Program Manager Healthy Environments

Based in Northam, WA

Fixed Term Contract, ends October 2027

Full Time (38 hours per week)

Salary per annum $126,410

Applications close midnight 27 September 2026

About the Role

The Program Manager leads Wheatbelt NRM’s Healthy Environments program, overseeing a diverse portfolio of biodiversity and conservation projects across the Wheatbelt.

The role provides strategic and operational leadership to the project team, ensuring projects are well planned, appropriately resourced and delivered in line with funding agreements, budgets and organisational priorities.

The Program Manager also maintains robust relationships with funding bodies, government, landholders, community and technical partners, while providing guidance and support to staff to achieve meaningful environmental outcomes.

About Wheatbelt NRM

Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management is a non-profit organisation working in partnership with community, biodiversity, agriculture and government to provide regional leadership and direction for sustainable land use and the conservation of natural resources in the Avon River Basin of Western Australia. You can see our current projects and activities on our website, www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au.

Why Wheatbelt NRM?

We take care of our people because we can’t take care of Country without them.

Here’s what we offer:

- Flexible working days and times
- 23 Annual Leave days per year (for full-time equivalent)
- Paid activity breaks and equipment for promoting active office-life
- Contractual salary increases to align with inflation

Selection Criteria

Applicants must address the following criteria in a cover note, supported by a resume with 2 referees

Technical Skills

- Demonstrated expertise in environmental management, biodiversity conservation or ecology.




- Experience delivering sound project management principles.

Leadership Management

- Demonstrated ability to lead, support and develop high-performing teams.
- Experience providing strategic direction, aligning work with organisational goals, and managing risks and opportunities.

Communication

- Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to represent an organisation in stakeholder engagements, community events, and public speaking forums.

Teamwork

- Proven ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with staff, stakeholders, consultants and community members.
- Experience working respectfully and collaboratively with diverse groups.

To be eligible to apply you must be an Australian citizen, or entitled to work in Australia for the full length of the contract without any sponsorship requirements, and you must have a valid class C driver’s licence. If you do not meet these requirements, you will not be considered for this role.

Want to know more?

Contact Maren Lavery at [email protected] or 08 9670 3103 for a confidential discussion.

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. We warmly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, women, and people of all ages.

A Note on AI and Application Review

All applications to Wheatbelt NRM are reviewed by people, not artificial intelligence. This helps us maintain a fair and thoughtful recruitment process, though it may mean a slower response time during high application periods. You’re welcome to contact [email protected] at any time for an update on your application status. If you choose to use AI tools when preparing your application, we recommend removing emojis and ensuring the language reflects your own voice, knowledge and experience.

📌 Program Manager, Biodiversity (Northam)
🏢 Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management
📍 Northam