Project Officer – Living Landscapes

Your Opportunity

NQ Dry Tropics is seeking a Project Officer with a background in biodiversity to join our Living Landscapes program.

The successful applicant will be part of a dynamic and diverse team committed to improving biodiversity outcomes across urban, peri-urban and rural landscapes. They will be passionate about working with landholders, community groups and partners to translate ecological knowledge into practical, on-ground outcomes.

They will deliver extension, engagement and events-based activities that support biodiversity, habitat restoration and landscape resilience outcomes across the Burdekin Dry Tropics region.

They will work closely with a multidisciplinary team including project managers, field delivery staff, and technical specialists to support community participation, capacity building and adoption of practices to improve biodiversity.  This will be achieved through well designed engagement activities, site-based events, and demonstrations.

This is a permanent full-time position based in Townsville, supported by secure, multi-year funding through to 2030, providing strong role stability and opportunities for longer-term professional development.

The skills and attributes we are are looking for include:

• an enthusiastic attitude with strong communication and engagement skills;
• a passion for biodiversity, natural resource management (NRM) and landscape-scale outcomes;
• experience delivering extension, engagement or education activities in environmental or NRM contexts;
• excellent organisational skills, including the ability to coordinate activities and events on time and within scope;
• the ability to work effectively in teams as well as independently in field-based environments; and
• working knowledge of common digital tools such as Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, with ArcGIS experience desirable but not essential

NQ Dry Tropics is an equal opportunity employer offering professional development opportunities, flexible hours and a close-knit and friendly environment. You’ll be rewarded with an attractive annual base salary plus 15 percent superannuation and five weeks annual leave.

You will be supported to build knowledge and skills, and provided with career development opportunities through an attractive professional development program.

Working for NQ Dry Tropics

We are an independent not-for-profit company supporting communities in the Burdekin Dry Tropics of North Queensland to sustainably manage land, water, soil, plants and animals. We are a trusted and respected leader in natural resource management, with strong relationships with community, corporate and government partners.

Our Living Landscapes program delivers projects that improve biodiversity, habitat condition and ecological function across a range of landscapes, including urban, peri-urban, riparian, wetland and rural environments. These activities are supported by in-house expertise in biodiversity, revegetation, wetland and waterway management, monitoring and evaluation, and community engagement.

Members of our Living Landscapes Team have the opportunity to travel throughout the region from Townsville, working closely with landholders, community groups, Traditional Owners, local government and partner organisations to deliver practical, local outcomes. From time to time, the role may also provide opportunities for interstate and intrastate travel to support collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional development associated with broader natural resource management initiatives. Collaboration, adaptability and a strong field presence are central to how the team operates.

Selection Criteria

It is essential that applicants address each selection criterion individually, clearly demonstrating how they meet the required skills and qualities. Please provide specific examples from your working experience to support your responses. Shortlisting will be based on the extent to which candidates have effectively addressed the selection criteria. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Essential

1. Qualifications and Technical Expertise: Tertiary qualifications in biodiversity, ecology, natural resource management, environmental science or a related field or demonstrated equivalent experience.
2. Extension and Engagement Experience: Demonstrated experience delivering extension, engagement, or education activities for environmental, NRM or biodiversity-focused projects, including building participation and capability, and supporting adoption of best practice-management.
3. Communication and Collaboration: Strong written, oral and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams and engage with a diverse range of stakeholders and contractors.
4. Project Planning and Organisational Skills: Well-developed organisational skills, including the ability to plan, coordinate and deliver engagement activities, events and field-based initiatives in a busy project environment
5. Technical and Digital Capability: Knowledge of, or ability to learn, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office and ArcGIS systems to support documentation, reporting and spatial mapping of engagement activities.
6. Field and Operational Capability: Current C class driver’s licence and the ability and willingness to travel within the region and work safely and effectively in outdoor and remote environments.

Desirable

1. RIIVEH305F – Operate and Maintain a 4WD Vehicle
2. HLTDAID011 – First Aid Certificate
3. HLTDAID009 – CPR Certificate

How to apply

To be considered for this position, your application must include:

• a cover letter introducing yourself and outlining why you are a suitable candidate for the role (we encourage you to show your personality);
• a separate document addressing each of the selection criteria; and
• a current resume

Applications should be submitted via email to careers@nqdrytropics.com.au or lodged online through Seek.

To view the full Position Description, please visit the careers page on our website: www.nqdrytropics.com.au/join-the-team

For further information about the position, please contact Scott Fry on 07 4799 3500 or via email at careers@nqdrytropics.com.au.

Applications close at 5:00pm on Monday, 06 April 2026.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.