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Senior Ranger, Northern Gulf


Northern Parks & Forests Regional Operations; Management & Operations; Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships; Cairns / Mareeba / Atherton

Step into a leadership role like no other! This position manages three diverse ranger teams across the Northern Gulf, covering iconic parks like Chillagoe-Mungana Caves, Staaten River, and Olkola (CYPAL). With 15 staff and a multi-tenure estate, you'll drive strategic outcomes across fire, pest, estate, asset and visitor management. You'll lead complex projects, oversee budgets, and build strong relationships with Traditional Owners and remote communities. Based in Atherton, Mareeba or Cairns, this role is perfect for a passionate, experienced leader who thrives in diverse landscapes and dynamic teams. If you believe in “best job, best workplace,” this is your chance to live it

Job details

Position status Fixed Term Temporary
Position type Flexible full-time
Occupational group Primary Industry & Environment
Classification AO5
Workplace Location North West Qld,Cairns region,Far North Qld
Job ad reference QLD/649167/25
Closing date 05-Aug-2025
Job duration Until 02 July 2026 with with possible extension
Contact person Miki Bradley
Contact details Ph: 0429 565 763
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Senior Ranger, Northern Gulf
Location: Atherton, Mareeba or Cairns |Temporary - Full-Time | Classification: AO5
Department: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships (QPWS&P)
Lead bold, remote conservation work where Queensland's wild heart beats strongest.

Are you ready to lead a team across one of Queensland's most remote, rugged, and breathtaking regions? We're looking for a passionate, proactive, and people-focused Ranger in Charge to manage operations across the Northern Gulf Management Unit—a role that blends boots-on-the-ground leadership with high-level planning, cultural engagement and strategic delivery.

This isn't just a job. It's your chance to shape how some of Queensland's most spectacular national parks are protected, restored, and shared with future generations.

The role:
You'll lead three multidisciplinary ranger teams based in Chillagoe, Elgoy and Mareeba, made up of 15 skilled staff who deliver vital programs across one of the state's most varied protected area estates. This includes a mix of National Parks (CYPAL), Conservation Parks, State Forests, and Resource Reserves, with landscapes that span sandstone bluffs, limestone cave systems, wetlands, cultural sites and savannahs teeming with life.

Just a few of the iconic parks:
• Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park.
• Staaten River National Park.
• Olkola National Park (CYPAL).
• Davies Creek, Hann Tableland & Palmer River Resource Reserve.

Your job? Keep them thriving. Through fire, floods, droughts, tourism peaks, pest incursions and everything in between.

Your impact:
As Ranger in Charge, you'll develop and drive strategic work programs across five key operational areas:
- Fire management.
- Pest and weed control.
- Estate and cultural heritage protection.
- Visitor infrastructure and safety.
- Assets and operational logistics.

You'll lead from the front—planning operations, mentoring your team, managing budgets and collaborating with Traditional Owners and stakeholders to deliver shared goals for Country. You'll be the problem-solver, negotiator, project lead and go-to person for complex decisions in remote and challenging environments.

Partnership is key:
Your role also includes building strong, respectful relationships with Traditional Owner groups, especially in jointly managed parks like Olkola National Park (CYPAL). Experience working alongside Indigenous partners to deliver real outcomes on Country is highly desirable—and your leadership will play a vital role in continuing to grow these partnerships.

We're looking for:
• Is a confident, capable leader with experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Has a solid grounding in at least two core areas of park operations (fire, pests, visitor, estate, assets).
• Understands the complexity and opportunity of working across multi-tenure protected areas.
• Thrives in remote settings and loves leading in the outdoors.
• Brings cultural awareness and the ability to build lasting relationships with First Nations groups.
• Lives the QPWS&P values and believes in creating a “best job, best workplace” culture.
• Is willing to travel, work flexibly, and take on a challenge that matters.

Why this role matters—and why it's right for you:
This is one of Queensland's most exciting and influential ranger leadership roles.
You'll be at the helm of protecting some of our most remarkable landscapes while supporting cultural heritage, biodiversity, and meaningful on-Country partnerships.
You'll work with purpose, lead with passion, and leave a legacy.
And let's be honest—how many people get to say their “office” includes ancient cave systems, crocodile rivers, and world-class parkland?

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Please ensure you download all attachments and follow the instructions on how to apply.

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Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0)
Last updated
2 May 2023

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