Position Description: BirdLife Australia Great Barrier Reef Wetlands Bird Monitoring Project Coordinator

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Ariel Taylor
5 years ago
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1 Position Description: BirdLife Australia Great Barrier Reef Wetlands Bird Monitoring Project Coordinator The Organisation BirdLife Australia is a member-based not-for-profit company with over 10,000 members and 50,000 supporters and volunteers. We are a diverse organisation with offices in three states, as well as branches, special interest groups, observatories and reserves, working across the nation. BirdLife Australia is governed by an elected Board of Directors which meets quarterly, and day-today operations are managed by the Chief Executive Officer. BirdLife Australia currently employs over 60 staff, over half of whom are dedicated to specific projects. The organisation is very lean and relies on a small core team of management and administrative staff. Working well as a team is an essential element of our organisation. A significant part of BirdLife Australia s work is done by volunteers acting either alone or serving on Committees. It is important that all staff understand and appreciate the contribution made by the organisation s volunteers, and are mindful of the varying skills, interests and motivations they bring. The Role BirdLife Australia seeks an experienced, committed professional to design and deliver a bird monitoring, engagement and education project for the Great Barrier Reef Wetlands and Coastal Ecosystems project, supported by Greening Australia in partnership with Wetland Care Australia and Conservation Volunteers Australia. BirdLife Australia will design and deliver a bird monitoring program for Greening Australia through partnering in the Restoration of the Great Barrier Reef Wetlands and Coastal Ecosystems project. With Greening Australia BirdLife will engage and educate local communities to enhance their appreciation of the value of these GBR wetlands, both intrinsically and as part of the GBR landscape, to support the objectives the Greening Australia s Reef Aid program and the Australian Government s Reef Trust initiatives and the Reef Plan The bird monitoring program will be designed to: Be repeatable, consistent and scalable Be fit for a variety of analyses, including measuring change in bird populations over time Inform on the broader GBR Wetland program goals, such as the effects of managements to reduce nutrient runoff, and the effects of site-specific restoration treatments on bird presence, abundance, breeding and behavior Inform the identification of birds as indicators of healthy wetland habitats Collect information in a way that defines search area and search effort Collect information on all birds (resident, migratory and occasional, and across different guilds) using the chosen sites, as well as key sites downstream

2 Target waterbirds, and ensure sufficient focus on any threatened and listed species Be consistent with standardised BirdLife Australia monitoring in programs such as the national bird monitoring program (Birdata), the Important Bird Areas program, and the national wetland bird monitoring program Produce robust datasets which can be analysed for signals within sites and across sites, and be calibrated against broader trends (e.g. national and regional bird population trends) Be scalable to new GBR wetlands, and eventually along the length of the GBR catchment Deliver value for money, and extend beyond the life of the funded project contract by securing local ownership BirdLife will engage local communities, including expert volunteers, to participate in the project, and hold information and training workshops to enhance community awareness, understanding and appreciation of coastal wetlands, and their importance as local bird habitat, the north-south migration routes of many of our birds, and as a key link component of the GBR greater ecosystem. BirdLife staff will develop an engagement and education plan for the project in collaboration with partnership staff. BirdLife will collect, store, vet, format and analyse all data collected in this project, and report findings to project partners, local communities, stakeholders and governments, as agreed in the project contract. Project Activities Key Project Contract Activities include: Work with BirdLife Australia and partner organisation staff to design a comprehensive bird monitoring program (see key features above), incorporating the program s site rehabilitation plans to ensure that effects of wetland restoration treatments on birds are taken into account. Review and collate existing local and regional information on birds and produce a basic database and baseline report on wetland bird values for each project site, to inform monitoring and GBR Wetlands Program performance. Work with project partners to establish bird indicator metrics for project and GBR Wetlands Program more broadly. Deliver first two years of bird monitoring program: establish monitoring, OH&S and access protocols, engage and establish rapport with landholders, and engage local birding community in survey work. Develop an education and engagement plan, engage local community in wetland habitat awareness and appreciation, and participate in partnership communication initiatives, including media as required. The execution of this plan must be cognisant of local culture and particularly of landholder sensitivities, and work effectively to avoid, circumvent or manage any potential conflict arising from these sensitivities. Produce periodic reporting on monitoring project for a range of stakeholders, addressing KPIs as developed with partners in the monitoring and engagement plans.

3 The role includes: Effective and sensitive communication with a range of parties, including landholders, partner organisations [Greening Australia and Conservation Volunteers Australia] NRM groups and other NGOs, academic institutions, and community groups including traditional owners. Excellent bird identification and fieldwork skills in difficult environments across a wide geographic area. Ability to recruit, motivate, train and coordinate expert volunteers Using GIS and spatial analysis software Promotion of scientific monitoring standards Working collaboratively as part of a multi-organisation team undertaking a diversity of project activities. Prepare reports and contribute to GAs MERI reporting. Position Title GBR Wetlands Bird Monitoring Project Coordinator Position Objective Design and deliver a bird monitoring, engagement and education project for the Great Barrier Reef Wetlands and Coastal Ecosystems project Status This position is being offered as a full-time or part-time two year contract. Further contract work may be developed in this time through the broader project partnership. A standard contractual three-month probationary period applies. Location This position will be based in Townsville. Some regional travel will be required. Reporting This position reports to the Head of Research. Key relationships Internal Head of Research, Birdata Project Manager, Research and Conservation project staff. External Greening Australia staff, CVA and other partnership staff, and a variety of stakeholders including local landholders. Selection Criteria Essential Demonstrated excellent communication and negotiating skills in an environmental conservation context, preferably including on-ground work with landholders

4 Demonstrated ability to design and deliver effective biological monitoring programs, preferably including programs monitoring birds Demonstrated field experience in difficult environments Demonstrated experience working with and managing volunteers Excellent Australian bird identification and environmental fieldwork skills GIS, databasing and computer skills Desirable Statistical analytical knowledge, especially in relation to trend analysis and habitat modelling. Experience working in tropical environments particularly in coastal wetlands of the GBR. A strong network of scientific, NRM and community organisations in the GBR region Four-wheel driving experience. Workstyle, attributes, and attitudes: A high level of professionalism in all work; A self starter; A strategic thinker; A team player with a highly collaborative style; Responds positively and accommodates change; Ability to work well with minimum supervision, accepts high-level responsibility for workplan delivery; A willingness and capacity to work flexible hours as and when required. Salary and Benefits $60, $70,000 FTE plus 9.5% superannuation. Occupational Health and Safety Statement Employees and potential employees should be aware that the requirements of the position include, but are not limited to: Fieldwork extending beyond standard hours on occasion Driving for extended periods and interstate travel Limited attendance at evening or weekend meetings Long periods of sedentary desk and computer duties and telephone use Possible lifting and moving of heavy equipment and objects Overnight and weekend work in the field and at conferences

5 Key dates Your application must include details of how you address the selection criteria and a copy of your resume and be sent in a single Word document to the Head of Research, James.OConnor@birdlife.org.au, by C.O.B. Monday 13/2/2017.

Supporter Development Officer (Garden BirdWatch)

Supporter Development Officer (Garden BirdWatch) British Trust for Ornithology ABOUT THE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY A WORLD INSPIRED BY BIRDS AND INFORMED BY SCIENCE BTO