Job Description:

The Position

• This position is part of the joint Field Management Program (FMP) for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA). The Program is jointly funded and managed by the Australian and Queensland Governments.
• The position is based in the Field Management Unit (FMU), staffed by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS). The FMU administers and coordinates the cooperative arrangements between the Australian and Queensland Governments. The Unit includes a Compliance Unit which delivers a coordinated Compliance Program and undertakes key functions including investigation and field operations.
• Field activities are delivered across the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Commonwealth, including Commonwealth islands), the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park (State) and island National Parks (State), which are part of the World Heritage Area.
• The Legal Project Officer plays an important role in protecting the values and integrity of the GBRWHA through the application of best practice compliance management to meet legislative obligations.

The Person

• You have extensive knowledge and understanding of contemporary compliance risk and enforcement strategies relevant to marine protected areas.
• You have extensive knowledge of the application of legislation including native title legislation and provisions relevant to Marine parks.
• You have a proven track record in negotiating successfully with partner agencies, stakeholders and client groups.
• You are an effective communicator who recognises the ideas and contributions of others.
• You have well developed interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and enjoy working as part of a small cohesive team.
• You are highly motivated and results driven.

Duties

• Provide operational level legal advice to the Field Management Compliance Unit and coordinate with internal and external legal service providers for the timely delivery of legal advice and services.
• Deliver on the Field Management Compliance Unit’s responsibilities and proposals with regards to legislative amendments including assisting with the development and implementation of policy.
• Draft, review and maintain the policies, procedures, guidelines, agreements and contracts that provide the framework for compliance management in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
• Scope, plan, coordinate, manage and undertake projects on compliance and special initiatives. Liaise, consult and negotiate with project stakeholders.
• Research and make recommendations on the application of administrative actions and criminal offences against non-compliant Marine Park users.
• Develop guidelines for the appointment, maintenance and revocation of inspectors, including assisting with inspector training and new regulation amendments training.

Eligibility requirements & qualifications
Applicants must:

• be Australian citizens to be eligible for engagement,
• be able to obtain (within a 6 month period), and thereafter maintain, a BASELINE security clearance. Failure to do so will result in termination of employment.

Qualifications: Mandatory

• A degree in Law from an Australian tertiary institution.
• Admission as a practitioner of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory
• An unrestricted employee practising certificate (or the ability to obtain one having completed the necessary period of supervised legal practice)
• Desirable
• An in-depth knowledge (or ability to obtain) of commonwealth and state legislation that applies to the management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
• A contemporary knowledge of activities that impact on compliance management in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

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