Grants Specialist in Sydney

Position can be fully remote, based out of Council's Walgett or Lightning Ridge offices, or a hybrid arrangement. Annual salary between $88,226 and $119,282 depending on skills and experience. Generous benefits including 5 weeks annual leave, 5 days wellness and wellbeing leave per annum (MyLeave), and long service after 5 years.

About the role:

Walgett Shire Council is seeking an experienced fulltime (35 hours per week) Grants Specialist to play a critical role in identifying, securing, and managing grant funding to support Council's strategic and operational priorities. This role is responsible for the full lifecycle of grants - from research and writing applications, to managing grant agreements, ensuring compliance, acquittals, and milestone reporting.

This is impactful work. As a remote, regional Council with a low ratepayer base, Walgett Shire Council is heavily grant-dependent in order to provide essential services and facilities to local communities. The Shire area supports valuable agricultural, mining and tourism ventures, as well as the maintenance of a unique way of life for a diverse, resourceful and immensely deserving local population.

The position works across the Council to identify funding opportunities, develop compelling proposals, and monitor grant performance to ensure successful delivery and reporting. The role is practical and delivery focused, requiring the ability to quickly comprehend complex project information, work to tight deadlines, and produce clear, persuasive and accurate documentation. The Grants Specialist also provides strategic advice on grant alignment to budget and program goals and supports long-term planning for projects.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working across multiple projects, can operate with a high level of autonomy, and can add immediate value by strengthening Council's funding pipeline and ensuring our reporting obligations are met when workloads increase. While the position is offered on a fully remote basis, the expectation is that Grants Specialist will attend periodic onsite days in Walgett for planning, relationship building and project context, as required.

About you:

• You are a capable and reliable grants professional who can deliver outcomes quickly and to a high standard.
• Demonstrated experience preparing successful grant or funding submissions in local government, government, not-for-profit, or other complex organisational environments.
• Strong understanding of government funding programs, eligibility requirements, and grant management obligations (including agreements, milestones and acquittals).
• Excellent writing, editing and research skills, with the ability to produce well structured, accurate submissions under tight timeframes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to liaise professionally with internal project owners and external funding bodies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (particularly Word, Excel, Teams and SharePoint), with experience using grant registers or project tracking systems being beneficial.
• The ability to work flexibly and autonomously, provided you reliably meet grant deadlines and agreed deliverables.

At Walgett Shire Council, we understand that not every candidate will meet every criterion, and that is perfectly fine—your passion and potential matter most to us.

What we offer:

• Annual salary of between $88,225 to $119,282, depending on your skills and experience.
• Professional development opportunities to support your growth and success.
• Employee Assistance Program available to support you and your family through all life's challenges.
• Exceptional working conditions within a family-friendly and supportive environment.
• Generous leave entitlements to support work-life balance.

About us:

Walgett Shire Council serves a large, diverse and unique region in northwestern New South Wales. We provide a broad range of services across multiple communities and are committed to improving service delivery, strengthening long term sustainability and delivering practical outcomes for our residents.

At Walgett Shire Council, our people make a real difference. We offer varied and meaningful work, the opportunity to contribute across a complex organisation, and the chance to be part of a Council that is actively improving how it operates. We are guided by our core values of Respect, Integrity, Ethical Conduct, Courage, Honesty, Accountability and Responsibility.

This is an opportunity to join an organisation where the work is varied, the challenges are real, and the right person can make a genuine impact.

Council reserves the right to close, withdraw or extend vacancies without prior notice. Walgett Shire Council is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We encourage applications from people with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse persons, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Walgett Shire Council proudly serves a diverse and unique region in the heart of outback New South Wales. Covering over 22,000 square kilometres, the Shire includes the towns of Walgett, Lightning Ridge, and Collarenebri, along with the villages of Carinda, Cumborah, Rowena, and Burren Junction, as well as expansive rural areas. With a population of over 7,000, the Shire supports key industries such as agriculture, grazing, grain handling, opal mining, and tourism.

Nestled at the junction of the Namoi and Barwon Rivers, Walgett is rich in history and natural beauty. Once a bustling paddle-steamer port, it is now the northern gateway to the iconic Darling River Run, offering breathtaking landscapes and a deep connection to Australia's heritage.

Just an hour north, Lightning Ridge is famed for its vibrant opal mining culture and distinctive outback charm. Whether it is fossicking for opals, exploring underground art galleries, soaking in naturally heated artesian springs, or enjoying the tranquillity of river fishing, the region offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

At Walgett Shire Council, we are rebuilding with a people-first culture. Safety, our people, and service to the community are at the core of everything we do. We are looking for passionate and committed professionals who are aligned with our core values: Respect, Integrity, Ethical Conduct, Courage, Honesty, Accountability, and Responsibility.