Senior Ranger – Tablelands
Ready to lead, protect and inspire? The Senior Ranger is a dynamic, primarily office based leadership role at the heart of managing some of Queensland’s most loved parks and reserves. You’ll lead a geographically dispersed team, set clear priorities, allocate resources, and turn strategy into action while tracking outcomes that really matter. From shaping local procedures to tackling complex cultural and environmental challenges, you’ll play a key role in safeguarding landscapes that include parts of the World Heritage–listed Wet Tropics. No two days are the same. You’ll oversee emergency and incident response in busy, high-visitation recreation areas, manage impacts from both nature and people, and help deliver safe, memorable visitor experiences. The role spans the Tinaroo, Mareeba and Lake Eacham Management Units—with an exciting expansion on the horizon

Job details

Senior Ranger - AO5 - Tablelands Management Area

Love leadership, big-picture thinking and protecting incredible places? This is your chance to step into a senior role where strategy meets impact—and no two days are ever the same.

As a Senior Ranger, you'll be the driving force behind the management of the Tablelands Management Area, leading a geographically dispersed team that looks after some of Queensland's most spectacular and heavily visited parks and reserves. While the role is primarily office based, the decisions you make will shape what happens on the ground—setting priorities, allocating resources, tracking outcomes and turning ideas into practical, on-the-ground results.

You'll be at the centre of planning and problem-solving, developing local strategies, procedures and practices that support conservation, visitor safety and sustainable recreation. A key part of the role is providing expert advice on cultural and environmental matters, including assessing and managing the impacts of natural events and human activity across parks and conservation reserves. Some of these areas fall within the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics, making this a role with real responsibility and global significance.

If you thrive under pressure, you'll feel right at home. Emergency and incident response management is a core feature of the position, with critical public incidents common in the region's popular recreation areas. You'll lead calmly and confidently, ensuring strong coordination, clear decision-making and positive outcomes for visitors, staff and the environment.

The Tablelands Management Area currently includes the Tinaroo, Mareeba and Lake Eacham Management Units, with an exciting expansion planned in the near future. With high visitor numbers year-round, there is a strong focus on infrastructure development and maintenance, natural and cultural resource management, and positive public contact across the QPWS estate. This includes a diverse mix of Forest Reserves, State Forests, Conservation Parks and National Parks—each with its own challenges and opportunities.

Beyond day-to-day leadership, you'll guide project management and reporting, provide enforcement and compliance leadership, and work closely with public contact teams to deliver safe, memorable visitor experiences. Collaboration is key, and you'll build strong relationships with local conservation groups, community stakeholders and First Nations corporations to support shared land management and conservation goals.

Rangers play a vital role in ensuring Queensland's parks, forests and reserves are protected, accessible and valued by all Queenslanders. Working in partnership with communities and stakeholders, Rangers contribute to land management, recreation and conservation outcomes across protected areas managed under legislation including the Nature Conservation Act 1992, Recreation Areas Management Act 2006, Marine Parks Act 2004, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and Forestry Act 1959.

Depending on operational needs, Rangers may work across five focus areas: Pest Management, Fire Management, Estate Management, Visitor Management, and Assets and Safety. This variety keeps the work fresh, challenging and rewarding, with opportunities to apply a wide range of skills in meaningful ways.

If you're ready to lead with purpose, protect remarkable places and make a lasting difference, this is the role for you.

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.

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• Atherton Mareeba Tinaroo and Lake Eacham - Working in Guide (PDF, 213KB)
  
  
  678003 26 Role Description (Word, 620KB)