Environmental Projects Team Manager

About Reef Catchments

At Reef Catchments, the work you do has a lasting impact on the places, communities and industries that make the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region unique.

Reef Catchments is the natural resource management (NRM) organisation for the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region. We work with landholders, Traditional Owners, industry, community groups, researchers and government to improve the region’s land, water and biodiversity.

Our projects deliver practical, on-ground outcomes. Whether it’s improving water quality flowing to the Great Barrier Reef, restoring wetlands and habitats, supporting sustainable agriculture, or helping local communities care for the environment, we’re focused on projects that make a real difference across our region.

We’re a team of people who enjoy working together to solve problems, build partnerships and deliver results. We value different perspectives and experiences because they help us make better decisions and achieve improved outcomes for the region.

If you’re looking for a role where you can see the difference your work makes, you’ll find it at Reef Catchments.

Position Overview

At Reef Catchments, our Environmental Projects Team Managers provide leadership across a portfolio of environmental and natural resource management projects that support healthy landscapes, waterways and communities across the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region.

These positions provide leadership to project teams and are responsible for the planning, resourcing, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of projects to achieve agreed environmental and natural resource management outcomes. They oversee project priorities, budgets, risks, funding requirements, reporting and service providers, while ensuring projects are delivered within scope, budget and agreed timeframes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, resourcing, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of environmental and natural resource management projects to achieve agreed outcomes.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, risks, milestones and reporting requirements, ensuring projects are delivered within scope, budget and agreed timeframes.
• Lead and support a team of Project Officers through workforce planning, work allocation, coaching, performance management and professional development.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with Traditional Owners, landholders, industry, community groups, government agencies, funders and project partners.
• Oversee contractors, consultants and service providers to ensure contractual obligations, quality standards and project outcomes are achieved.
• Prepare and review funding proposals, reports, briefs and other project documentation to meet organisational and funding requirements.
• Ensure monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities provide reliable evidence of project outcomes and support continuous improvement.
• Identify and manage project, financial, operational and reputational risks, escalating significant issues when required.
• Represent Reef Catchments at meetings, workshops, industry forums and community events, promoting strong partnerships and regional environmental outcomes.
• Collaborate with other managers and support teams to contribute to organisational priorities, strategic initiatives and a positive workplace culture.

Capabilities, knowledge and skills

• Strong leadership and people-management capability, including workforce planning, performance management, coaching and development.
• Strong program and project management skills, including planning, resourcing, budgets, schedules, risks, milestones and reporting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of biodiversity, natural resource management or environmental program delivery.
• Ability to manage funded projects, service providers and contractual requirements and to maintain strong quality and governance controls.
• High-level written communication skills, including funding proposals, reports, briefs and project communications.
• Confident stakeholder engagement, facilitation and relationship management across community, industry and government.
• Sound judgement, initiative, problem-solving and timely escalation of material delivery, financial, people or reputational risks.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, foster a constructive workplace and use Microsoft 365 and relevant project and information systems.

Benefits Include

• Five weeks annual leave
• Flexible working arrangements
• Up to $2,000 per year toward professional development
• Work locally in the Mackay, Whitsundays region
• Be part of a growing and continuously improving business
• Additional paid day off at Christmas
• Career development and progression opportunities
• Team building and wellbeing initiatives
• Retention incentives at 3 years, 5 years and 7 years of continuous service
• Opportunity to contribute to meaningful environmental and community outcomes

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be able to demonstrate their ability to meet the following criteria:

Essential

• A relevant tertiary qualification in environmental science, ecology, conservation, natural resource management or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• Significant experience leading environmental, biodiversity or natural resource management programs or a portfolio of funded projects, including budgets, milestones, monitoring and reporting.
• Demonstrated experience leading staff and managing performance, capability and workforce priorities.
• Demonstrated experience building productive relationships with community, industry, government and other delivery partners, together with a current Australian driver’s licence and capacity for regional travel and periodic work outside ordinary hours.

Highly desirable

• Experience delivering biodiversity, conservation, catchment or related natural resource management programs in a partnership-based environment.
• Experience with government grant or funding agreements, service-provider management and project assurance requirements.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation, spatial information or other evidence used to assess environmental project outcomes.
• Knowledge of the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region, its stakeholder networks and natural resource management priorities.

How to Apply

Please submit your cover letter addressing the Selection Criteria with a copy of your current resume online via the Reef Catchments website, Seek, or by email to careers@reefcatchments.com as soon as possible.

Applications close Sunday, 20 September 2026, with applications reviewed as received and interviews potentially commencing before the closing date.