Community Conservation Officer (TurtleCare) (Identified)

Why work with us?

At Council, we’re proud of our region. We collaborate with community to achieve truly sustainable outcomes, enhance our enviable lifestyle, and create award-winning places and spaces that are uniquely Sunshine Coast. So, if you love it here as much as we do, and you want to shape our region for the future – you’ll want to join our team!

With the vision to be Australia’s most sustainable region -Connected. Liveable. Thriving, our region is a model of sustainability, where caring for our environment, creating vibrant communities and growing our local economy is a way of life.

About the Role

Environmental Operations Branch is responsible for the preservation, management and enhancement of council’s diverse range of environmental and recreational assets and in partnership with our community, the rich biodiversity of the region’s landscapes. The branch plays an active role within council, liaising with other units, as well as with the community to maintain and deliver high quality environmental outcomes.

We're looking for an energetic team member to lead the coordination and delivery of support to the TurtleCare conservation volunteer program.

• Undertake day to day management and supervision of conservation volunteers including recruitment, onboarding, training, support and skills development, and expectation, database and performance management, advocacy and support, conflict resolution and recognition of volunteer effort.
• Coordinate the development and delivery of targeted communication strategies with volunteers and the public through a variety of media channels including newsletters, webpages, information requests, social media, in addition to in-person.
• Provide and prepare timely and accurate information, advice, reports and correspondence on all aspects of volunteer program operations, and performance against planned outcomes and budget.
• Contribute to the development, monitoring and review of volunteer program strategies including research, validation and benchmarking to ensure a process of continuous improvement and demonstration of industry best practice.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders including traditional custodians, community and government partners to achieve shared environmental goals and foster participation and cooperative involvement in the volunteer program, workshops, publications and events held. 

As part of Sunshine Coast Councils continued commitment to our adopted Reconciliation Action Plan this role in the Environmental Operations branch is an Identified Position.

It is a genuine occupational requirement that the incumbent be an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person as set out in Section 7 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 for the purposes contained in Section 25 of that Act.   Applicants to this position will be required to provide confirmation of their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage. Requesting proof of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander heritage from applicants helps to make sure that this intention is honoured.

About you

As a requirement of this role, you will:

• Possess a relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. environmental science, education, HR, tourism, marketing, or communication) or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience in coordinating volunteer programs and achieving program objectives.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage relationships, resolve conflict, and engage diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering community engagement and education activities through events, training, and digital platforms.

Essential to your success is physical agility and the level of fitness, strength and dexterity to carry out labouring and frequent heavy lifting & bending. As such, appointment to this position is subject to completion of a pre-employment medical assessment.

Our Culture & Employee Benefits

Council is committed to creating an inclusive, culturally diverse, healthy, skilled and dedicated workplace culture. As an employee you will enjoy a range of benefits and working styles to suit you:

• Wellbeing: Your wellbeing is important to us therefore we offer a number of different initiatives such as discounted health related memberships, fitness passport, employee assistance program and development opportunities. 
• Flexibility: We know it is important to balance life and work, therefore we offer flexible working including a 9-day fortnight and a hybrid WFH model that help you be your best.
• Extras: Those extras make a difference therefore we offer salary packaging options on novated leases, superannuation, smartphones and devices.

How to apply

Your written application should include:

• A 1-2 page cover letter demonstrating your ability to fulfil the mandatory and desirable requirements on the Position Profile. Keep the key responsibilities in mind when addressing this criteria;
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• A current resume or curriculum vitae.

Once you have these two documents ready, click ‘Apply Now’ and follow the prompts to complete your application.

Further Information

Helpful information to assist you in completing your application is available on the Sunshine Coast Council website.

To learn more about Council’s vision and projects, you can view the Corporate Plan 2025-2030.

For specific enquiries contact Hetti Malone during business hours on 0408 816 917.

We're working hard to create an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse community we serve. If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out to the Recruitment Team [email protected].

At Sunshine Coast Council, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background including First Nations, disability, religion and sexual orientation. To deliver the best service to our region we want a workforce that reflects the diverse community that we serve. Sunshine Coast Council strongly encourages all suitable applicants to apply for this role.