Senior Project Officer - Wildlife Emergency Response

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Reference number

550495

Occupation

Wildlife Care and Management, Specialist Manager, Project Management

Work type

Full-Time

Location

Newcastle, Hunter & Region, Statewide

Salary Information

Clerk Grade 9/10

Closing date

15 July 2026 at 11:55pm

Do you want your work to make a difference for NSW?

Working to protect the state’s environment and heritage.

Play a critical role in protecting NSW’s wildlife during emergencies.

Ongoing full-time opportunity

All DCCEEW office locations considered by negotiation - regional locations encouraged/Hybrid working supported

Salary relative to experience, and ranges from $129K pa to $142K pa + employer's contribution to superannuation

About the role

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has a unique opportunity for an experienced and collaborative Senior Project Officer - Wildlife Emergency Response to lead the implementation of NPWS Wildlife Emergency Response Guidelines and strengthen the state’s readiness to respond to wildlife incidents.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of emergency management, wildlife conservation and sector capability-building, partnering with internal teams and the wildlife rehabilitation sector to deliver meaningful outcomes for wildlife across NSW.

About You

You’ll lead the delivery of NPWS Wildlife Emergency Response initiatives - working closely with internal teams, other State Government emergency response agencies and the wildlife rehabilitation sector to improve preparedness and response.

You’ll:

Deliver complex projects end-to-end (plan, implement, evaluate)

Partner with emergency response agencies to elevate the wildlife response roles and capability.

Provide advice, training support and resources across equipment and emergency response readiness

Manage stakeholder relationships across government and external partners

Supervise staff and contribute to team performance

Represent NPWS in wildlife emergency preparedness forums

What you bring

You’re a practical, solutions-focused project leader who can bring people together and deliver outcomes in complex environments.

You’ll bring:

Strong project management and planning experience

Experience in staff supervision and team leadership

Knowledge of incident / emergency management

Understanding of wildlife management and threatened species conservation

Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly, engage diverse audiences, and build partnerships to influence outcomes

Experience working with or alongside the wildlife rehabilitation sector (highly regarded)

Essential requirements: Relevant tertiary qualifications in ecology, environmental science, emergency management, zoology – or equivalent experience.

If you’re motivated by real-world impact, collaboration and conservation, we’d love to hear from you.

For more information read the full Role Description.

Who we are

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) works to protect the state’s environment and heritage. It leads the way on climate change, driving the sustainable transition to a net zero economy, powered by affordable, reliable, and clean energy.

DCCEEW conserves and protects the state’s natural environment. It manages the NSW national park estate, including its rich and diverse biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage for future generations.

DCCEEW also ensures sustainable management of water resources across the state, to support the environment, communities and industry.

We acknowledge the ongoing custodial responsibilities of the Aboriginal peoples of NSW to care for Country and water and are committed to establishing meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal peoples in the management of the environment.

What we can offer you

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is a great place to your career and grow your skills and knowledge.

Accrued days off in addition to Annual Leave

Corporate wellbeing programs, including the Fitness Passport

Learning and development opportunities, including in-house training.

What we do

About NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service

Visit a park

To Apply

If excited by the information above, we look forward to receiving your application, including a copy of your resume and cover letter expressing your interest and suitability for the role.

Please also note, to be eligible for an ongoing role in the NSW Public Sector you need to be an Australian Citizen, New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident. For temporary and casual roles, you need to hold a valid visa giving you permission to work in Australia as required by the role.

Applications close Wednesday 15 July 2026 at 11:55pm.

Should you require further information about the role please contact Ann Walton, Manager Planning and Preparedness via Ann.Walton@dcceew.nsw.gov.au or on 0459 848 713.

A recruitment pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months.

Our goal is to build a workforce that not only represents but also understands and serves the diverse communities of New South Wales. We are committed to making our state a vibrant and inclusive place to live, work, and thrive for everyone. Our workforce represents people of all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, the LGBTQI+ community, and people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Looking for more information or assistance in applying?

Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

How we encourage and support people with disability

Information and adjustments for individual needs for the recruitment process and the workplace.

If you require an adjustment for your application process, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team by emailing dcceew.ta@dpie.npws.gov.au or contacting Jodi Arthur on 02 6360 9015 please mention reference number 55049.

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander use our Aboriginal applicants guide to assist with applying for roles or our Aboriginal Career pathways team at AEX@dcceew.nsw.gov.au for a yarn.

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