Introduction:

AWC is looking to employ two Wildlife Ecologists on 6 month contracts to lead development of reintroduction strategies for projects at Orchard Hills (Sydney, New South Wales) and Bullo River Station (Northern Territory).

This is a rare opportunity to develop skills and experience in reintroduction planning.

You will be working with - and supported by - AWC senior ecologists with high-level expertise in reintroductions, designing from first principles a multi-species reintroduction project.
AWC is a national leader in the reintroduction of threatened mammals to parts of their former range: at present, AWC manages reintroduced populations of 23 locally-extinct mammal species at 12 sites, including 11 feral predator-free ‘safe havens’. AWC’s reintroduction program is unpinned by robust conservation science, encompassing the ecology, behaviour and genetics of reintroduced species, and an understanding of the impacts of climate change.

The Orchard Hills project involves restoration of an area of Cumberland Plain woodland in western Sydney. AWC’s role, initially, is to develop a strategy for the reintroduction of locally-extinct species to a c. 400 ha fenced area on the property.

The Bullo River project has the potential to be the first large-scale multi-species ‘rewilding’ project in northern Australia. AWC has worked with the owner of this iconic 164,000 ha property since 2016 to implement a conservation program that complements the existing pastoral and tourism enterprise.

The role:
Each successful candidate will lead the development of reintroduction strategies for one of the projects: identifying a suite of locally-extinct species of vertebrate fauna that can feasibly be reintroduced to the property, identifying optimal source locations for those species considering genetics and logistics, considering the need for captive breeding and/ or specific release strategies, attributing costs to likely scenarios, and developing a schedule for reintroductions.

In developing the reintroduction strategies, the positions will:

Report to, and be guided by, AWC’s Senior Ecologist responsible for coordinating our reintroduction program nationally, and
Engage with AWC’s expertise in reintroduction ecology, genetics, climate change, and related areas of knowledge, as well as with external expertise as useful.

Other duties of each position include:

Working effectively with key stakeholders, including property owners, managers, government agencies, recovery teams, the conservation science sector, Indigenous groups and local communities, to scope, develop and communicate reintroduction strategies appropriate to one or both properties.
Assisting with AWC’s communication and fundraising activities.

Critical competencies:

Getting things done: you need well-developed planning and organisational skills, including a demonstrated ability to prioritise and execute tasks in an efficient manner.
Leadership: you need well-developed skills in leadership and team-work, including the ability to promote AWC culture, strategies and policies amongst AWC staff.
Collaboration: you need good relationship-building and collaborative skills, including the ability to work effectively with colleagues, and to develop and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including government agencies, the scientific community, conservation and land management organisations, indigenous groups and the broader community.
Knowledge of the conservation of Australian wildlife and ecosystems: you will have well-developed knowledge of the nature and functioning of Australian ecosystems, threats to native wildlife and their habitats, and how threats can be mitigated. Ideally, you will have experience working in reintroduction projects, and / or with land managers to develop or implement conservation management strategies.
Ecological research skills: you will have well-developed knowledge of the ecological literature relevant to conservation in Australia; well-developed knowledge of experimental design and sampling methods; and relevant skills in the use of computer software packages relevant to the position.
Scientific communication skills: you will have a demonstrated capacity to write scientific reports and publications, and to communicate science and conservation messages to professional and general audiences.
Project management and reporting: you will have the capacity to deliver projects in a cost-effective manner and to report on project outcomes in a timely manner.
Resourcefulness: you will have the ability to improvise and ‘problem-solve’, developing practical solutions with limited resources.
Willingness to travel: you will need to be able to visit the project locations to conduct the requirements of the position.

Qualifications:

A PhD in ecology or a related discipline.

Licenses, Certificates and/or Training:

Valid Australian driver’s licence. Ideally, you would be able to drive a manual 4WD vehicle in difficult conditions. Training in relevant competencies may be required.

Location:

The successful candidates will work remotely from home or from one of AWC’s offices, as agreed. Field visits will be arranged to the relevant property or properties.

To view the detailed position description for this role, click here: Wildlife Ecologist (Reintroductions)

About AWC:
Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a global leader in conservation, providing hope for Australia’s wildlife with a science-informed, land management partnership approach which delivers high impact results. We protect wildlife and their habitats across 6.8 M ha and seek to influence conservation outcomoes on a further 6.1 M ha of pastoral partnerships. In delivering our mission, we partner with other environmental NGOs, government agencies, Indigenous groups and individuals.

AWC's mission - to deliver effective conservation for all native animal species and their habitats - is achieved by:

Operations - delivering effective large-scale land management including fire management, feral animal control, weed control and infrastructure management.
Science - delivering the largest national biological survey program with a focus on measuring the population of indicator species and the extent of threatening processes as well as conducting research on key issues such as feral cat control.
Fundraising - mobilising finance (primarily, tax deductible donations) from the general public and philanthropists including through effective communication of field updates from around the AWC estate.

Join our Journey:

Take the leap and start your next adventure with the AWC! AWC reserves the right to start screening applicants and interviewing throughout the recruitment process.

To enquire about technical aspects of the role, contact Dr Jen Anson, Senior Ecologist (Reintroductions): Jennifer.Anson@australianwildlife.org

For general enquiries: employment@australianwildlife.org

Applications: To submit an application, click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts to complete an online application form. Your application must include CV and covering letter, briefly addressing the critical competencies listed in the detailed job description attachment.

Please note:

Applicants must be an Australian citizen/permanent resident or have a suitable visa in place in order to apply for the internship program. Sponsorship is not available.
If you apply for this role, AWC will include you in its ongoing updates and communications about its events, activities and fundraising initiatives. You may opt out of these communications at any time.
Any application submitted to AWC will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available at By providing us with your contact details, your consent to receive communications and direct educational material will remain current until you advise us otherwise.

AWC is a welcoming and inclusive organisation that invites individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as those who identify as First Nations and Torres Strait Islander, individuals with disabilities, the LGBTIQA+ community, neurodivergent individuals, and those from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, to apply for the opportunity. AWC values and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable to be themselves, and where a range of perspectives, cultures, and voices are respected and recognised as a key part to the success of AWC. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must also have the right to live and work in Australia.