Senior Project Officer – Field Management
APS5

Townsville
Ongoing/Non-ongoing; Full-time
Applications close Sunday 26 April 2026, 11:59pm AEST

 

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the Reef Authority) is a Commonwealth non-corporate entity, and a statutory agency established by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Marine Park Act), reporting to the Minister for the Environment and Water. Our objective is the long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community through the care and development of the Marine Park.

Managing a reef roughly the size of Italy demands many skills and talents, so you don't have to be a marine biologist to contribute to our mission. From finance to marketing roles, we have a team almost as diverse as the ecosystem we protect. Our commitment and dedication to the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian public have a long-lasting impact, and we are looking for individuals who can bring their unique skills, experience, and knowledge to our high-performing and inclusive organisation.

The Position

We are seeking an administration professional to provide business and governance support services for the Reef Joint Field Management Program, a partnership between the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

The position works within a small team that manages the governance arrangements, planning and reporting of the Reef Joint Field Management Program and its outcomes in managing Marine Parks and Island National Parks in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This includes the management of agreements within the partnership and with other partner agencies, Traditional Owners and interest groups. The role is key in providing oversight of the budget and expenditure of the Program. The position works closely with the operational and corporate functions of both the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. 

About You

• You thrive on working as part of a small team that achieves results, and you are recognised for your ability to manage sensitive and confidential information. 
• You have a solid understanding of governance, business planning, and reporting in a government context 
• You will have experience in managing agreements and contracts and in using budgeting and reporting systems 
• You have high level liaison and negotiation skills that you will use across operational and corporate service functions of both agencies to achieve coordination of the Program. 
• You will be an excellent communicator, both in the written and verbal forms, across all agency levels. Your communication skills ensure positive internal and external relationships are developed. 

Duties

• Be accountable for the development and management of high level agreements and contracts across the Program, including the monitoring of deliverables and expenditure and ensuring payments against milestones in accordance with legislative requirements. 
• Coordinate and advise on financial management and budgetary activities including the preparation of accurate Program budgets, reporting on expenditure and implementing remedial strategies across the Program within set timeframes and quality requirements to achieve business outcomes. 
• Provide high level support to the Reef Authority and QPWS team members in implementing the governance arrangements of the Program, including the coordination and preparation of meeting agendas, high level papers, and reports. 
• Assist with the development (including writing), implementation, monitoring and evaluation of business strategies, annual business plans, and annual reports to deliver effective and efficient business outcomes. 
• Co-ordinate and prepare Program level briefing notes, correspondence, ministerial responses, event briefs, and other information requests, ensuring information is accurate and deadlines are met. 
• Work collaboratively, consult, and share information with internal and external stakeholders, actively engage in knowledge transfer and seek input from others to achieve business outcomes. 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Fiona O’Grady, Principal Advisor, Ph. 0457 641 942

Essential Requirements

• To be eligible for employment, candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of application.
• The position requires a Baseline security clearance. Successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level. 
• The successful candidate will be willing to provide identity documents and undergo an identity pre-employment check through a Document Verification Service.

Desirable qualifications or equivalent experience 

• Formal qualifications or relevant experience in business and administration support, including the management of agreements and contracts and use of financial management and reporting systems. 

How to apply 

Please ensure you read the instructions below and on the Position Description carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.

You will be required to prepare a response document (“pitch”) in MSWord or PDF format using standard margins and size 11 Arial font.

Please prepare a ‘pitch’, as outlined in the Position Description, in relation to the advertised role, outlining:

1. how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities would enable you to perform the duties and meet the technical and behavioural capabilities of the role.
2. any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.
3. how you meet the eligibility requirements and qualifications for the position.

When crafting your response, we encourage you to review ‘Cracking the Code’ and the relevant Australian Public Service Work Level Standards which can be found on the Australian Public Service Commission website: www.apsc.gov.au.

Please complete your application online and provide:

• your ‘pitch’ (as described above and in the position description).
• proof of Australian citizenship (an Australian Passport or Australian Birth Certificate)
• a current curriculum vitae (resume)

Applicants are advised to read further information provided on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Careers website. 

PLEASE NOTE: - The panel may not consider additional information such as a cover letter or content exceeding the page limit.

Notes

• The current position is ongoing however through this process may create a merit pool to fill similar ongoing and non-ongoing positions that become available within the next 18 months.
• We do not accept unsolicited résumés from recruitment agencies.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job.  For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability

Eligibility 

Employment with the Reef Authority is subject to: 

• Conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999. 
• Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) granting a security clearance at the required level. 
• Evidence of citizenship status. 
• Evidence of qualifications required of the role. 
• Evidence of a completed national police-check with no risks identified by the Reef Authority. 
• The CEO of the Reef Authority, or their Delegate, approving a Notice of Engagement. 
• The Australian Government Security Clearance Application Guide Book provides information on minimum eligibility requirements for holding a security clearance at the required level. Please ensure that you are able to provide the necessary documents if you apply for the position. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the AGSVA website.