Assistant Director Strategic Direction - World Heritage

Townsville, Canberra

Applications close Wednesday 18 June, 2025

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 agile and highly skilled Executive Level 1 professional to join our small team to lead the development of contemporary strategic policy initiatives, setting strategic corporate direction, providing clear positions on external pressures effecting the reef, and continuing to guide the corporate narrative as the authoritative voice of the reef.

The position will also support the development and alignment of the Reef Authority’s strategic direction and work in partnership with key stakeholders to maintain the resilience of the Reef. This position will focus on international and world heritage matters affecting the Great Barrier Reef and also supports the Reef Authority’s lead on whole of government initiatives to ensure a coordinated approach across partners within the Reef Authority.

About You

• You are a strategic thinker able to work across diverse subject matter areas with a high degree of complexity and apply innovative approaches to solving problems.
• You have a high interest and / or broad knowledge of the Reef and its key threats and are able to negotiate a consensus in a complex landscape of competing views.
• You are resourceful and can work with limited direction to achieve high quality outcomes, applying judgement, logic and discretion appropriately.
• You have exceptional written skills, an eye for detail and routinely complete tasks on time and to a high standard.
• You are a team player, who successfully maintains relationships with internal staff and external clients.
• You can prioritise and align operational activities to organisational objectives in order to complete tasks on time and to a high standard.
• You will be an excellent communicator, both in the written and verbal forms across all agency levels.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of the Reef Authority’s strategic direction in international and world heritage through leading the Reef Authority’s contribution to world heritage management forums, policy development and positioning on related issues.
• Coordinating and preparing complex high quality strategic advice and written material – for the Director and senior leadership team, stakeholders and service providers – that is timely, practical, transparent and risk-based. Advice and material could include, but is not limited to briefs, reports, position statements, policies, and strategic plans.
• Provide high level strategic advice to the Director, the Executive and the Board on policy and strategy matters and other issues relevant to the Reef Authority’s business.
• Collaboratively develop and manage strategies for the delivery of the Reef Authority’s Corporate Plan, and the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan and other strategic documents.
• Consulting and partnering with stakeholders and service providers on matters relevant to the Reef Authority, including: establishing and maintaining effective relationships; leading and contributing to committees/working groups to persuade, negotiate or influence cooperation on strategic issues; contributing to, or facilitating meetings and presentations and representing the Agency as required.
• Deliver the Reef Authority’s corporate objectives and actively participate, as part of a committed team member, to the Strategic Direction and Partnerships Section’s work.
• Build, lead and manage a work unit to support the above duties

If you're a visionary leader with a passion for sustainability, policy, and international collaboration, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of the Great Barrier Reef. Apply now to lead change at the highest level.