Joint Management Coordinator

PSCA, Level 5 or 6, $105,167 - $114,938 or $120,457 - $132,753 p.a. plus District Allowance and 12% Superannuation

Join us in our mission to promote biodiversity, conserve our valuable ecosystems, and provide engaging attractions that connect people with nature.

THIS IS A PERMANENT, FULL-TIME POSITION

THIS POSITION IS BASED IN GERALDTON

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION CLOSE AT

MIDDAY ON TUESDAY, 16 JUNE 2026

Broad role context

This is a leadership position that operates with a high degree of autonomy and flexible working hours, allowing the successful applicant to maintain a work life balance, spend time on country with Traditional Owners and build a career in joint management, now the forefront of land management in WA.

Joint management is the process through which DBCA and Traditional Owners decide together how country should be managed. Works programs and budgets are determined at a strategic level by a Joint Management Body (JMB) comprising both DBCA and Traditional Owner representatives. There are three separate JMBs coordinated by this role, each of which typically meet three times a year. This role coordinates this process on behalf of the district manager, and as such carries a pivotal senior role in the functioning and oversight of the district.

For applicants with aspirations of becoming a district manager, this role provides one of the strongest possible opportunities to develop the abilities and experience required for career progression in that direction.

Critical attributes

Within the broader context of the formal selection criteria for this position, applicants with the following attributes will be considered strongly competitive for this position:

• Strong interpersonal, communication and coordination skills.

Ability to lead a team of (4-5) joint management project officers; establish and maintain positive rapport with Traditional Owners; coordinate input from, and give direction to, other senior staff in the district leadership team. This role has a strong coordination and oversight context, relying heavily on an ability to utilise the team provided; and input from both district staff and Traditional Owners to produce the content required to facilitate joint management meetings and outcomes.

• Well organised, with strong administrative and written skills.

Ability to ensure meetings are scheduled and communicated clearly; attendance is clarified; agendas, briefing notes, works programs and budgets are prepared and provided to JMB representatives in accordance with set deadlines; meeting minutes are documented, stored and communicated; meeting actions and outcomes are communicated and tracked; JMB and staff input into management planning and working groups is coordinated and communicated.

About the location

With a population of 41,000 and located 450km north of Perth, Geraldton boasts a beautiful coastline, a mediterranean climate, excellent schools, a vibrant sporting community and all the amenities of a regional city centre.

This role is based in DBCA’s Murchison District, which encompasses an area bounded by the Zuytdorp cliffs in the north-west, Meekatharra in the north-east, Paynes Find in the south-east and Dongara in the south-west. The Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park is also part of the district, lying 50km offshore from Geraldton and stretching north for 100km.

The district is over 20 million hectares in size and is one of the most diverse DBCA districts in the state, comprising large areas of agricultural, coastal, rangeland and marine landscapes. The Murchison River is a significant feature of the area, terminating in a spectacular gorge system at the coast in Kalbarri.

About The Role

This position provides oversight to a professional team of joint management officers, with operational delivery of joint management ranger programs managed by the Operations Manager, one of your colleagues in the district leadership team.

Under the limited (Level 5) or minimal (Level 6) direction of the District Manager, this position:

• Leads and coordinates the establishment of effective liaison and communication with Traditional Owner groups, other agencies, community groups and special interest groups to promote and implement the objectives of joint management within the Murchison District.
• Leads the integration of district operations into a strategic joint management implementation framework.
• Maintains detailed awareness and oversight of all ILUAs, district programs, budget and staffing in order to effectively represent the district manager and other programs in joint management meetings, management planning workshops and negotiations (Level 6).
• Supports the development and implementation of Indigenous Land Use Agreements and joint management agreements; and leads the coordination of district input into joint management plans.
• Leads and provides support to managers and Traditional Owners on issues relating to the management of conservation lands, Aboriginal heritage sites and the protection of Aboriginal heritage.

In addition to joint management functions, fire management is a part of everybody’s role in DBCA with training and participation encouraged and supported. For many staff this provides opportunity for overtime in addition to the base salary advertised for this position and can include both office and field-based roles.

At the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), we have adopted Leadership Expectations which provides a common understanding of the mindsets and expected behaviours required of all our employees and the public sector. In this role, you will be Leading Others to help drive positive change.

About The Team

This position forms part of the Murchison District leadership team, of which there are seven other members; District Manager, Operations Manager, Conservation Coordinator, Parks and Visitor Services Coordinator, Fire Coordinator, Senior Operations Officer (Abrolhos Islands), and Finance and Administration Officer.

Senior leadership for the district comprises the District Manager, this JMC role and the Operations Manager. This smaller group meets often to discuss broad strategic direction for the district and joint management implications for the team.

Collaboration and team building across portfolios is encouraged. The Murchison District is well-resourced and very busy, making cohesiveness, mutual support, empathy and respect important team values. The overarching guiding principle for the leadership team is to ensure that all staff in the district enjoy coming to work, regardless of their role.

Selection Criteria

Applicants should address the following four (4) criteria. These should be addressed in no more than four (4) pages in total.

• Evidence of highly developed oral communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated (Level 5) or considerable (Level 6) experience effectively negotiating, communicating and forming working relationships with multiple internal and external stakeholders to understand and balance competing priorities, manage relationships and coordinate delivery of collaborative outcomes.
• Evidence of ability and willingness to work with Traditional Owners to deliver native title aspirations and goals through joint management, cooperation, or collaborative arrangements, with a preference for someone with a highly developed awareness of aboriginal culture and heritage values at Level 6.
• An understanding of the issues involved in managing natural areas for cultural, biodiversity, recreation, education and tourism values in a joint management context (Level 5); with a preference for someone with demonstrated experience in delivering natural area management in this context (Level 6).
• Considerable experience in and knowledge of administrative and financial management, including project management, budget preparation and expenditure control.

If you are interested in this position and have the above attributes but feel you may not strongly meet some of the formal selection criteria, you are encouraged to call to discuss on the number provided further below.

DBCA, one of Western Australia's largest state government agencies, providing exciting and challenging career opportunities in biodiversity conservation and park and natural resource management. We employ people with world-class scientific, policy, land and marine management, visitor services, research and educational skills.

For more information on what we do, our recruitment process, and why working at DBCA is an attractive proposition, please visit our website .

Benefits Of Working With Us

In addition to the attractive salary and opportunities to contribute to biodiversity and environmental conservation initiatives, the department offers incentives including:

• Flexible working arrangements.
• 12% superannuation, full employer contribution and salary packaging options.
• 4 weeks annual leave with 17.5% loading paid as additional pay every December.
• District Allowance.
• 3 days additional public sector holidays each year.
• Cultural leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
• Access to study, bereavement, foster caring and parental leave.
• A confidential employee assistant program (EAP) for you and your family, including psychology and counselling services.
• An annual National Park Entry Pass.
• Well-established learning and development programs.

How to apply

All applications are to be submitted online. Select 'Apply for job', located at either the top or the bottom of the screen, and follow the instructions; you will need to provide a:

• a statement addressing the above requested criteria (in no more than four (4) pages.
• current CV, including the details of two referees with one being a recent or current manager/supervisor.

For further job-related information: contact

Rowan Dawson on 0427 380 788 or for further information about the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, visit https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/ .

We have a detailed Job Application Kit to provide information about us, the value of the department and practical guidance on the process for you. Please ensure you have saved your documents in MS Word (.docx files only) or PDF format and have allowed plenty of time to submit your application, as late, emailed and proforma applications will not be accepted.

Prior to commencement, the successful applicant will need to possess or obtain:

• A current (issue date not older than 6 months) and satisfactory National Police Check.
• A current Western Australian "C" class drivers licence.

For the full role description, detailed responsibilities and a full list of selection criteria, please refer to the Job Description link below. The documents linked to this advertisement are available in alternative formats upon request.

Eligibility: To be eligible for permanent appointment, it is essential to have Australian citizenship, New Zealand citizenship or Australian permanent residency status.

A search for additional applicants may be conducted for this position where necessary to provide a more diverse and/or competitive field.

Substantive Equality Statement

DBCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages Indigenous Australians, young people, people with disabilities, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and women to apply for positions within our agency. People with disability will be provided with reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace. The Department also promotes flexible working arrangements.

Applicants with a disability who require adjustments in the recruitment process, including an alternative to applying online, can contact the Senior Recruitment Officer on (08) 9219 9879 or [email protected] . Do not send job applications to this email; they will not be accepted.

If you are an Aboriginal person who would like assistance with your application, please contact Jobs and Skills WA on 13 64 64.

Similar appointments may be made from this process in locations throughout Western Australia within a 12-month period to positions that may be permanent or contract, including contract appointments with the possibility of subsequent permanency.