be:

• of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
• an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; and
• accepted by their community as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. Suitable evidence of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status may include:

• a letter signed by the Chairperson of an incorporated Indigenous organisation confirming that the applicant is recognised as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, or

• confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent document executed by an Indigenous organisation.

To be eligible for employment , candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of application.

The position requires a Baseline security clearance. Successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

The successful candidate will be willing to provide identity documents and undergo an identity pre-employment check through a Document Verification Service.

How to apply

Please ensure you read the instructions below and on the Position Description carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.

You will be required to prepare a response document ("pitch") in MSWord or PDF format using standard margins and size 11 Arial font.

Please prepare a 'pitch', as outlined in the Position Description, in relation to the advertised role, outlining:

• how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities would enable you to perform the duties and meet the technical and behavioural capabilities of the role.

• any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

• how you meet the eligibility requirements and qualifications for the position.

When crafting your response, we encourage you to review 'Cracking the Code' and the relevant Australian Public Service Work Level Standards which can be found on the Australian Public Service Commission website:

Please complete your application online and provide:

• your 'pitch' (as described above and in the position description).
• proof of Australian citizenship (an Australian Passport or Australian Birth Certificate)
• a current curriculum vitae (resume)

Applicants are advised to read further information provided on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Careers website.

PLEASE NOTE: - The panel may not consider additional information such as a cover letter or content exceeding the page limit.

Notes

The current position is ongoing however through this process may create a merit pool to fill similar ongoing and non-ongoing positions that become available within the next 18 months.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit:

Eligibility

Employment with the Reef Authority is subject to:

• Conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999.
• Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) granting a security clearance at the required level.
• Evidence of citizenship status.
• Evidence of qualifications required of the role.
• Evidence of a completed national police-check with no risks identified by the Reef Authority.
• The CEO of the Reef Authority, or their Delegate, approving a Notice of Engagement.
• The Australian Government Security Clearance Application Guide Book provides information on minimum eligibility requirements for holding a security clearance at the required level. Please ensure that you are able to provide the necessary documents if you apply for the position. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the AGSVA website.