Associate Director - Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program

Position Status: Initial period of up to 12 months
Position Type: Non-Ongoing
Location: Remote 
Closing Date: 11pm on 24 October 2025 
Hours: 0.1 FTE
Remuneration: $71.09/hr – up to 45 days annually
  
Affirmative Measure
The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. This vacancy is only available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. 

Overview
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has established interim governance arrangements to support delivery of the Murray—Darling Basin Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program. The interim governance arrangement supports the purchase of $100 million of water entitlements to increase water ownership for First Nations Peoples in the Murray—Darling Basin.

The interim governance functions include an Advisory Group and Directorate made up of Basin First Nations Peoples. These functions are essential for informed decision-making regarding procuring and managing water entitlements. The Advisory Group consists of up to nine diverse members, including Elders, emerging leaders, and jurisdictional representatives, ensuring gender and regional balance from both the northern and southern Basin. They help develop policies and protocols to support the Directorate's decisions until the water portfolio and remaining funds are transferred to a permanent water holding mechanism. Overall, this governance structure guides water entitlement decisions in the best interests of Basin First Nations.
 
The Role
We are seeking two Associate Directors to join the Directorate in emerging leadership roles. These positions are an opportunity to foster intergenerational leadership, knowledge transfer and capability development. They will be mentored and supported by the Directorate to contribute to high-level policy and operational discussions relating to water purchasing, trade and governance. Together with the Directorate they will support commercial water decisions in accordance with the policies established by the advisory group.
  
Two positions are available for the Associate Directorate roles –one representing the northern Basin and one representing the southern Basin. Associate directors will be appointed for a 12-month period, with extension options.
  
In your role, you will be required to:
Support the:

• Directorate in overseeing the strategic direction of the program in line with Basin First Nations’ expectations and aspirations.
• oversight of the risk management strategy to ensure effective governance and accountability.
• intergenerational knowledge transfer across the Basin.

Contribute to:

• Directorate meetings, informing policy and operational discussions.
• financial and procurement processes, including tender documentation, contracts, and budgets.
• to the strategic and operational performance of the program by aligning actions with established policies, protocols, and principles.

Observe and learn:

• decision-making processes for water purchasing and temporary trade.
• from the Directorate through mentored, hands-on experience as part of a capability-building approach.

Complete:

• Water market training and induction requirements.
• the Australian Institute of Company Directors – Foundations of Directorship course (unless undertaken within the past 8 years).

Develop and maintain:

• effective working relationships with the Advisory Group and relevant areas of the department to make informed, collaborative decisions.

Work and collaborate:

• with departmental program advisors to achieve balanced and informed decisions in the best interest of Basin First Nations Peoples.

Demonstrate and exemplify:

• a high level of resilience, responsibility, accountability, and integrity in all activities.

Travel and engage

• as required to attend meetings and face-to-face consultations to strengthen engagement and understanding.

  
Key Skills and Qualifications
In addition to being accepted as a Traditional Owner in the Basin, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be between 25-40 years of age.
• Be familiar with the Murray—Darling Basin Plan, the Water Act 2007 (Cth) and broader water issues impacting First Nations Peoples in the Basin. 
• Have traditional and/or cultural ecological knowledge, cultural values, and values associated with water.

While not essential, experience, knowledge, or qualifications within law or customary lore, demonstrating a solid foundation in legal frameworks and traditional knowledge systems would be beneficial.


How to Apply

To apply, you will need to provide the following:

A statement of claims (limited to 1-2 pages), addressing the skills and capabilities, with a specific reference to the following criteria: 

• Identification and acceptance as a First Nations person with place-based knowledge of the Basin. 
• Experience navigating the water market, demonstrating expertise in procuring water entitlements, trading, and leasing allocations. 
• Experience in board and governance, highlighting leadership skills, strategic decision-making, governance, risk management, and compliance. 
• Experience in financial and investment in water related matters. 
• Comprehensive understanding of the legislative framework of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan and the Water Act 2007 (Cth). 

Attach your current resume/CV and contact details of two referees.  
  
Submit your application via this job portal or directly to recruitment.gps@firstgrade.com.au by 11pm (AEST) on Friday 24 October 2025.
  
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview with the independent Indigenous recruitment agency, two Australian Government First Nations senior executive staff.
  
Further Information
For further information, including to obtain a copy of the formal position description, the Advisory Group Terms of Reference, or further information on the Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program, please contact Dan Wilson or Debra Kightley at First Grade Recruitment on recruitment.gps@firstgrade.com.au or visit https://www.dcceew.gov.au/water/policy/first-nations/aboriginal-water-entitlements-program/interim-governance