Victorian Government
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Project Support Officer
Aboriginal Water Unit

Full Time | 3 Year Fixed Term Contract | Competitive Salary | Melbourne Location

This ‘special measures’ position is open only to people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

About the Department

The Department is tasked with ensuring that Victoria has the right conditions to enable economic growth, while delivering livable, inclusive and sustainable communities.

We bring together planning, local government and infrastructure, environment, climate change, energy and water functions, to ensure an integrated approach to the development of long-term state and regional strategies that build on social, environmental and economic opportunities to provide for future population growth.

About the Group

The Water and Catchments Group (WCG), in partnership with water corporations and catchment management authorities, is responsible for effectively managing Victoria’s water resources to meet future urban, rural and environmental needs. WCG works across the Department, with agencies, Ministers, stakeholders and the community to balance the economic, environmental and social values of water. This work helps deliver secure water supplies, greener and livable cities and towns and healthy waterways and aquifers.

The Environmental Policy and Community Partnerships Branch focuses on emerging policy development and institutional review and reform, to provide community benefits.  The Aboriginal Water Unit has specifically been formed to deliver the Government’s Aboriginal Water Program, which aims to better include Aboriginal people in the way water is managed in Victoria and to reconnect communities to water for cultural, economic, customary and spiritual purposes.

‘Victorian Traditional Owners have cultural, spiritual and economic connections to land, water and resources through their associations and relationship with Country. Collaborating with Traditional Owners in water planning and management is an aspect of maintaining access to Country and its resources. The newly formed Aboriginal Water Unit will work to better understand Aboriginal water values and uses by working respectful partnership with Traditional Owners’. (source: www.delwp.vic.gov.au)

About the role

This ‘special measures’ position is open only to people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The staff member will report to the Team Leader, Aboriginal Water Unit.
The role has the following responsibilities:

• Assist with coordination of engagement with Traditional Owners on Country
• Support the secretariat for the Water for Country Project Control Group, including drafting meeting agendas and minutes, and coordinating travel arrangements for on Country engagements
• Provide project and administrative support for the Aboriginal Water Unit, including organising stakeholder meetings, drafting progress reports, developing project funding agreements and contracts, and effective record keeping
• Attend to and answer a broad range of queries that relate to administration of the Aboriginal Water Program
• Assist the team leader with administration of the Program budget.

About you

You will be known as a person with enormous potential both in terms of your superior ability to organise and track tasks and your ability to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. You will have a solid track record of being able to work with limited supervision and for using your initiative to keep your team and leaders informed of progress and challenges. You will be passionate about the work in the sector.

To be successful in this role you will be well organised, articulate and energetic.  You will bring with you a depth of understanding of Aboriginal cultures, and a proven ability to engage with Traditional Owners. A tertiary qualification (or progress towards one) will be highly regarded.

Key Selection Criteria

Specialist/Technical Expertise

• A knowledge of the contemporary issues and historical impacts affecting Aboriginal people across Victoria
• A tertiary qualification (or working towards a qualification) in natural resource management, community development, business administration or equivalent would be highly regarded

Knowledge and Skills

Stakeholder Management:

• Identifies and manages a range of complex and often competing needs
• Identifies issues in common for one or more stakeholders and uses them to build mutually beneficial partnerships
• Finds innovative solutions to resolve stakeholder issues.

Verbal Communication:

• Clearly and confidently communicates with people at all levels of the organisation
• Understands and meets the needs of target audience
• Uses audience feedback to refine communication and ensure communications are understood
• Handles difficult and sensitive communications well.

Computer Skills:

• Understands the purpose of, and is able to use, common software applications for word processing and email.

Planning and Organising:

• Sets clearly defined objectives and priorities
• Delegates responsibilities to ensure goals are met
• Liaises with others when organising work
• Anticipates barriers and finds effective ways to deal with them.

What we can offer you

Competitive salary of between $68,884-$83,640 plus superannuation

• Flexible working arrangements
• A full time 3 year fixed term contract
• An inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated
• Ongoing professional development.

How to apply

All applications must be made in writing and include the following:

• Up to date CV
• Cover letter outlining why you have applied for the position
• Using the information provided about the role and your research into the department, your application should include a short ‘pitch’ covering a statement of claims – this is to be no longer than 2 pages. Addressing the Key Selection Criteria your pitch should draw out why you are interested in the position, what you can offer the Unit, your skill set and qualifications, relevant work history and achievements.

Please ensure these are sent though in WORD format.

Applications are to be emailed to jobs@pipelinetalent.com.au with the heading “DELWP Project Support Officer” in the subject line.

Applications must be received by 5pm Monday 9 March 2020

Unfortunately, late submissions will not be accepted.

How to get more information

For further information on the position, please contact Pipeline Talent via phone or email for a confidential discussion

jobs@pipelinetalent.com.au or 02 8001 6603.