Wild Deserts Conservation Field Assistant

This full-time, fixed-term Conservation Field Officer role supports an ecosystem restoration project in a remote desert environment. Responsibilities include maintaining exclusion fences, facilities, and conducting pest and weed control, as well as assisting with ecological data collection and management. Requirements include land management experience, fencing and infrastructure maintenance skills, a driver's license, and willingness to obtain necessary accreditations for pest control and machinery operation.

• Align with and actively demonstrate the Code of Conduct and Values.
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the psychosocial or physical health and safety of yourself or others.
• $92K - $104K plus 17% Superannuation and annual leave loading
• The role reports to Wild Deserts Project Coordinator and has no direct reports although may be involved in the direction of casual staff and contractor engagements under manager supervision.
• Coordinate regular checking and maintenance of the Wild Deserts feral exclusion fences, totalling 50 km (established new in 2018). Including weekly fence checks, scheduled and reactive maintenance following weather events.
• Provide assistance in the maintenance and upkeep of field station facilities and assets, including buildings, vehicles, tools and equipment.
• Carry out conservation management of vertebrate pest species control (e.g. feral cats, foxes, rabbits, pigs) and weed control, as programmed in the Strategic Adaptive Management Plan.
• Assist the Wild Deserts Principal Ecologist and Field Ecologist roles in ecological and pest control research and monitoring. Examples may include wildlife trapping and monitoring, radio/satellite tracking of wildlife and vertebrate pests, remote camera trap monitoring, drone surveys.
• Maintain and complete basic record keeping, using basic computer programs and applications.
• Working with the Wild Deserts Project Co-ordinator, provide direction and supervise external contractors providing maintenance and repair services for the site.
• Work constructively with a diverse range of people, including local park neighbours, staff from collaborating organisations, visiting university students, researchers, tourists and contractors during day to day works.

• To be successful in this role, you will have:
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health & safety (psychosocial and physical) responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.
• An equivalent level of knowledge in rural or conservation land management, gained through any other combination of education, training and/or experience.
• Experience in land management, particularly fencing, infrastructure maintenance, pest and weed control.
• Demonstrated ability in the maintenance of infrastructure and equipment.
• Current manual driver's license and first aid certificate.
• Licensed or willingness to obtain firearm licence (and other accreditations) for feral animal control.
• Accredited, or willingness to obtain, accreditation to operate a range of machinery, equipment and tools (e.g. earthmoving plant, chainsaw, other).
• Accredited or willingness to obtain accreditation for using poisons or herbicides in feral animal or weed control.
• Experience or understanding of scientific methods and research.
• Proficient computer literacy and accurate record keeping.
• Well-developed interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated experience supporting and contributing to projects and initiatives.
• You should systematically address the selection criteria listed within the position description in your application.
• For informal queries, please see the below contact details.
• Otherwise, please apply online - applications will not be accepted if sent directly to the contact listed .