Maintenance Officer

Join us at the Australian Museum and help us achieve our Mission to ignite wonder, inspire debate and drive change

About The Australian Museum and Lizard Island Research Station

The Australian Museum aims to be a leading voice for the richness of life, the Earth and culture in Australia and the Pacific. We commit to transform the conversation around climate change, the environment and wildlife conservation; be a strong advocate for First Nations' culture; and continue to develop world-leading science, collections, exhibitions and education programs.

The Australian Museum (AM) owns and operates Lizard Island Research Station (LIRS) to facilitate coral reef research and education on the Great Barrier Reef. The AM acknowledges the Dingaal and Ngurrumungu Traditional Owners of the lands, seas and skies of Jiigurru. LIRS was established in 1973 and is located 270 kms north of Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef. It is a field research station and world-leading supplier of on-reef facilities for research and education where visiting researchers from Australia and around the world carry out their research work. It currently hosts about 100 research projects each year conducted by more than 400 people. More than 100 scientific publications are produced each year from research at LIRS.

The station has several self-contained houses to accommodate visitors, an aquarium system allowing complex multi-factorial experiments, individual laboratories with scientific equipment, a seminar room, a library, a computer room, and a fleet of boats to enable work in reefs surrounding the island as well as reefs on the outer Great Barrier Reef and inshore reefs closer the mainland Australia.

More information on LIRS can be found here.

About the Role

We are looking for a Maintenance Officer to ensure plant and equipment at the Lizard Island Research Station are kept in a productive and safe state.

Employment Status:

• General Clerk 3/4

• Full time, ongoing role

• Live and work on Lizard Island

• Job-sharing arrangements may be considered for the right candidate(s) (i.e., six months on, six months off)

• Partner hire may be considered for the right candidate (see Accommodation Officer role)

Click on the following links to begin the journey to find your new career at the AM

• Role Description

• AM Candidate Pack

You will be paid a competitive annual salary $84,659 - $92,701, plus employer's contribution to superannuation (currently 12%) and annual leave loading.

About you

We are seeking a motivated individual who thrives in a remote and dynamic work environment with a small team. As the Maintenance Officer, you will be responsible for ensuring that buildings and equipment in the station are kept to a high standard to enable our visitors to conduct their projects as planned. You have extensive experience working with outboard motors, small engines and/or pumps, and general building maintenance. You are very good at troubleshooting and can work independently with limited supervision. You have a good level of fitness and can perform tasks in outdoor or non-air-conditioned areas in a tropical climate. You enjoy living in a tropical island with a small group of people.

Essential requirements

• Physically fit to perform strenuous manual work in a tropical environment
• Current full driver licence

Knowledge and Experience

1. Good communication and interpersonal skills

1. Experience working in remote locations

1. Demonstrated experience in maintenance roles and/or relevant trade certificates (see below)

• Current forklift operator's licence

• Current driver's licence

• Current recreational boat operator's licence or higher- level boating qualification

• Outboard motor or diesel engine mechanic, electrical mechanic, plumber, welder, refrigeration mechanic, etc.

• Advanced first aid qualifications (at least first aid, CPR, oxygen resuscitation)

• Marine radio operator licence

• Chainsaw licence

Benefits

You will be provided with free accommodation (including utilities) on the island.

Generous leave entitlements.

Besides working together with other like-minded people, you will have excellent outdoor recreational opportunities on your days off.

How to apply

Applicants must submit (if submitted as attachment, please upload as PDF):

1. A one to two page covering letter which addresses the role description's essential requirements, key knowledge and experience.
2. Resume

As part of the online application process, you will be prompted to answer two targeted questions.

1. LIRS operates a fleet of boats with outboard motors ranging from 30 to 90 hp in addition to a diesel tractor, a 4WD troop carrier, and a petrol small utility vehicle. Tell us about your experience servicing these types of boats/vehicles (300 words maximum)
2. Lizard Island is a national park with only two permanent settlements, LIRS and a high-end resort. LIRS receives supplies on a fortnightly basis via a barge. Tell us about your experience working in remote or isolated areas in terms of how you organised your work and how you coped with these conditions (300 words maximum)

For more details, Frequently Asked Questions and how to apply for the role go to I Work for NSW.

The successful applicant will be subject to national criminal records check. As recommended by Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the Australian Museum encourages all applicants who can be safely vaccinated for COVID-19, to be so.

Contact person: David Abrego or Emily Howells, Co-Directors Lizard Island, [email protected]

Inclusive and welcoming

The Australian Museum is an NSW Public Service organisation and aims to attract and retain the right people for the right jobs. The AM is a diverse and inclusive workplace where genuine participation and contribution is enabled, and everyone, regardless of their background, identity or circumstances is valued, accepted and supported to thrive at work.

This means that we are embedding diversity and inclusion in everything we do on a daily basis, whether it be our recruitment processes, workplace culture, career development programs, customer service or policies and procedures. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment process to better enable you to shine, please reach out to the contact person or note this in your application.