Position Description
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Senior Officer Ecological Monitoring
Level 4
Strategy & Planning
Environment & Sustainability Unit
Manager Ecological Monitoring & Biodiversity
POSITION OVERVIEW
The position is part of the Environment and Sustainability Strategies Unit of the Strategy
Division that manages ACTEW's provision of water supply and sewerage services.
The Strategy Division is responsible for:
 Strategic Planning
 Capital works delivery
 Asset management planning
 Environment and Sustainability
 Research and development
The broad role of the Environment and Sustainability Unit is to:
“Deliver value to our customers through providing expert advice and coordination of all
environmental initiatives and activities in ACTEW Water.”
The Ecological Monitoring & Biodiversity Section (part of the Environment and Sustainability
Unit) is responsible for the management and/or the provision of strategic and scientific advice
on a significant array of aquatic and terrestrial ecological monitoring programs. These
programs are designed to assess ACTEW Water’s operational impacts on the water supply
catchments, or to provide information regarding ACTEW’s strategic direction.
The objective of this position (Senior Officer Ecological Monitoring) is to assist the Manager
Ecological Monitoring & Biodiversity and the Ecological Monitoring & Biodiversity Section in
the management, direction and delivery of ACTEW Water’s ecological monitoring programs.
ACTEW’s current ecological monitoring programs include
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Aquatic ecological monitoring programs in the Cotter, Murrumbidgee and Googong
catchments
Terrestrial ecological monitoring in ACTEW’s biodiversity offset areas
A detailed fish monitoring in the Cotter catchment, as well as more general fish
ecology in the Murrumbidgee and Googong catchments.
These monitoring programs are supported and complimented by a large and complex water
quality and flow monitoring framework throughout the Cotter, Googong and Murrumbidgee
catchments.
To be successful in this position the applicant will need a balance of scientific knowledge and
project management skills. The Senior Officer Ecological Monitoring is responsible for:
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Assisting the Ecological Monitoring & Biodiversity Section to design, refine and adaptively
manage a range of ecological monitoring programs to respond to ACTEW’s regulatory
and strategic needs.
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Position Description
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Managing the implementation of a suite of ecological monitoring projects and
consultancies to ensure that the projects deliver value for money and regulatory
compliance.
Liaising with key stakeholders from ACTEW Water, the Bulk Water Alliance, ACT
Government and community organisations to ensure ACTEW’s monitoring programs have
wider Government and community support.
Undertaking procurement and contract management processes in line with ACTEW’s
corporate policies.
This position reports to the Manager Ecological Monitoring & Biodiversity within the
Environment & Sustainability Unit, Strategy and Planning Division of ACTEW Water. This
position does not have staff supervision responsibilities. However, the successful applicant
may at times be required to assist in the Environmental Impacts & Sustainability Section
(Environment & Sustainability Unit).
Your duty to your employer includes an obligation to carry out your work in a way that does
not put ACTEW in breach of any legislative or regulatory obligations. ACTEW will have
responsibility to provide suitable training and to make you aware of the legal obligations
relevant to your work.
This position is required to participate fully in all aspects of health, safety and environment
management within ACTEW, including risk assessment, hazard identification and control and
incident reporting.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
 Understand and remain cognisant of ACTEW’s strategic and regulatory environmental
requirements; and develop a strong rapport with the immediate Environment and
Sustainability team and the broader ACTEW Water organisation.
 Design, with assistance, aquatic and terrestrial monitoring programs that meet ACTEW’s
regulatory and/or strategic requirements.
 Undertake procurement, contract, budgetary and project management processes to
engage and manage third party consultants to deliver advice and/or projects for ACTEW
Water.
 Initiate and participate in adaptive management processes to ensure ACTEW remains at
best practice level in the scope and delivery of ecological monitoring.
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Analyse ecological monitoring data and results in order to advise the Manager Ecological
Monitoring & Biodiversity of key risks and develop strategies to manage risks and issues
associated with ACTEW’s ecological, monitoring programs and biodiversity offsets.
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Provide support to the Manager Ecological Monitoring & Biodiversity in the delivery of
reports and advice to other ACTEW Water business units and external stakeholders.
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Promote the Environment and Sustainability Unit through newsletters, presentations,
intranet guidance, and attendance at conferences.
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Contribute to the performance of the Water Strategy Business Unit and ACTEW by
behaving in a professional, effective and diplomatic manner, and monitoring
environmental trends and emerging risks.
QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
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Tertiary qualifications or significant experience in an area relevant to ecological
monitoring and environmental management.
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Demonstrated experience in project management including procurement and budget
management experience.
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Position Description
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Demonstrated experience in the development and/or implementation of ecological (or
similar) monitoring programs.
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Ability to work in a team and collaborate across diverse business areas;
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Sound understanding of OH&S, EEO, Quality and Environmental management policies.
Current drivers license
ATTRIBUTES & SKILLS
Judgement and Decision making
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Ability to make well balanced decisions in a confident and timely manner;
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Good analytical and problem solving skills;
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Good communication skills (oral and written) with the ability to prepare accurate and
succinct reports and briefs for a range of audiences;
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Ability to synthesise complex and technical information;
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Demonstrates a good liaison and negotiation skills;
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Ability to schedule and prioritise work;
The ability to think logically and laterally;
Good planning skills with ability to apply strategic thinking to problem solving;
Communicate Effectively
Ability to deal with external organisations in a professional, effective and diplomatic
manner;
Effective Relationships and Negotiation Skills
The ability to identify and manage stakeholder issues;
Proven ability to deliver outcomes through working with people and partnerships;
Integrity and Drive
Self motivated with the ability to work independently and in teams;
Demonstrates sound project and contract administration;
Strives to improve own performance through training, and personal development.
VERIFICATION
This section verifies that the position holder and supervisor have read the above position
description and are satisfied that it accurately describes the position.
Position Holder:
Name
Signature
Supervisor:
/
/ 2011
Date
/
/ 2011
Name
Signature
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