Description:
Blacktown City is a growing and thriving city, located halfway between Sydney City and the Blue Mountains. With 435,000 residents, we are the largest and most diverse city in NSW, spread across 54 suburbs. Blacktown City is vibrant, dynamic and multicultural, home to a large First Nations community, and more than 180 different birthplaces and languages.
With $22.6 billion regional economy, Blacktown City is also home to 30,000 businesses. Working at Blacktown City Council provides widespread, exciting professional opportunities. Our Council is leading the transformation of Blacktown City and Western Sydney. We are implementing a vision for a modern city, full of opportunity for our residents and businesses.
Our Council is led by highly skilled and experienced professionals, working with talented and passionate teams across a diverse range of business units. We are delivering high quality, customer-focused services, experiences, and facilities, and leading a program of strategic planning, activity and investment.
Blacktown City Council strives to be an inclusive workplace for all people. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans and people with disabilities.
About the opportunity
Blacktown City Council is experiencing rapid growth and development. We have a commitment to achieving a balance between economic, social and environmental considerations and to conserving local biodiversity.
This 12-month term contract, full-time opportunity exists to help deliver and review environmental strategies, policies, processes and reports that influence the protection of biodiversity through development consent. We are also working on some exciting ecological projects and are seeking a candidate passionate about restoring and retaining our natural environment.
The preferred candidate will:
- assist our Senior Biodiversity Officer in providing specialist advice on ecological matters to inform development assessment and strategic biodiversity conservation programs
- be aware of relevant legislation and have the ability to interpret a variety of technical reports
- represent Council at relevant networks as necessary and provide specialist advice to other departments within council.
Qualifications and experience
Essential:
- Degree qualifications in Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Planning, Environmental Science or equivalent
- Demonstrated suitable industry experience in and detailed knowledge of the Cumberland Plain, ecological survey techniques, plant and vegetation community identification and fauna survey methods
- Demonstrated suitable knowledge and understanding of the assessment and review of ecological matters, such as REF’s, SEPP’s, LEP’s, DCP’s, Plans of Management and other relevant reports
- Suitable experience managing projects, contracts and consultants in biodiversity and bushland management
- High level oral and written communication skills including the ability to deliver presentations and write correspondence, reports and applications
- Qualifications or experience in bush regeneration or ecological restoration
- Detailed understanding of relevant legislative and regulatory requirements including those under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 , Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 , Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , Biosecurity Act 2016, Bushfire Protection Guidelines and NSW Biodiversity Offset Scheme
- Current class C drivers licence.
Desirable:
- Experience working in local government
- Experience dealing with difficult customers and an ability to solve protracted enquiries
- Experience in grant and contractor administration
- Knowledge and understanding of reviewing biobanking assessments, offsetting and Biodiversity Development Assessment Reports (BDAR’s).
Remuneration and benefits
The salary and conditions of employment are in accordance with Blacktown City Council’s Enterprise Agreement.
- Entry level for this position starts at $1,867.95 per week
- 35-hour working week
- Car allowance
- Opportunity to participate in Council's flextime arrangement
- Employee benefits such as leave entitlements (where applicable), 11.5% employer contribution payable to your nominated superannuation fund, Fitness Passport, gym membership discounts, and social clubs.
Our commitment to safety
Blacktown City Council is committed to safety. We have introduced alcohol and other drug testing at the pre-employment phase, and via a series of random and cause testing.
We are a child safe organisation that supports and promotes the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children.
Position description
Click here to view or download the position description.
Apply now using our fast and easy-to-use online application process:
- Have your resume and any other relevant documentation ready to attach.
- Have a personal email address ready to use and complete your application without 'logging out' of the system.
- Review the questions and decide on your responses before commencing your application.
Closing date: Friday 4 April 2025, 11.59 pm
Contact officer: Carolyn Adamcewicz on 9839 5901
Internal ref: Term contract, full-time (12 months)