Program Manager in Canberra

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Role highlights:

• Build and lead a nationally significant Indigenous biodiversity data program from the ground up.
• Partner with Indigenous ranger groups and communities to create meaningful, lasting impact.
• Shape the future of Indigenous-led biodiversity data, digital capability and research infrastructure.

About CSIRO:

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Join CSIRO’s Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) to establish and lead a new national program strengthening the digital capabilities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rangers and Knowledge Holders.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Leading program planning, governance and delivery to ensure all program outputs, milestones, budgets, and performance measures are achieved in accordance with NCRIS funding requirements and agreed project plans.
• Managing stakeholder and partner relationships across CSIRO, ALA, TERN, Curtin University, government agencies, Indigenous ranger groups, and other participating organisations to support effective collaboration and program outcomes.
• Supporting the Program Coordinator to design community engagement and co-design activities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to ensure program activities are culturally appropriate, community-led, and aligned with Indigenous Data Sovereignty and CARE principles.
• Overseeing the delivery of digital infrastructure enhancements, including platform upgrades, data management capabilities, mapping tools, and biodiversity data services, to improve the accessibility and usability of Indigenous ranger-collected data.
• Monitoring program finances, risks, issues, and dependencies, implement mitigation strategies, and provide regular reporting to governance bodies, funding agencies, and senior management.
• Working with the Program Coordinator to design and carry out training, capability-building and knowledge-sharing initiatives that strengthen the skills of Indigenous rangers and improve participation in national biodiversity and research infrastructure systems.

Location and office arrangements: Perth (Boorloo), WA or Canberra (Ngunnawal), ACT preferred; other locations may be considered on a case-by-case basis; hybrid working options available.

Salary: AU$135k – AU$158k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation.

Tenure & work schedule: Specified term until 30 June 2029; Full time preferred; Options for part-time and flexible work arrangements can be discussed based on needs of role and individual circumstances.

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• Demonstrated cultural capability grounded in lived experience as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, with the ability to work respectfully across diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural contexts, communities and knowledge systems.
• Strong Indigenous community connection and credibility along with cultural authority as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
• Tertiary qualifications in Science, Biodiversity or Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management or other relevant field / or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with Indigenous stakeholders, in the context of biodiversity monitoring, natural resources management, or biodiversity information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, engage and build support among diverse stakeholders, including senior leaders, partners, community representatives and government agencies.
• Demonstrated experience managing programs or projects across complex, multi-stakeholder and multi-organisational environments, including planning, coordination, delivery, monitoring and reporting on outcomes.
• Demonstrated understanding of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Data Governance, including the CARE Principles and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), and experience supporting community authority and decision-making regarding the collection, management, access, use and sharing of Indigenous knowledge and data.

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. Please contact Cristina O’Brien via email at cristina.obrien@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements: Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Child safety: CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs.