Project Officer Natural Area Management

Join a dedicated team responsible for managing Council’s bushland and coastal reserves. This role delivers practical on-ground works that protect local biodiversity, reduce environmental risks, and maintain safe, healthy natural areas for the community.

If you’re an organised, hands-on professional with a strong understanding of ecological restoration and public land management, this is an opportunity to make a genuine, local impact.

About the role:

• Plan, coordinate and deliver bushland and coastal reserve management projects across Council-managed natural areas to ensure responsible public land management and meet legislative obligations.
• Provide practical, evidence-based advice on vegetation management, ecological restoration, and bushfire risk mitigation.
• Supervise contractors and work collaboratively with internal teams, community groups, and government agencies.
• Engage with residents and community groups to foster collaboration and promote sustainable bushland stewardship.
• Navigate sensitive environmental issues with sound judgement and clear communication.
• Contribute to planning, budgeting and reporting processes that support sustainable management of Council’s natural area estate.

What's on offer:

• a base salary ranging from $84,316 per annum with competency-based increments up to $99,874 per annum, plus 12% super
• 70-hour, 9-day fortnight
• training and development opportunities
• flexible work options for a healthy work/life balance
• generous employment conditions (we have too many to list - click here for more).

We are seeking:

• A qualified professional with a minimum Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management (or similar), with practical experience in land management or ecological restoration. 
• Demonstrated experience in planning and delivering best practice bushland restoration and vegetation management projects 
• Strong ability to identify local vegetation, threatened species, endangered ecological communities, and environmental threats.
• Working knowledge of vegetation classification systems and proficiency in using GIS and mapping tools to support land management decisions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with community members, government agencies, and funding bodies.
• A team player who is adaptable, organised and motivated by delivering practical outcomes for the community.
• Someone who thrives in dynamic environments, brings practical problem-solving skills, and communicates clearly with a strong commitment to conservation

PLEASE NOTE: Applications must answer the questions at the bottom of this page. Do not address the above points

About us:

• Located on the picturesque far North Coast of NSW, bordering the Gold Coast.
• The Tweed is a vibrant, diverse location offering a lifestyle near the water, in a rainforest or on a farm.  
• Tweed Shire Council is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds in both traditional and non-traditional roles.  We provide workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options. 
• Join an employer of choice. Professionals Australia (Local Government Engineers’ Association) has named Council the 2021 Employer of Choice for our great employment practices within NSW local government. 

Where it's located:

This position is based in Murwillumbah and can be directed to work from any Council work site.

Position closes: 

Friday 14 November at 12 noon sharp (NSW time).  Late applications will not be permitted.

Recruitment Timeframe

Interviews will be held in the week of 24 November

Commencement date for successful candidate will be the week of 26 January 2026.

Click here to view the Position Description 

TIPS for Addressing the Selection Criteria

Click here for more information on the Recruitment Process

Click here to view our Values

Pre-Employment Screening:

Tweed Shire Council conducts pre-employment assessments as part of its recruitment process. 

Job offers are not made until screening has been completed. Tweed Shire Council uses third-party providers to undertake:

• Pre-employment medical – some roles require a functional (physical) assessment, and all positions are subject to drug and alcohol screening (a positive test result means the recruitment process ends and your application will not be considered).
• Background screening - verifies that the information you have provided throughout the recruitment process is true and correct.  Click here for more information.

Reference Checks are undertaken by the panel. Your 2 referees should ideally be your current and most recent supervisors.  Your referees are not contacted unless you’ve been interviewed and are a preferred candidate.

Immunisations:

This position is identified as at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable/manageable diseases and as a consequence impacted employees are strongly recommended to participate in Council’s workplace vaccination program. 

How To Apply:

You must use your own email address, and not one used previously by another person that has applied for a position with council.

Once you start your online application, you cannot save and return to it later. 

1. Have your Resume document ready to go.
2. Fill out all questions below. Click 'Next'. 
3. You'll then be prompted to attach your resume and other documents (if applicable). Click 'Next'.
4. Review your application to confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to submit your application.

If you'd like to COPY and PASTE question fields into a separate Word document to work on over time, please find them listed below:

1. Why are you interested in working at Tweed Shire Council, and what motivates you most about this particular opportunity?
2. What qualifications do you hold that are relevant to the position?
3. Describe your experience in bushland management. What types of ecological restoration, weed control and bushfire risk mitigation projects have you worked on and what was your role in each? Please provide specific examples.
4. What is your level of expertise in identifying native vegetation, ecological communities and weed species relevant to this region? Please provide examples of how you've applied this knowledge in your work.
5. How have you used GIS and mapping tools to support land management, monitoring, or reporting? Include examples and specific tools or platforms you've worked with.
6. Explain a project you’ve managed. How did you coordinate contractors, manage budgets, and adapt plans to meet environmental objectives?

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