General Manager

COOPER BASIN RANGERS SUPPORT SERVICES LTD

POSITION DESCRIPTION – GENERAL MANAGER

Title:                    General Manager, Cooper Basin Ranger Support Services Ltd

Position type:    Full-time, time-limited contract

Duration:             Initial 12 month engagement with potential for two x two year extensions; or as negotiated at recruitment

Location:             To be determined / negotiated. Possible locations include Brisbane, Adelaide or remote Qld or SA, with potential (limited) FIFO and/or work from home options;

Remuneration:   $140,000-$150,000 dependent on skills and experience plus superannuation, salary sacrifice and other benefits, including, potentially, a generous annual performance bonus

Reports To:         Board of Directors, Cooper Basin Rangers Support Services Ltd (CBRSS)

Closing date:    2nd June 2025

Position Overview: The General Manager, Cooper Basin Rangers Support Services Ltd (CBRSS), will be responsible for the administrative establishment and operational management of the Cooper Basin Rangers program and the corporate entity, CBRSS. This will include physical office set up (if required), procurement of equipment and supplies, establishment and operation of financial, information and human resource systems, development of plans, budgets, policies and procedures, possible recruitment, scheduling of ranger work rosters and travel, provision of secretariat services to the Board of CBRSS (unless external Company Secretary services are procured), and managing communications and stakeholder relationships.

The General Manager will ensure the program runs smoothly and efficiently, supporting the rangers and the vision of the Aboriginal Traditional Owners governing the program.

Cooper Basin Rangers Program:

A ranger program is being established by Native Title holders in the Cooper Basin region of central Australia, an area of some 130,000 square kilometres spanning southwest Queensland, northeast South Australia and northwest New South Wales.  The program, funded by energy company, Santos Limited, for an initial five years, will assist the Traditional Owners of these lands to better care for Country, create employment pathways and protect the environment.

A head ranger and 2 other rangers will be recruited from each of the Traditional Owners Groups:

• The Boonthamurra People
• The Kullilli People
• The Wongkumara People
• The Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka People
• The Dieri People.

The program will be governed by representatives of these five Groups through the Board of the CBRSS company.

The location of a physical office has not yet been determined and may be open to negotiation for an outstanding candidate. Likely locations are Brisbane, Adelaide or remote Queensland or South Australia. Fly-in-fly-out or a partial working from home arrangement may be considered. Full relocation costs will be available.

Key Responsibilities

In accordance with the directives and policies of the governing Board, or its delegates, undertake the following:

 Office Set-Up and Procurement:

• Establish the office infrastructure for the program.
• Procure vehicles, equipment, and supplies, as required.

Financial Management:

• Establish and maintain financial systems, including for payroll, procurement and budgeting purposes.
• Prepare and manage budgets for approval.
• Apply for and acquit grant funding to support program activities.

Human Resources:

• Facilitate the recruitment of rangers from time to time and potentially other staff in the future (there will be no other administrative staff initially but one or more positions could potentially be approved by the Board or the engagement of professional support in other forms).
• Onboard and support staff.
• Establish and manage human resource systems, including time keeping/rosters and performance management / development.

Administrative and Operational Management:

• Create and implement policies and procedures for administrative, human resource and operational matters.
• Support operational planning processes, including the development and implementation of ranger work plans.
• Coordinate activity schedules, work rosters and organise resources, travel and accommodation for rangers, as needed.

Governance:

• Support the governing Board in the development of Strategic, Operational and Business Plans, and budgets
• Provide secretariat services to the Board and its members (unless an external Company Secretary service is procured).
• Prepare, or otherwise source, and distribute meeting agendas, minutes, reports and other information requested by the Board.
• Organise meeting logistics, including venues, travel and accommodation for in-person meetings (potentially through an external service provider).
• In liaison with professional service providers, ensure statutory and other reporting requirements are fulfilled.

Communications / Stakeholder Engagement:

• Facilitate program communications, including establishing and managing a website and social media accounts.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders for information exchange, enabling of projects and the fostering of positive relationships and partnerships.
• Undertake and support effective communications within the program and with community and other stakeholders.

Note:  Financial resources are available for the potential sub-contracting of certain tasks if and when agreed by the governing Board from time to time. A degree of advice and support will be available from program partners.

Experience / Attributes

 Proven experience in effectively managing service delivery programs, preferably in a not-for-profit context, and ideally for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation:

1. Excellent organisational and project management skills, including facilitating the development and implementation of strategic plans and work plans, scheduling rosters, organising resources, transportation, etc.
2. Experience in office set-up and/or management, including procurement.
3. Strong financial management skills, including budgeting and grant management.
4. Human resource management experience, including in recruiting and developing staff.
5. Strong knowledge of the Workplace Health and Safety regulatory framework and experience in developing or implementing related systems.
6. Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures across multiple functions and activities.
7. A capacity to proactively identify issues or problems, develop possible responses and follow through to achieve resolution.

2. Proficiency in using a wide range of IT programs or systems for office and program administration and management, including for:
3. information management
4. human resource management
5. financial management
6. project management
7. communications and collaboration
8. website and media management.

3. Strong communication and interpersonal skills:
4. Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including First Nations and/or community organisations, government agencies and industry bodies.
5. Proven ability to work cooperatively and effectively within a team and to support and take directions from a governing Board.
6. High levels of personal resilience and a capacity to adapt to change and to work with uncertainty for periods of time.
7. Strong written communication skills to support accurate, professional and readily understood communications, for internal and external parties.
8. Confidence in verbal communication, so as to represent the program to stakeholders.

4. Cultural awareness and commitment to the values and goals of the program:
5. An understanding of issues affecting First Nations peoples in Australia and a supportive approach towards measures to address these and to advance Reconciliation.
6. Some awareness of Aboriginal cultural practices and protocols, particularly around communications.
7. An appreciation of the cultural and environmental significance of the program.

 Desirable Attributes / Qualifications

• Experience in or supporting remote or field-based teams.
• A Certificate III qualification or higher in a relevant field, for example, in program, management, policy, project or planning fields.
• A qualification or experience in conservation, ecosystem management or First Nations cultural or land management would be highly regarded.
• Open Drivers Licence.
• Readiness to travel from time to time, including to remote parts of Australia and in light aircraft.
• A Criminal History check will be undertaken before an applicant is appointed.

Remuneration, benefits and conditions:

• In addition to the base salary and superannuation:
• there is scope for the payment of an annual bonus of up to $10,000 for high performance
• salary sacrificing and other benefits will be available
• The appointment will be subject to a three month probationary period.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit:

• their Resume;
• the names of two referees, one of whom (ideally a supervisor) who can speak to their current work skills, and one of whom is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who can speak to the candidate’s ability to work with First Nations people; and
• a covering letter or statement, up to 3 pages, addressing each of the key (and desirable) attributes and qualifications for the role. Responses should be as specific as possible, taking into account the responsibilities of the position, identifying previous relevant experience and the systems, policies or procedures developed or implemented in gaining the experience, and the outcomes achieved by the candidate.

APPLY NOW -  CLOSING ON 2ND JUNE 2025.

For further information, please phone Janine or Tony on 08 89817431

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This position offers a unique opportunity to support Aboriginal Traditional Owners in the preservation and management of the natural and cultural heritage of the Cooper Basin region. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with suitable skills and experience and Non Aboriginal people who have had similar experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders organisations.