Work. Come and join Sunwater as a Cultural Heritage Specialist in this 12 month fixed term opportunity (with the possibility of extension), where you will provide advice and hands on support for water infrastructure projects (pre construction phase) and ensure compliance with the requirements of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (Act) and duty of care guidelines to facilitate the development of long term working relationships with First Nations People aligned with the intent of Sunwater’s First Nations Commitment Statement.  In addition, you will:

• Support the project, including owners and alliance teams, to identify key issues, risks and opportunities for engagement with Traditional Owners on matters of native title and cultural heritage and advise on appropriate strategies to manage risks and realise opportunities for all parties.
• Work closely with Traditional Owners to understand their needs and requirements.
• Ensure communications between the project and the wider business, is in line with best practice and supported by appropriate approved processes, and protocols.
• Participate in the development and implementation cultural heritage management plans/agreements, in collaboration with the project and Sunwater legal, property and stakeholder teams and work with the project team to coordinate cultural heritage inspections. 
• Manage procurement processes to establish Traditional Owners organisations and consultants as vendors and co-ordinate development and tracking of project budgets for cultural heritage and agreement making activities.  

Please note that due to the nature of this role, there may be some travel involved.

We are seeking an experienced professional with 5+ years experience in a relevant field with tertiary qualifications and experience with engagement and management of Cultural Heritage matters, ideally for complex infrastructure projects.  You will have highly developed problem solving skills and knowledge and understanding of the regulatory framework that applies for cultural heritage management and agreement making. In addition, you will have the following:-

• Negotiation Skills – Highly developed skills in negotiation of cultural heritage agreements, decision-making and conflict resolution.
• Effective Communication Skills – Highly developed written communication skills with demonstrated ability to analyse data, review content and deliver presentations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Engagement Skills – Ability to build relationships with external stakeholders including Traditional Owners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and government agencies.

This is a 12-month fixed term opportunity, based at our Fortitude Valley office. At Sunwater, we have a genuine emphasis on work/life balance and to ensure you are well-rewarded for your dedication and hard work, this role offers an attractive salary, plus 12.75% superannuation and 17% leave loading.

Water - Imagine a career where your work truly matters, where you are part of a team that values you and your contributions. At Sunwater, you will bring life’s most essential resource to over 5,000 agriculture, urban and industrial customers, helping to sustain communities and drive water for prosperity across regional Queensland. We share the values of these communities — starting with caring about our people. Engage in fascinating work that is constantly evolving, allowing you to grow and shape a successful career and develop unique skills and experience in an industry brimming with opportunity.

Life - At Sunwater, we believe our employees are our greatest asset, and we are committed to providing the support, resources, and benefits that you need to thrive. That's why we offer a range of attractive benefits designed to help you bring your best every day, including:

• My benefits: Access employee benefits and discounts hosted by Reward Gateway
• My wellbeing: Prioritise your wellbeing with our comprehensive health and wellness offerings and programs
• My time: Enjoy flexible working arrangements and the ability to purchase up to 4 additional weeks of leave, ensuring you can tailor your work to fit your lifestyle
• My growth: We prioritise your professional growth with career development programs, study assistance, support for professional memberships, and structured early career pathways to help you build a rewarding and successful career.

Now is the perfect time to join Sunwater and take advantage of the boundless opportunities for your career today and in the future.  We are a diverse team and proud of the unique journeys and stories each of us brings. As we continue to grow, we need more diverse backgrounds and perspectives than ever before. We are committed to a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment. If you require any accommodations, please let us know so we can ensure you can fully participate in our recruitment experience, which includes reference verification, psychometric testing, background checks and a pre-employment medical evaluation to ensure the best fit for our team.

Sunwater acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of this country and Traditional Custodians of the land and water we rely on. We respect and value their continued sacred connection to Country, including the diverse, rich traditions, languages and customs that are the longest living in the world.  We acknowledge their resilience in the face of significant and ongoing historical, cultural, and political change within Australia. We recognise and value the importance of truth-telling today, and our role to listen and learn.

Apply for this role by hitting the Apply button now or visit our website to learn more.