About the role

Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) is seeking an experienced and values-driven Heritage & Culture Executive to join its senior leadership team. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Heritage & Culture Executive provides strategic and operational leadership across WAC's heritage services, cultural heritage protection and cultural engagement functions. The Executive will ensure that WAC's heritage and cultural activities protect Whadjuk cultural interests, respect appropriate cultural authority and deliver professional, accountable and commercially sustainable services.

This is a senior leadership position requiring the ability to work confidently with Whadjuk Elders, Traditional Owners and Knowledge Holders, the Cultural Advice Committee, WAC staff, proponents, government agencies, heritage professionals and other external stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

- Lead WAC's heritage and cultural portfolio in accordance with the Corporation's strategic direction.
- Develop and implement WAC's heritage strategy, operational frameworks, policies and procedures.
- Provide strategic advice to the CEO on heritage, cultural and related regulatory matters.
- Ensure WAC's heritage activities appropriately recognise Whadjuk cultural authority, knowledge and decision-making.
- Identify emerging heritage risks, opportunities and strategic priorities.
- Provide executive oversight of WAC's heritage survey, monitoring and related heritage services.
- Ensure heritage surveys and monitoring activities are professionally planned, appropriately resourced and delivered to required standards.
- Oversee heritage workflows from initial proponent engagement through scoping, cultural advice, fieldwork, reporting and completion.
- Maintain strong systems for heritage records, approvals, reporting,



documentation and quality assurance.
- Lead WAC's organisational response to matters affecting Whadjuk cultural heritage.

About you

- Demonstrated senior leadership or management experience in cultural heritage, Aboriginal affairs, heritage services or a related field.
- Strong knowledge and practical understanding of Aboriginal cultural heritage management.
- Demonstrated experience working respectfully and effectively with Aboriginal Traditional Owners, Elders and Knowledge Holders.
- Experience leading staff and managing complex operational workloads.
- Strong stakeholder-management and negotiation skills.
- Experience dealing with proponents, government agencies, consultants or other external organisations.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and implement policies, procedures and operational systems.
- Strong written communication, reporting and organisational skills.
- Sound commercial and financial awareness.
- Current Australian driver's licence.

About us Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) represents the Traditional Owners of the Whadjuk region of the south-west of Western Australia. WAC works to protect and strengthen Whadjuk culture, heritage and connection to Country while delivering the Corporation's responsibilities under the South West Native Title Settlement and building long-term cultural, social and economic opportunities for Whadjuk people. WAC is entering an important period of organisational growth and is strengthening its internal capability, governance and delivery of cultural heritage services.

Benefits

- Salary packaging benefits
- 5 weeks annual leave
- Christmas shutdown period credited as additional leave
- Long service leave vested after 7 years of service
- Employee Assistance Program
- Senior leadership prospect within Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation

📌 Heritage & Culture Executive (Perth)
🏢 Whadjuk Aboriginal
📍 Perth