Introduction:
About AWC
AWC is a pragmatic global conservation leader, restoring landscapes and providing hope for Australian wildlife. Guided by science, AWC delivers measurable conservation impacts at scale to secure the future of our most endangered species.
At AWC we are inspired by the unparalleled richness of Australia’s wildlife and we are united by our determination to protect its unique animals and landscapes. It is our mission to effectively conserve all Australian wildlife and habitats and our vision is for a world where Australia’s biodiversity is valued and effectively conserved by an engaged community.
The delivery of AWC’s mission is highly reliant on all AWC working collaboratively with each other as a cohesive, engaged, collaborative, high performing group guided by strong, effective leaders.
AWC’s work is guided by the following values. At AWC, we are:
- Accountable – taking ownership of our actions and outcomes
- Informed – working together to acquire and apply evidence, knowledge and experience
- Respectful – demonstrating care, recognition and integrity
- Dedicated – committed to delivering effective outcomes, with resilience and tenacity
- Innovative – applying creative thinking for effective solutions
- Sustainable – delivering long-term financial and ecological viability.
About the Role
The Senior Visitation Specialist plays a critical leadership role in advancing AWC’s mission through the strategic goal of connecting people to nature. You will lead the strategic development and management of nature-based visitation experiences and partnerships across AWC sanctuaries and operations.
Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer and working closely across the Philanthropy division and all parts of AWC, this role is responsible for:
- identifying and assessing opportunities for deeper visitation experiences within AWC’s sanctuary network,
- Support current visitor programs across the sanctuary and partner network, ensuring consistency of experience, program, and branding.
- seeking to identify carefully selected partners to deliver conservation-aligned visitation experiences that support AWC’s values, reputation, and long-term sustainability.
Partnerships are designed to provide a pipeline for new philanthropic support from partners and their customers/visitors.
The role will undertake a strategic assessment of AWC’s current visitation, engagement, and partnership ecosystem, identifying opportunities to strengthen infrastructure, enhance visitor pathways, increase audience reach, and maximise long-term conservation and philanthropic outcomes. This role is expected to think entrepreneurially and strategically about how AWC can leverage its sanctuary network, brand, partnerships, and conservation assets to create scalable, mission-aligned engagement opportunities.
Critical Competencies
- Partnership development and management: Proven ability to develop, negotiate and manage complex partnerships.
- Strategic judgement: Strong strategic judgement, with demonstrated ability to balance conservation outcomes, risk and commercial considerations.
- Stakeholder engagement and relationship management: High-level stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
- Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Scalable engagement opportunities: Demonstrated ability to identify scalable engagement opportunities that balance conservation integrity, audience growth and commercial/philanthropic sustainability.
- Continuous improvement: A practical improvement mindset, identifying recurring process issues and translating these into useful checklists, guidance, training and workflow improvements. .
- Professional working relationships: demonstrated experience working respectfully and professionally with others, including in diverse, remote or high risk environments
- Conservation commitment: A genuine interest in AWC's conservation purpose and willingness to work collaboratively in support of that purpose
Experience
- Significant senior experience in nature-based visitation, sustainable tourism, and conservation partnerships.
- Experience managing the commercial aspects of a tourism business including budget management, sales & marketing, staff selection, and training etc.
- 7+ years’ experience in senior partnership, visitation, or related leadership roles
Qualifications
- Tertiary qualifications in tourism, conservation, business, partnerships, or a related field is preferred.
Licenses, Certificates and/or Training:
- Legal right to work in Australia.
- Current driver’s licence; remote and off-road experience desirable
PLEASE NOTE: This role is available to candidates located Australia-wide.
To view the detailed position description for this role, click here: Senior Visitation Specialist
Join our Journey
Take the leap and start your next adventure with the AWC! AWC reserves the right to start screening applicants and interviewing throughout the recruitment process.
Initial enquiries: [email protected]
Applications: To submit an application, click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts to complete an online application form. Your application must include CV and covering letter, briefly addressing the critical competencies listed in the detailed job description attachment.
Please note:
- Applicants must be an Australian citizen/permanent resident or have a suitable visa in place in order to apply. Sponsorship is not available.
- Applicants will undergo relevant pre-employment checks, which may include a national police clearance, online medical and a values-based assessment. Please note that the cost of the police check is the responsibility of the applicant.
- If you apply for this role, AWC will include you in its ongoing updates and communications about its events, activities and fundraising initiatives. You may opt out of these communications at any time.
- Any application submitted to AWC will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available at www.australianwildlife.org/privacy-policy. By providing us with your contact details, you consent to receive communications and direct educational material will remain current until you advise us otherwise.
AWC is a welcoming and inclusive organisation that invites individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as those who identify as First Nations and Torres Strait Islander, individuals with disabilities, the LGBTIQA+ community, neurodivergent individuals, and those from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, to apply for the opportunity. AWC values and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable to be themselves, and where a range of perspectives, cultures, and voices are respected and recognised as a key part to the success of AWC. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must also have the right to live and work in Australia.
