Senior Project Officer – Marine And Island Parks Cultural Heritage

Senior Project Officer – Marine and Island Parks Cultural Heritage - Affirmative Measure (Indigenous) at The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

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, and 60 Australian Marine Parks 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.

The Cultural Heritage Section is a newly created team within the Kakadu and Cultural Heritage Branch of Parks Australia that services and supports cultural heritage management needs across the entire areas of management responsibility of Parks Australia. The team supports Park-based staff responsible for cultural heritage management as well as focusing on the standards, practices and accountabilities for cultural heritage work. Uplifting staff capability and management systems across Parks Australia as a whole and coordinating strategic, planning and partnership work will be a significant role of the section.

The Job
As an effective member of the Cultural Heritage team, you will be required to contribute to the planning and implementation of key projects relating to the Section's role, with a focus on coordinating cultural heritage programs and projects within the Marine and Island Parks. The position will involve working collaboratively in a team environment across diverse aspects of cultural heritage and heritage management practice. The role will involve working with Cultural Heritage Values associated with First Nations communities as well as a diversity of associated cultures and people living on the Islands where Commonwealth Reserves are located.

The role will be responsible for coordination between the Cultural Heritage Section and the Marine and Island Parks Branch, as well as facilitating and liaison as needed with other areas of the Department and external partners responsible for Sea Country Cultural Heritage. The role will focus on assisting the Marine and Island Parks Branch deliver outcomes in relation to Cultural Heritage Management, help ensure statutory obligations for heritage are being met, and improving practices and procedures for practical aspects of cultural heritage work. The role will provide a unique opportunity to consider and apply best practice approaches in Cultural Heritage Management, as well as First Nations collaboration and community engagement as they apply to Marine and Island Protected Areas.

Duties Develop an understanding of current and projected needs and priorities for cultural heritage management within Australia's Marine and Island Parks, in conjunction with Park managers, program partners, traditional owners and custodians. Participate as a member of the Cultural Heritage Section in the planning for cultural heritage projects that target cultural heritage management needs identified across Parks Australia's operations. Provide a contact point for marine and island park area managers relating to cultural heritage issues and providing advice on, and coordination for, cultural heritage management programs and activities for Australia's marine and island Parks. Provide advice to support marine park teams developing First Nations partnerships and engagement programs and their components relating to cultural heritage and cultural values. Maintain a shared register of cultural heritage management related projects across all marine and island parks. Support the development of an inventory of cultural heritage places and values for marine and island parks. Coordinate input from marine and island park managers and providing advice on marine and island issues for the development of heritage management systems for Parks Australia. Establish and maintain professional connections with government and non-government agencies relevant to the role, such as the Underwater Cultural Heritage team in Heritage Division, the National Indigenous Australians Agency and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation. Develop and deliver training and professional development for Marine and Island Parks staff in cultural heritage issues, including best practice approaches. Collaborate with other Cultural Heritage Section members on other areas of section work. You will be working with a small, newly emerging and dynamic team and will be required to be adaptable to changing workloads and actively participate in creating systems which enable parallel work across multiple projects. The work of the section may require periodic visits to our parks and assistance to park-based staff in project development, implementation and reporting. What we are looking for Knowledge and experience Demonstrated experience and knowledge related to Cultural Heritage Management and the application of Cultural Heritage Management practice with First Nations people and other cultures connected to Australia's Marine Parks and external Island territories. An understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people relating to the management of Country and the identification of cultural values. Experience or knowledge related to marine and island cultural heritage issues such as cultural mapping of sea country, the application of underwater cultural heritage legislation, war graves legislation and underwater archaeological practice. Demonstrated experience in engagement and partnership practice with First Nations people and multicultural communities and an ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with these communities. An understanding of cultural heritage issues in the context of statutory heritage conservation, protected areas management or community heritage practice. An understanding of technical and creative approaches to understanding, documenting and communicating cultural heritage values. Skills and capabilities Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to sensitively and effectively communicate with diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. Provide strong leadership in representing the diverse cultural knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, and to articulate and produce informed and appropriate advice and reports. Strong organisational skills with a demonstrated capability to plan, coordinate, monitor and report on activities with minimal supervision. Demonstrated experience working collaboratively, communicating and listening to achieve positive outcomes in small to medium teams. An aptitude for working in cross-cultural contexts demonstrating initiative, responsibility and creativity. Demonstrated effective liaison, oral and written communication skills for a variety of audiences from corporate to community-based engagement and influence. Demonstrated experience in preparing advice and reports, particularly relating to cultural heritage values and management. Demonstrated experience in planning, designing and delivering projects and activities with multiple partners and external stakeholders. Tertiary qualifications in a field related to Cultural Heritage Management or related. Related Cultural Heritage Management equivalent professional skills. This could include work history within areas such as cultural sites management, anthropology, archaeology, history, heritage conservation or archives and collections management. A minimum of 3 years working experience within the fields of Archaeology, Heritage or Anthropology. GIS knowledge. Database experience, research and analysis. 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 Australian citizen.
Pre-employment Check - Your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period of 6 months.

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