Position Description: Executive Officer
Background
Protected areas are a key pillar for conservation of nature, and there is widespread global effort to increase protected area coverage of the planet to 30% by 2030, along with more effective and inclusive stewardship of these areas.
The Protected Areas Collaboration for Learning and Research (PAC) believes that justice, equity and diversity are essential for better protected area outcomes, and the management of protected area needs to better reflect the interconnectedness of people and nature.
This means growing the capability of conservation practitioners so that complex challenges are addressed using a wide range of knowledge and skills. Education and capacity building need to be scaled up and made more accessible and inclusive. We also believe that the personal learning process must be transformative to enable deep long-lasting change in the service of all. Mobilising the best available knowledge is fundamental to conservation, including Indigenous and local community knowledge of land and water.
PAC and its purpose
PAC’s purpose is to bring people together to learn and grow these capabilities to better care for nature and protected areas in the Asia-Pacific. We bring together a network of voices, sectors, practices and cultures, with shared meaning and purpose.
PAC had its origins in Tasmania, Australia and has grown through several phases following initial and extended support from a wide range of individuals, organisations and agencies, including private donors and a three-year grant from the Australian Government awarded at the 2014 IUCN World Parks Conference in Sydney.
PAC’s initial key stakeholders were universities throughout Australia and later the University of the South Pacific. A much wider group of stakeholders now includes environmental and Indigenous non-government organisations.
PAC offers access to a range of professional development short courses as well as university-based courses including Graduate Certificate and Masters courses. It also offers scholarships, mentoring and a community of practice, focused on professionals and community-based conservation practitioners working on protected areas and other area-based conservation activities, as well as university students and graduates.
These courses specifically address selected competences from the IUCN Global Register of Competences for Protected Area Practitioners.
Position Purpose Statement
With a Joint Venture partnership established at the start of 2021, PAC is entering a new phase in its growth, with its first Strategic Plan created in October 2021. When the Plan’s objectives are achieved, PAC will have developed new partnerships to deliver protected area capacity building opportunities in Australia, the Pacific and Asia.
PAC is seeking to employ a professional with extensive protected area knowledge and experience in Australia, Asia and the Pacific who will over the next 3-5 years implement the Strategic Plan and prepare PAC for its next phase of activity.
The role of the EO is to grow the capacity and capability of PAC, working with the Executive Council, its committees and contractors to deliver PAC’s Strategic Plan. In particular, in 2022 we will build upon the work done in the past year and secure funding for 2023 and beyond to:
Co-deliver an annual collaborative leadership program for the protected area sector
Co-design and deliver new short courses with academic institutions and other delivery organisations
Host a forum on protected areas and establish and deliver an annual webinar series on critical issues
Grow networks and a community of practice across the Asia-Pacific through course participation and follow up, and new cross-sectoral partnerships
Continue delivery of our annual scholarship round
Build a robust and enduring collaboration for the long-term provision of courses, events, knowledge networks and partnership-building
Term, Remuneration, Hours and Location
Term - 1 year contract position [renewable subject to funding]
Contract fee - $60,000 per annum.
Hours - Part-time (number of hours by negotiation commensurate with skills and experience).
Location - The EO’s location is negotiable concerning work from home and/or work from a partner organisation’s office or other premise. PAC is a virtual organisation and does not have an office. The position may require overnight and potentially international travel.
Position Context
The EO is responsible to the Executive Council through the Chair – see composition and personnel below.
It is expected the EO will exercise considerable individual responsibility, with oversight from the Chair on a week-by-week basis.
The Joint Venture
The Joint Venture partners are the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute. Each partner contributes a representative to the Executive Council. Two committees operate under the Council and the chairs of each of those committees are also on the Council. The Nature Conservancy has an MOU with the JV and also contributes a member to the Council. The Executive Council has an Independent Chair, and the inaugural Chair is Jane Hutchinson. See https://pacollaboration.org/ourpeople
As a Joint Venture arrangement PAC is not a registered business and acts on behalf of its Joint Venture Partners: the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute. Each of these organisations is a Registered Environmental Organisation, and a company limited by guarantee in Australia. Each of these organisations is thus able to receive grant funds, enter into employment arrangements and do all other things to enable receipt for and payment of services.
An employment relationship for this role will be entered into directly with the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute on behalf of PAC.
Principal Accountabilities and Responsibilities
Financial
The EO is accountable for managing the PAC budget and reporting to the Executive Council.
The EO is responsible for all funding relationships, although accountability for those will generally be with a JV partner (see explanation below).
Engagement
The EO will maintain close and effective working relationships with the PAC partners and stakeholders.
The EO will represent PAC in international, and national and regional forums, as necessary.
Supported by the Adviser: Learning and Partnering and the PAC Project Officer (part-time contractors), the EO will promote the work of PAC through traditional and social media and other public and private platforms and be accountable for each of those mediums including their currency and accuracy.
Strategic
The EO will be responsible for leading the engagement of new partners and stakeholders in the expansion of PAC’s business.
With the support of the Executive Council, the EO will be responsible for securing further funding to continue PAC’s work and enable PAC’s development and growth in accordance with the strategy.
Operational
The EO is accountable for delivering on the obligations and intent of PAC’s strategic plan, and for the development and delivery of work plans and annual business plans as directed by the Executive Council.
The EO is responsible for compliance with all regulatory and other requirements, and for managing PAC’s operations, including acting as Secretary for the Executive Council.
The EO is responsible for the engagement and management of all contractors and volunteers in accordance with PAC’s strategic plan and within resourcing capacity. However, JV partners will be accountable for contractual and management regimes.
Knowledge and Experience to represent in your application
Essential
Demonstrated high-level leadership, policy analysis, policy development and engagement skills, with a strong outcomes focus.
Demonstrated ability to work in a self-directed environment as well as in a small team environment.
Demonstrated high-level EO competencies including: Strategic Planning; Financial Management; Policy Development, Communications and Public Relations.
Experience and / or demonstrated understanding of protected area learning / education
Highly influential communication (verbal and written), negotiation and relationship management skills to develop the trust, respect and confidence of PAC stakeholders.
Sound understanding of marketing and working with a range of funding opportunities including all levels of donor-giving, fundraising, government and corporate funding opportunities.
Demonstrated comprehensive, high-level knowledge of protected areas and nature conservation.
Demonstrated experience in working with and relating to non-government (particularly Indigenous/First Peoples and environmental), Government and Philanthropic sectors.
Demonstrated governance experience including working with boards and working with member-based organisations and/or collaborations.
Desirable
Demonstrated experience in communicating with and through a variety of media including Radio, Newspapers, Television, Web-based and Social Media.
Experience working in or with higher education organizations particularly in relation to protected areas
Application Process
To submit an application for the role of PAC Executive Officer, please send your Resume / CV and answers to these three questions (in no more than 500 words each) to info@palrc.com
What excites you most about working at PAC and what motivates you about the protected areas learning environment?
What equips you to perform this role at the superior level expected?
With the nature of the task ahead, what are the most important attributes you will bring?
Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 19 December 2021.
Please email info@palrc.com if you wish to discuss your application.