Overview

Reporting to the Conservation Science and Planning Manager, the Conservation Ecologist is accountable for fulfilling the Responsibilities and Duties associated with this position. As a self-starter, it is expected that the incumbent will contribute towards improving the effectiveness of conservation programs, community engagement, and conservation science and planning at TLC, including the development of new approaches and innovations where required. The incumbent works with a highly motivated and professional team and collaborates with other staff and stakeholders across Tasmania.

Scope of Position

WildTracker is a citizen science ecological monitoring program developed by the TLC to enable private landholders, other NGOs, NRM organisations, councils, and larger pastoral properties across Tasmania to collect data on wildlife via camera trapping. This allows the community to actively contribute to, and learn about, wildlife conservation.

This challenging role will lead the continued development of WildTracker, manage the web-based data management system and its ongoing progress, and build on the community engagement and citizen science opportunities this program provides for private land conservation. The role will also be involved in delivering existing grants and seeking new funding opportunities. The role will focus on the socio-ecological aspects of this program, including the value of WildTracker data for ecological monitoring on a regional scale, and evaluation of how citizen science can contribute to the expansion of private land conservation, and engagement of the wider community in nature conservation and environmental management. This may involve the development of applied research projects to evaluate WildTracker, in collaboration with university or other research organisations.

The Conservation Ecologist (WildTracker) will be called on from time to time to participate in a range of other activities for TLC including marketing and community engagement (i.e., newsletter, blogs, media and website articles, volunteer programs, donor, and field days), administration (i.e., budgets, business planning, workplace health and safety) and science (i.e., reserve monitoring). The role may include representing TLC at workshops, scientific conferences and other fora as required.

The Conservation Ecologist will work with the Conservation Planning and Science Team, the Land for Wildlife Coordinator and Engagement and Giving team, to deliver the WildTracker program.

Responsibilities

• Coordination and delivery of the WildTracker program and integration with Land for Wildlife (a separate program with a dedicated Coordinator), and engagement with existing and new users, that range from private landholders to organisations (e.g., Councils, NRM groups). This includes project planning and management, planning and implementation of field surveys, data management and curation, maintenance of GIS and WildTracker systems, data analysis, and reporting.
• Coordination and delivery of Smart Farms grant (CarbonTracker – A Digital Carbon Monitoring Tool for Farmers), pursue new opportunities for funding for WildTracker, and manage the continued development and progress of the WildTracker website, and data.
• Development and implementation of applied and adaptive socio-ecological research with a focus on citizen science, and community engagement with nature conservation.
• Development of strong collaborations and partnerships with university, government and non-government organisations including students and volunteers, in the delivery of WildTracker and other citizen science conservation programs.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of knowledge, systems, policies, and procedures at TLC.
• Representing the TLC as a professional and well-respected environmental organisation to industry, government, non-government organizations, our supporters, and the wider community.
• Communicating citizen science and community engagement information and outcomes to TLC staff, the Board and Science sub-committee, supporters, donors, volunteers, and the wider scientific community.
• Participating in TLC community engagement including discovery days, supporter trips and volunteer trips, and contributing to TLC’s marketing and communications (i.e., newsletter, blogs, media, and website articles).
• Other duties as directed by the Conservation Science and Planning Manager.

Other Details

On offer is fixed term (until June 30, 2022, part-time (0.8 FTE = 60.8 hours / fortnight) position based in Hobart, Tasmania. The TLC provides a flexible work environment where a good work-life balance can be maintained. A remuneration package based on TLC Level 2 ($70,000- $79,000 (pro rata) commensurate with qualifications, skills and experience (plus statutory superannuation) is being offered

Download the position description