We work on invasive species issues across Australia. If you have a passion for protecting our native plants and animals get in touch.
About Us | Jobs
We have recently received a capacity building grant and we are expanding our operations. This is a unique opportunity to work for the Invasive Species Council to help tackle one of nature’s biggest threats.
The Invasive Species Council is seeking to appoint a dynamic, innovative and purpose-driven CEO to lead the organisation as it seeks to counter the ecological damage being wrought by invasive species in Australia.
Position: Chief Executive Officer
Reports to: Board
Basis: Full-time
Location: Eastern seaboard preferred.
Duration: Permanent role.
Salary range: A competitive package will be offered.
Direct reports: To be discussed.
The CEO is responsible for delivering the organisation’s mission and goals. The CEO reports to a board of up to 8 members and provides strategic leadership, direction and guidance for the organisation’s activities and programs.
The CEO provides national leadership to address Australia’s biodiversity and extinction crisis with a focus on invasive species. The desired candidate will have a delivery mindset and a proven capacity to engage a diverse set of partners and stakeholders, to grow influence and to lead change. They will oversee a dynamic suite of impactful science-based campaigns. The CEO will inspire and cultivate a new wave of recognition of the invasive species threat.
As the public face of the organisation, the CEO will be an exceptional communicator and an effective advocate against the threat to Australian biodiversity from invasive species. They will require a good understanding of the environmental and philanthropic sectors, have strong management and financial capabilities and an ability to develop and inspire teams.
The CEO leads a team of over 20 staff, working from locations throughout Australia, a small office in Katoomba and office-share arrangements in some capital cities. The full team meets in person twice a year.
a. Provide strategic leadership. Develop and deliver a strategic plan that aligns with the organisation’s vision, mission and goals.
b. Demonstrate and reinforce values and behaviours that inspire commitment, innovation and action.
a. Generate programs to inspire and mobilise the community.
b. Develop strong evidence-based arguments to fearlessly advocate.
c. Maintain effective media relations as a spokesperson for the Invasive Species Council.
d. Build the social licence to support strong biosecurity measures and enable effective invasive species control.
a. Initiate, develop and maintain effective relationships with key partners including conservation leaders, decision-makers, government, scientists, Indigenous communities, land managers, thought leaders and industry representatives.
b. Build and foster effective collaborations and alliances with strategic partners to educate, build power and achieve objectives.
a. Translate the strategic plan into yearly plans that ensure key objectives are monitored and met.
b. Oversee the organisational budget and ensure financial viability.
c. Ensure operational policies are in place and implemented ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, policies and guidelines.
d. Advise and keep the board informed on all governance, HR, performance, risk and other related matters. Participate in board deliberations.
e. Report performance, activities and issues in a systematic and timely fashion and implement the decisions of the board.
a. Lead and maintain an organisational culture that fosters the values of being advocates for nature, collaborative with First Australians, committed to science, fearless and persistent.
b. Ensure the recruitment, development and retention of talented staff; create a safe, positive, productive and inclusive work environment and ensure staff behaviour reflects the organisation’s values.
c. Maintain a performance culture with strong cross-organisational collaboration and active contribution of ideas.
d. Respect First Nations peoples and their cultures.
a. Provide leadership for effective fundraising and sustainable fundraising growth.
b. Build and maintain productive relationships with philanthropic trusts, major donors and individuals to generate donations, grants, bequests and attract supporters.
Please send a resume and a statement of suitability addressing each of the selection criteria to: recruitment@invasives.org.au. Applications that do not directly address each criterion will not be accepted.
ISC is an equal opportunity employer. People from diverse backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be able to work permanently in Australia, travel extensively and at times work after hours and on weekends. For a confidential discussion, please arrange this with president David Rickards on president@invasives.org.au. Do not send your application to this address.
Applications close: Applications close on Monday 27th January 2025 11.59pm (AEDT).
The Invasive Species Council is a non-government donor-funded organisation formed in 2002 that seeks better laws and policies to protect the Australian environment from invasive plants, animals and diseases. It was founded when a small group of dedicated individuals were inspired to action by Tim Low’s seminal work ‘Feral Future’.
Invasive species have been the main driver of environmental loss of Australia’s native animals since colonisation and remain one of the main threats to the future survival of all our unique wildlife on land and sea. Unless we take action on invasive species, work with others and speak out, Australia’s biodiversity crisis will only worsen.
The organisation values being committed to science, fearless and persistent and collaborative with first Australians.
Today, the Invasive Species Council is a highly influential voice across Australia, having achieved greater recognition of both the damage and danger of invasive species to the country’s unique biodiversity and natural ecosystems. After a period of rapid growth upon securing a major grant from the Ian Potter Foundation, we now aspire to further grow our capacity and impact to address the immense scale of the invasive species challenge.
This year, the Invasive Species Council is developing a new three-year strategic plan to further consolidate and growth its efforts. This process will be led by the incoming CEO.
The Invasive Species Council has a strong track-record of successfully interventions to address the environmental impacts from invasive species including:
Our 2022-2030 Strategic Plan can be found at invasives.org.au/about-us/strategic-plan and details about our work can be found at invasives.org.au.
Last updated: 18 December 2024.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and driven Community Organiser to mobilise volunteers and empower communities principally in New South Wales. You will do this by utilising your existing networks and connections and building meaningful grassroots power to hold decision-makers accountable and help protect nature from the damage caused by invasive species.
Position: Community Organiser (NSW)
Reports to: Advocacy Manager and Strategy Lead
Basis: 5 days per week
Location: NSW or ACT – work from home. Travel within NSW will be required.
Duration: 12 months, with extension possible depending on performance and funding.
Salary range: $75,000 – $85,000 per annum pro rata plus super, depending on skills and experience. Salary packaging, paid study or field work leave, plus extra Christmas/New Year leave are part of the package.
From backyard weed escapes to feral deer, cats and diseases like myrtle rust, invasive species are one of the biggest threats to biodiversity and the leading cause of animal extinction in Australia.
The Community Organiser position will play a central role in building the network of local people who are aware of the impact and willing to take action to drive change to address the damage caused by invasive species on the environment. You will engage people in New South Wales to participate in Invasive Species Council campaigns, with the potential to engage communities in the ACT, Victoria and South Australia as opportunities arise.
You will organise and mobilise volunteers for boots-on-the-ground events like community briefings, market stalls, MP visits, and snap actions. You will also connect, support and empower volunteer leaders in their communities. Some of this work will be delivered through building coalitions with partner organisations.
Download position description >>
Please send a resume with at least two referees and a statement explaining how you meet each of the selection criteria to: recruitment@invasives.org.au. Applications that do not directly address each criterion will not be accepted.
Contact Imogen Ebsworth on imogene@invasives.org.au or 0488 767 237 for further information about the role.
Applications close: 11:59 pm Sunday 2nd February 2025. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and driven Community Organiser to mobilise volunteers and empower communities in Queensland and northern NSW. You will do this by developing a network of community leaders to hold decision-makers accountable and help protect nature from the damage caused by invasive species.
Position: Community Organiser (Qld and Northern NSW)
Reports to: Advocacy Manager – Northern
Basis: 4 days per week
Location: Qld or northern NSW – work from home. Travel within Qld will be required.
Duration: 12 months, with extension possible depending on performance and funding.
Salary range: $75,000 – $85,000 per annum pro rata plus super, depending on skills and experience. Salary packaging, paid study or field work leave, plus extra Christmas/New Year leave are part of the package.
From fire ants to feral deer, Queensland experiences some of the worst from invasive species – one of the main causes of the state’s biodiversity and habitat loss.
Community organisers have a leadership role in developing networks of local people who are aware of the impact and willing to act to drive change to address the severe impact of invasive species on the environment. You will engage people in Queensland and northern New South Wales to develop Invasive Species Council campaigns, grow a supporter network and secure meaningful change.
You will organise and mobilise volunteers for boots-on-the-ground events like community briefings, market stalls, MP visits, and snap actions. You will also connect, support and empower volunteer leaders in their communities. Some of this work will be delivered through building coalitions with partner organisations. You will grow this supporter network using online digital campaigning, peer-to-peer, public presentations and events.
Download position description >>
Please send a resume with at least two referees and a statement explaining how you meet each of the selection criteria to: recruitment@invasives.org.au. Applications that do not directly address each criterion will not be accepted.
Contact Reece Pianta reecep@invasives.org.au for specific questions about the role.
Applications close: 11:59 pm Sunday 2nd February 2025. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
If you are in the Townsville area, please get in touch with our Townsville Yellow Crazy Ant Community Taskforce here to help tackle one of the world’s worst invasive species.
The Invasive Species Council (ISC) is seeking two suitably skilled board members.
The Invasive Species Council is seeking 2 board members to provide oversight and direction for the growth and advancement of this national environmental organisation.
To support the organisation’s recent rapid growth and address gaps in the board’s competencies, diversity, knowledge and skills, candidates would ideally have experience and skills in at least one of the following areas: fundraising, communication/marketing, ecological sciences, biosecurity and/or legal expertise.
We are seeking board members from diverse backgrounds, perspectives and locations. Therefore we encourage applicants from any location in Australia and candidates across the gender, ethnic and age spectrum and who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
The ISC board meets online quarterly, usually for 2 and a half hours in early evenings (subject to arrangements that suit board members) and attend an online AGM. The board also holds an annual face-to-face day-long planning meeting, usually in Melbourne or Sydney. Additional work may occur outside of meetings and within committees. We do try to have at least one meeting a year where we can all attend in person.
We will provide necessary travel and accommodation costs.
Key duties of the board members include:
As a member of the ISC Board, you share the following responsibilities with all board members:
1. Strategy and overall direction – establishing and reviewing strategic and operational plans that advance the organizations objectives.
2. Good governance – establishing policies/procedures and recording decisions and actions on matters concerning the organisation.
3. Management – oversight of the organisation via the CEO, ensuring that the organisation is properly administered and risks are managed and mitigated.
4. Legal – ensuring the organisation is incorporated, keeps proper records, and complies with any relevant legislation and the organisation’s constitution
5. Financial – ensuring that all finances are properly managed, that records are audited annually and that accountability requirements of funding providers are fulfilled. You will be expected to join our Public Fund Management Committee.
6. Evaluation – monitoring all activities by the organisation with feedback contributing to the continuous improvement in governance and service delivery.
As a member of the ISC Board it is expected that you:
Preferred candidates
In addition, to the gaps identified above, we are looking for someone with:
This is an unpaid position.
We are keen to identify 2 new board members with a view to joining the ISC Board as soon as possible.
Expression of Interest
If you’d like to express interest, then please send an email to president@invasives.org.au along with your resume and a brief cover letter explaining how your skills and experience would benefit the board and the organisation.
About the organisation
You will be joining the governing body of a dynamic team that advocates for nature, is committed to science, is fearless and persistent and is collaborative with First Australians.
The Invasive Species Council is a non-government donor-funded organisation formed in 2002 that seeks better laws and policies to protect the Australian environment from invasive plants, animals and diseases. Its structure is an incorporated association, registered as a charity with the ACNC.
Invasive species have been the main driver of environmental loss of Australia’s native animals since colonisation and remain one of the main threats to the future survival of all our unique wildlife on land and sea. Unless we take action, work with others and speak out, Australia’s biodiversity crisis will only worsen.
The Invasive Species Council has made numerous interventions to reduce the environmental impacts from invasive species. Over recent years we:
The ISC is managed day-to-day by a CEO in charge of a staff team that predominantly works remotely from home offices across Australia. Its annual budget is sourced from individual donors, trusts and foundations.
View our 2022-2030 Strategic Plan:
https://invasives.org.au/about-us/strategic-plan/ or visit the website for additional information: https://invasives.org.au/ and to view our Annual Report.
ISC is seeking an administrative volunteer to join the Operations Team in Katoomba. We’re in need of someone computer-confident and with an eye for detail. Primarily support will assist with donations and database management. However there likely be other ad hoc administrative tasks requested. The role is expected to be casual in nature, so hours may vary week by week depending on need, staff and volunteer availability.
Closing Date: Please apply as soon as possible.
Position: Katoomba Administrative Volunteer
Reports to: Admin Officer
Basis: Variable: approx 4-10 hours per week
Location: Katoomba
Duration: 3 months, with the potential for extension
Remuneration: None. This is an unpaid volunteer role.
If you are in the Townsville area, please get in touch with our Townsville Yellow Crazy Ant Community Taskforce here to help tackle one of the world’s worst invasive species.
The Invasive Species Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians throughout Australia and their connections to land and sea. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. The Invasive Species Council supports voting ‘YES’ for a Voice to Parliament.
Dear Project Team,
[YOUR PERSONALISED MESSAGE WILL APPEAR HERE.]
I support the amendment to the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan to allow our incredible National Parks staff to use aerial shooting as one method to rapidly reduce feral horse numbers. I want to see feral horse numbers urgently reduced in order to save the national park and our native wildlife that live there.
The current approach is not solving the problem. Feral horse numbers have rapidly increased in Kosciuszko National Park to around 18,000, a 30% jump in just the past 2 years. With the population so high, thousands of feral horses need to be removed annually to reduce numbers and stop our National Park becoming a horse paddock. Aerial shooting, undertaken humanely and safely by professionals using standard protocols, is the only way this can happen.
The government’s own management plan for feral horses states that ‘if undertaken in accordance with best practice, aerial shooting can have the lowest negative animal welfare impacts of all lethal control methods’.
This humane and effective practice is already used across Australia to manage hundreds of thousands of feral animals like horses, deer, pigs, and goats.
Trapping and rehoming of feral horses has been used in Kosciuszko National Park for well over a decade but has consistently failed to reduce the population, has delayed meaningful action and is expensive. There are too many feral horses in the Alps and not enough demand for rehoming for it to be relied upon for the reduction of the population.
Fertility control as a management tool is only effective for a small, geographically isolated, and accessible population of feral horses where the management outcome sought is to maintain the population at its current size. It is not a viable option to reduce the large and growing feral horse population in the vast and rugged terrain of Kosciuszko National Park.
Feral horses are trashing and trampling our sensitive alpine ecosystems and streams, causing the decline and extinction of native animals. The federal government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee has stated that feral horses ‘may be the crucial factor that causes final extinction’ for 12 alpine species.
I recognise the sad reality that urgent and humane measures are necessary to urgently remove the horses or they will destroy the Snowies and the native wildlife that call the mountains home. I support a healthy national park where native species like the Corroboree Frog and Mountain Pygmy Possum can thrive.
Dear Project Team,
[YOUR PERSONALISED MESSAGE WILL APPEAR HERE.]
I support the amendment to the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan to allow our incredible National Parks staff to use aerial shooting as one method to rapidly reduce feral horse numbers. I want to see feral horse numbers urgently reduced in order to save the national park and our native wildlife that live there.
The current approach is not solving the problem. Feral horse numbers have rapidly increased in Kosciuszko National Park to around 18,000, a 30% jump in just the past 2 years. With the population so high, thousands of feral horses need to be removed annually to reduce numbers and stop our National Park becoming a horse paddock. Aerial shooting, undertaken humanely and safely by professionals using standard protocols, is the only way this can happen.
The government’s own management plan for feral horses states that ‘if undertaken in accordance with best practice, aerial shooting can have the lowest negative animal welfare impacts of all lethal control methods’.
This humane and effective practice is already used across Australia to manage hundreds of thousands of feral animals like horses, deer, pigs, and goats.
Trapping and rehoming of feral horses has been used in Kosciuszko National Park for well over a decade but has consistently failed to reduce the population, has delayed meaningful action and is expensive. There are too many feral horses in the Alps and not enough demand for rehoming for it to be relied upon for the reduction of the population.
Fertility control as a management tool is only effective for a small, geographically isolated, and accessible population of feral horses where the management outcome sought is to maintain the population at its current size. It is not a viable option to reduce the large and growing feral horse population in the vast and rugged terrain of Kosciuszko National Park.
Feral horses are trashing and trampling our sensitive alpine ecosystems and streams, causing the decline and extinction of native animals. The federal government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee has stated that feral horses ‘may be the crucial factor that causes final extinction’ for 12 alpine species.
I recognise the sad reality that urgent and humane measures are necessary to urgently remove the horses or they will destroy the Snowies and the native wildlife that call the mountains home. I support a healthy national park where native species like the Corroboree Frog and Mountain Pygmy Possum can thrive.
