Executive Director, SES3L – Office of the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage

Role Details

• Role type: Full time / SES contract up to 5 years.
• Salary: Annual $216,192 - $225,233; fortnightly $9,474.20 - $9,820.70; plus 12.75% super contributions.
• Location: Brisbane, Cairns or Townsville.
• Working relationships: Reports to Deputy Director-General (SES4H); Direct reports: 4; Team size: 51.
• Job ad reference: QLD/695876/26.

Purpose

The Environment and Heritage Policy and Programs (EHPP) division develops and coordinates the government's environment and conservation policy, strategy, legislative frameworks and delivers key government strategic environment and conservation programs, including the protection of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Office of the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage is responsible for coordinating and implementing the Queensland Government's Reef strategies and programs and delivering on the Queensland Government's obligations in relation to World Heritage Areas in Queensland.

As the Executive Director, Office of the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage, you will be responsible for leading and overseeing implementation of these strategies and programs, including actions under the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan) and the Reef 2050 Catchment Water Quality Strategy, through a strong and consultative partnership approach with multiple levels of government, key industry and community stakeholders, and Traditional Owners.

You will also be responsible for ensuring delivery of the Queensland Government's obligations under the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Commonwealth for K'gari (Fraser Island), Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh section) and Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (Queensland section) World Heritage Areas.

A key responsibility of the position and branch is to develop and foster strong relationships to build confidence across government and with stakeholders and Traditional Owners and establish collaborative relationships with the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to achieve its objectives.

As the Executive Director, You Will

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of a significant and complex whole of government work program, ensuring timely outputs in accordance with ministerial and cabinet timeframes.
• Provide expert strategic advice, support, information and guidance to the Minister, ministerial advisors, Director-General, and senior leaders across government on key policy, planning and project issues relevant to the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage sites.
• Provide effective high level departmental representation or coordinate the representation for the Queensland Government on all Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage related committees, secretariats or working groups.
• Lead development and implementation of a detailed Reef Water Quality Program to ensure the Queensland Government's resources are directed and coordinated to meet the government's reef water quality targets.
• Coordinate, monitor and report on all actions attributed to the Queensland Government's Great Barrier Reef protection election commitments.
• Provide secretariat and research support for governance groups including the Great Barrier Reef Advisory Committee and Interdepartmental Committee.
• Develop and foster relationships across Queensland Government, stakeholders, Traditional Owners and the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to establish a joint relationship on delivering the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan.
• Lead the Queensland Government input into monitoring and reporting on the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
• Lead the development and dissemination of proactive communications for all stakeholders and the wider community, including through the Queensland Government's Protecting the Great Barrier Reef website.
• Lead management of K'gari (Fraser Island), Riversleigh, and Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (Queensland) World Heritage Areas in collaboration with the relevant State and Federal departments.
• Manage the human and financial resources of the Office of the Great Barrier Reef & World Heritage and contribute to the senior leadership team of the Environment and Heritage Policy and Programs Division.
• Foster a workplace culture that supports and promotes the interests of First Nations people and actively engage to contribute to better outcomes for First Nations people.
• Promote a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace that is free from bullying, discrimination and harassment.

What We Are Looking For

The department is looking for the best-suited person for the role, considering skills, experience, qualifications and personal qualities relevant to the role, as well as past work, future contribution to the team and department, and commitment and contribution to equity, diversity, respect and inclusion.

What You Need for This Role

• Role model Executive leadership behaviours as outlined in the Leadership competencies for Queensland.
• Be an agile and inspirational leader, with a strong record of achievement in dynamic and complex organisations.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and implementing innovative initiatives and programs that deliver impactful, lasting change, supported by fit-for-purpose governance.
• Be a compelling communicator and advocate with a proven ability to represent the department persuasively, build and manage complex stakeholder relationships, foster enduring partnerships across diverse groups, balance competing priorities, and apply superior negotiation and advocacy skills to enable collaborative delivery of community-focused outcomes.
• Demonstrated understanding (or ability to quickly acquire) of contemporary environmental and sustainable development trends, drivers, and approaches, combined with strong analytical and problem-solving skills applied within a broader strategic context and purpose.
• Be able to demonstrate experience in establishing and embedding good governance, through consistent high standards of practice and effective mobilisation of the unique talents and capabilities of the team.
• Demonstrate how you can support the commitment to workplace safety, equity, diversity, respect and inclusion.

Eligibility

You will need the legal right to work in Australia.

Additional Information

The successful applicant will be subject to pre-employment checks including disciplinary disclosure, criminal history, and probity checks. Once employed, additional requirements may apply, such as disclosure and conflict of interest declarations, and lobbyist registration.

Travel

This position may require travel to other locations from time to time, including overnight stays.

How to Apply

Everyone is welcome to apply. Priority consideration is offered to applicants with disability or who identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and have what is needed for the role; priority consideration applicants will be invited to participate in the next selection activity.

To apply for this role, applicants should provide information about their skills, experience, qualifications and personal qualities and how they align with the requirements in the "what you need for this role" section, and why they are the best-suited person for this role. This can be provided in a succinct resume (max 5 pages) and short statement (2 pages), or by contacting Elena Ryan to explore other options.

Please visit the detailed candidate page for further information and to apply: https://www.luminarypartners.com.au/detsi-gbr

For a confidential discussion, please reach out to Elena Ryan, Senior Associate, Luminary on 0422 584 231. General inquiries to luminary@luminarypartners.com.au.

Hand-delivered applications are not accepted.