Job and Person Specification
Position Details
Position Title:
Manager Conservation Programs
Position No: EH0632
Remuneration Level: PO-3
Type of Appointment: Ongoing
Contract End Date: N/A
Hours per Week: 37.5
J&P Specification Created:
Last Updated:
25/7/08
Directorate: Regional Conservation Delivery Branch: Murraylands Region
________________________________________________________
Specification Approval
…………………………………
Chief Executive or Delegate
……………………………………..
Commissioner for Public Employment
(Executive Positions Only)
Date: …/…/…
Date: …/…/…
________________________________________________________
Position Incumbent’s Acknowledgment
I confirm that I am aware of the duties of the position as identified in this Job
and Person Specification.
………………………………………
Position Incumbent
Date: …/…/…
________________________________________________________
Job Specification
Position Context
The position is located in the Murraylands Region, Conservation Programs Unit
of the Regional Conservation Delivery Directorate. The Regional Conservation
Delivery Directorate contributes significantly to the achievements of the
Department through the integrated delivery and regional influence of the goals
set out in the Corporate Plan. Over the next 12 months the key challenges are
as follows;
 Provision of regional ecological leadership to the districts, other agencies and
the community of the Murraylands region.
 Building the understanding and capacity of regional staff to identify and
deliver biodiversity outcomes as a means of improving management for
nature conservation outcomes in the protected area system and on a
landscape scale within the Murraylands Region.
 Increasing engagement with the SA Murray Darling Basin Natural Resource
Management planning framework and Australian Government Caring for Our
Country initiative to optimise alignment with No Species Loss (A nature
Conservation Strategy for South Australia) and other DEH Nature
Conservation program priorities.
 Engagement, planning and implementation of the River Murray component
of the River Murray-Coorong Naturelink – an initiative to increase habitat
connectivity across the landscape;
Working Relationships
The Manager Conservation Programs reports to and receives direction from
the Deputy Regional Conservator, Murraylands region
The Manager Conservation Programs provides leadership and management to
the Conservation Programs Unit, which includes (dependant on funding):


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Senior Threatened Species Officer (plus three officers)
Habitat Restoration Ecologist
Bush Management Advisor
NRM Support Officer
The incumbent of this position maintains working relationships with:
 District Rangers, Regional Managers and Regional Staff;
 Program Managers, Directors and Executive Directors, Regional Conservation
Delivery staff and Key staff within DEH;
 Representatives and members of key stakeholder groups
 Key staff in other State, local, Commonwealth and interstate Government
agencies.
Position Summary
The high level objectives to be met by the incumbent of this position
are:
 Development and implementation of integrated and collaborative
conservation programs to achieve the regions nature conservation objectives
in accordance with the whole of Government and DEH Program Planning
priorities.
 Provide a key contribution to the development and revision of nature
conservation planning, including SA Murray Darling Basin Natural Resource
Management Plan
 Provide specialist nature conservation knowledge to major programs and
initiatives in the region.
 Provide effective leadership to the Conservation Program Unit and contribute
to the management of the region in conjunction with other members of the
Murraylands Regional Management Team.
 Ensuring biodiversity conservation outcomes are achieved on and off-reserve
in the region, appropriately prioritised and with the ability to be maintained
in the long-term.
 Significantly contribute to a safe and healthy work environment in
accordance with the Workplace Safety Management in the Public Sector
2004-06 Implementation Plan, OHS&W legislation and Work Cover
performance standards for self insurers.
The incumbent of the position will meet these objectives by achieving
the following key outcomes and/or undertaking the following
activities:
1. Lead the development and revision of nature conservation strategic
planning to establish key directions and priorities in the Murraylands Region.
2. Contribute to the effective leadership of the region by participating in the
regional management team, providing expert advice and support to District
Rangers and other senior officers and maintaining effective communication
and integration of programs within the region.
3. Development and implementation of integrated nature conservation
programs that address strategic regional biodiversity priorities by:
o
Planning and management of major nature conservation projects
across the Region
o
Provision of key ecological input of on park management and
restoration programs,
o
Management of the specialist ecological staff in the region.
o
Developing and managing alliances with relevant stakeholders and
community to achieve nature conservation outcomes including enlisting
community support for biodiversity issues.
o
Developing and managing work programs, assessing and reviewing the
standards of work of professional and technical personnel, external
consultants and contractors and the management and reporting of
project funding.
4. Contributing significantly to the development and implementation of major
Government conservation projects and strategies in the Region (e.g. the River
Murray Forest and Naturelinks corridors).
5. Providing a key contribution to the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin
Natural Resources Management strategic planning and business planning
processes to access Commonwealth funding programs (particularly Caring for
Our Country) to implement priority Nature Conservation programs.
6. Providing and managing input of expert nature conservation advice, critical
assessment, evaluation, comment and input to a range of issues and
documents.
7. Providing a range of high quality written products including technical and
scientific reports and papers, community education and media articles and
external correspondence.
8. Representing the Murraylands Region and DEH at state-wide and interagency, inter-jurisdictional working groups and committees.
This position requires the management or supervision of other employees. In
addition to achieving the above outcomes the incumbent will also be
responsible for:

The effective and accountable use of Departmental resources through
appropriate financial and procurement practices;

The effective management of staff through appropriate management
practices, undertaking performance management and applying the
Personnel Management Standards as outlined in Part 2 of the Public
Sector Management Act, 1985;

Complying with all legislative and policy requirements.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Requirements
The following skills/abilities/knowledge/experience/qualifications are essential
to meeting the required performance standards of this position.
Professional and Technical Capabilities
To undertake the professional and technical components of this position the
incumbent is required to meet the following minimum criteria:

Demonstrated high level experience in developing, implementing and/or
leading nature conservation programs and projects.

Demonstrated experience with a wide range of ecological survey and
monitoring techniques, supporting decision making, assessment and
reporting.
Comprehensive knowledge of flora and fauna ecology, ecosystem
processes and threatening processes and the ability to apply this
knowledge
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
Demonstrated high level ability to initiate, plan, coordinate and achieve
work programs and outcomes within available resources and specified
timeframes.

Demonstrated ability in the use of computer applications for word
processing, data analysis, presentations and simple geographic
information analysis.

An understanding of and ability to manage the spirit and principles of the
Workplace Safety Management in the Public Sector 2004-2006
Implementation Plan (incorporating the Premier’s Safety Commitment)
and the legislative requirements of the OHS&W Act (SA) and equivalent
standards including the DEH OHS&W and IM policies and procedures
utilising the Australian Risk Management Standards, AS/NZS 4360.
Personal Capabilities
To successfully perform in this role the incumbent must have the following
personal skills/abilities/aptitudes:

Demonstrated ability to develop constructive working relationships,
negotiate and resolve conflict with a broad range of stakeholders, and
increase public awareness and commitment to the Department’s
conservation objectives by providing authoritative, scientific advice.

Demonstrated high level of verbal and written communication skills
allowing effective communication to a diverse range of staff and
stakeholders, including representing the Department in external forums.
Leadership and Management Capabilities
This position requires the incumbent to lead and manage other employees and
as such requires the incumbent to meet the following minimum criteria:


Demonstrated high level ability to effectively operate as a positive and
constructive team leader,managing multi-disciplinary teams of employees,
including undertaking performance management processes.
Demonstrated ability to effectively manage risk, procurement and financial
and physical resources, potentially across multiple funding and
administrative sources.
Qualifications
The position incumbent must have the following qualification (as determined
by PSM Act Determination 2: Recruitment and Employment) to perform the
duties of this position:
 Degree in the field of ecology, biodiversity conservation, biological
sciences or natural resource management (or equivalent).
Desirable Capabilities
While not essential, it will be considered favourable if the incumbent has some
or all of the following skills/abilities/knowledge/experience/qualifications:

Postgraduate qualification in ecology or a related field.

Knowledge of the impact of fire on ecosystems and fire management for
conservation objectives

Knowledge of Murraylands ecosystems, flora and fauna

Knowledge in one or more of the following areas

Landscape ecological theory and its application in a fragmented
temperate environment.

Wetlands and floodplain ecology and water dependant ecosystems

Protected Areas Management

Sustainable growth and development

Market based approach to conservation program delivery

Experience in managing and delivering externally-funded biodiversity
conservation projects.
Special Conditions
The following special conditions apply to this position:

The position is based at Berri

This position may be eligible for a professional Officer Management
Allowance

The position necessitates frequent out of hours work, overnight stays,
travel and extended periods of working away from the office.

A current drivers licence and willingness to drive is essential;

The incumbent will be required to participate in emergency operations
including active fire suppression activities, commensurate with their
fitness and training levels. This may require at times, some out of hours
work including participation in an 'on call' roster.
Department for Environment and Heritage
Working Environment
Employees may be required to undertake intra or inter state travel.
Employees may be required to work outside of the normal hours of work.
Employees may be assigned to another position at the same remuneration
level if required by the Chief Executive.
Employees are required to maintain the ethical and behavioural standards
outlined in the Code of Conduct for South Australian Public Sector Employees.
Employees are required to actively participate in the Department’s
Performance Management program.
Employees are required to comply with, and contribute to meeting, workplace
legislative and policy requirements, including occupational health, safety and
welfare and records management.
Our workplace is smoke free.
Our department is committed to identifying and managing the impacts on the
environment associated with delivering its programs and requires all staff to be
responsible for minimising negative impacts on the environment in the course
of performing their duties.