Australia’s natural and cultural heritage is unique. Our land and seascapes are distinctive, home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, and to some of the oldest living cultures on earth. These environments and cultures are an essential part of our national identity, and visitors travel from across the country and the world to experience them.

The Director of National Parks (the Director) is responsible for six national parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 58 Australian Marine Parks and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve established under the Workplace Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Parks Australia is the federal park agency that supports the Director, and they are a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department). We work to showcase these natural and cultural wonders to the world, demonstrating to all why these places are so special, and inspiring communities to become more invested in their care and future.

Kakadu National Park is a world-heritage listed site for its natural and cultural values, and one of three national parks, leased by their Aboriginal owners to the Director of National Parks, and jointly managed by Traditional Owners and Parks Australia. Parks Australia assists with ongoing management of the park’s natural and cultural heritage. In addition to ongoing management of the park’s natural and cultural heritage, this branch also manages strategic priorities for Parks Australia, managing a range of strategic planning and major capital projects across the three jointly managed parks.

The Job

As Park Manager,



Joint Management, you will work in a coordinated dual Park Management structure with the Park Manager, Country Operations, providing effective leadership and direction for up to a hundred full time staff and over a hundred Bininj/Mungguy day labourers or cultural advisors/monitors, delivering approximately $30 million worth of activities per year. Duties include:

- Overseeing the Joint Management team function and supporting partnerships between Traditional Owners and Parks Australia. Providing high level support for the Kakadu Board of Management, implementing the Plan of Management, Board Priorities, and facilitating Community/District meetings.
- Implementing cultural resource management and heritage programs, working closely with Traditional Owners and District Rangers to conserve the park’s cultural and heritage values.
- Managing licence and permit compliance team activities, including park fee implementation.
- Leading the Parks business operations team, managing finances, budgets, governance, procurement, workforce support and corporate services for effective park management.
- Leading the Biodiversity Conservation team, overseeing biodiversity, fire, and species management programs; providing strategic direction, planning, implementation,



and monitoring of threat management to protect ecological and cultural values.
- Optimising safety management systems, ensuring critical risk management, and role-modelling safe work practices.
- Meeting with Traditional Owners regularly on country to champion joint management, integrating traditional land knowledge and cultural values with modern conservation practices.
- Establishing and maintaining effective partnerships with Traditional Owners and stakeholders including Aboriginal Associations, Ranger groups, the Northern Land Council, Northern Territory Government, research communities, tourism industry, and others with interests in park management.
- Managing budgets and expenditures, making joint decisions on capital and operational priorities, and ensuring compliance with Commonwealth governance and financial frameworks.
- Mentoring and developing Bininj/Mungguy assistant park managers, supporting succession pathways for Indigenous workers into senior management roles.
- Leading and managing a large, cross-cultural workforce, building capability and modelling behavioural expectations in line with the Australian Public Service framework for a respectful workplace.
- Managing critical incidents in the Park including search and rescue, road accidents, and responses to property or personal damage from natural disasters.
- Ensuring a safe environment for all Park staff and visitors.

Flexible employment arrangements are available with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

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📌 Park Manager - Joint Management (Jabiru)
🏢 Environmental Jobs
📍 Jabiru