Permissions Compliance Officer
APS5

Townsville
Full-time; Non-ongoing to 30 June 2026
Applications close 11:59pm AEST, Sunday 8 February 2026

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the Reef Authority) is a Commonwealth non-corporate entity, and a statutory agency established by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Marine Park Act), reporting to the Minister for the Environment and Water. Our objective is the long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community through the care and development of the Marine Park.

Managing a reef roughly the size of Italy demands many skills and talents, so you don't have to be a marine biologist to contribute to our mission. From finance to marketing roles, we have a team almost as diverse as the ecosystem we protect. Our commitment and dedication to the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian public have a long-lasting impact, and we are looking for individuals who can bring their unique skills, experience, and knowledge to our high-performing and inclusive organisation.

The Position

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority manages the assessment and compliance with Marine Park permissions which are required under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003. Permissions are required for a variety of commercial, tourism, research, education and other activities performed within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

This position is responsible for assisting in the management and delivery of the Marine Parks permission compliance program and supporting the management of compliance with Environmental Management Charge obligations. The position works closely with internal compliance and application assessment teams, external government agencies, and the tourism and reef research industries to support positive compliance outcomes.

The position is responsible for the management of reef-wide desktop and field audits across all Marine Park permission types, preparation of official correspondence such as advisory letters and audit reports, researching and analysing reports of non-compliance, and exercising delegations and inspector powers relating to permit compliance. The position also assists in the review and development of strategies for monitoring permitted activities and the development and review of policy and procedures for permissions compliance.

About You

• You effectively manage competing priorities and you demonstrate attention to detail in your work.
• You are an excellent communicator in both written and verbal contexts.
• You are proficient in the use and management of databases and other information management systems.
• You utilise critical thinking skills and are a great problem solver.
• You are innovative and able to identify and champion change.
• You enjoy working as part of a team and support others with guidance and quality assurance.
• You preferably have a demonstrated knowledge of environmental compliance and enforcement strategies or in the interpretation of legislation.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake regulatory compliance requiring the research, interpretation and application of relevant Commonwealth legislation, policy, procedures and guidelines related to the Marine Park.
• Lead desktop and field audits of permitted Marine Park activities and, where appropriate, take monitoring and enforcement action in line with procedures, delegations, and Marine Park inspector powers.
• Under guidance from the Permits Compliance Manager, assist with post-permit requirements and EMC compliance processes including providing advice and education to permit holders, preparation of official correspondence such as advisory letters, administration, and record keeping.
• Contribute to the recording, collation and presentation of compliance statistics as required.
• Develop and support continual improvement of processes and procedures towards best practice regulatory compliance.
• Engage and consult effectively with internal and external stakeholders and represent the Reef Authority as required. This includes supporting and mentoring team members and training others to perform permissions compliance functions.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Georgia Hodgson, A/Compliance Officer, (07) 4750 0***

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Knowledge of the multiple uses of, and the management framework for, the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
• Current Marine Parks Inspector; compliance operations experience; or field or desktop compliance experience.
• Qualifications (or equivalent experience) in regulatory compliance e.g. Certificate IV in Government Investigations or similar, or environmental, marine science or natural resource management.

To be eligible for employment candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of application.

The position requires a Baseline security clearance. Successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

The successful candidate will be willing to provide identity documents and undergo an identity pre-employment check through a Document Verification Service.

How to apply

Please ensure you read the instructions below and on the Position Description carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.

You will be required to prepare a response document (“pitch”) in MSWord or PDF format using standard margins and size 11 Arial font.

Please prepare a ‘pitch’, as outlined in the Position Description, in relation to the advertised role, outlining:

• how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities would enable you to perform the duties and meet the technical and behavioural capabilities of the role.

• any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

• how you meet the eligibility requirements and qualifications for the position.

When crafting your response, we encourage you to review ‘Cracking the Code’ and the relevant Australian Public Service Work Level Standards which can be found on the Australian Public Service Commission website: www.apsc.gov.au.

Please complete your application online and provide:

• your ‘pitch’ (as described above and in the position description).
• proof of Australian citizenship (an Australian Passport or Australian Birth Certificate)
• a current curriculum vitae (resume)

Applicants are advised to read further information provided on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Careers website.

PLEASE NOTE: - The panel may not consider additional information such as a cover letter or content exceeding the page limit.

Notes

• The current position is non-ongoing however through this process may create a merit pool to fill similar ongoing and non-ongoing positions that become available within the next 18 months.
• We do not accept unsolicited résumés from recruitment agencies.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability

Eligibility

Employment with the Reef Authority is subject to:

• Conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999.
• Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) granting a security clearance at the required level.
• Evidence of citizenship status.
• Evidence of qualifications required of the role.
• Evidence of a completed national police-check with no risks identified by the Reef Authority.
• The CEO of the Reef Authority, or their Delegate, approving a Notice of Engagement.
• The Australian Government Security Clearance Application Guide Book provides information on minimum eligibility requirements for holding a security clearance at the required level. Please ensure that you are able to provide the necessary documents if you apply for the position. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the AGSVA website.