Together we shape thriving communities, public spaces, places and economies.

• Rare opportunity to combine technical skills and strategic thinking to protect and enhance parkland biodiversity at Sydney Olympic Park
• Temporary opportunity to April 2026
• Based on site at Sydney Olympic Park with flexible working supported
• Salary relative to experience, and ranges from $129 464 to $142 665 + super

What’s in it for me?

Join our team for a fantastic culture with dynamic collaboration and genuine long-term career support. We offer flexibility in work arrangements, diverse and fulfilling assignments, and prioritise work/life balance and wellbeing with initiatives like flex leave and access to support programs. Additionally, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome, respected, and empowered to succeed.

The role

This role is responsible for keeping Sydney Olympic Park’s ecosystems thriving!  Crucial to ensuring the proper function, performance, and safety of natural assets while promoting flora and fauna conservation within one of Australia’s largest and most diverse urban parklands. You’ll be leading the charge on conservation and compliance —planning ecological monitoring programs, managing habitat enhancement projects and pest control programs, and provide technical expertise to the Authority to ensure compliance with legislation. It’s a hands-on role that mixes technical know-how with strategic thinking to protect and enhance biodiversity across the parklands.

You will be engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders using an adaptive management framework to achieve biodiversity management outcomes. That means working with stakeholders who may not fully grasp the intricacies of natural systems, while still pushing forward with smart, sustainable solutions.

If you enjoy solving problems, influencing outcomes, and making a real impact on the environment, this role offers plenty of scope!

For more information read the full Role Description: Senior Parklands Ecologist

What you will bring to the role

• Substantial technical understanding of urban parkland ecosystem management issues
• Demonstrated experience in interpreting and applying environmental legislation, developing guidelines, preparing licence applications, liaising with regulatory authorities, undertaking assessments and audits, and reporting
• Experience in managing procurement and contracts, ensuring compliance with service agreements.
• Autonomy in decision-making and accountability for delivering work assignments on time and to quality expectations.
• Strong communication skills both verbal and written, to effectively collaborate with team members, manage service providers and stakeholder relationships effectively
• Strong problem-solving abilities to navigate complex challenges and adapt to evolving situations.

What is an essential requirement:

• Tertiary qualifications in natural sciences (ecology, biology, natural resource management or related area) or equivalent professional experience 

About us

Sydney Olympic Park is Wangal Country and is located between Greater Sydney’s two largest employment centres – the Sydney CBD and Parramatta CBD. It is a mix of land uses that include parklands and nature reserves, environmental conservation, public recreation, sports and events, residential and business uses. By 2030, Sydney Olympic Park will be connected by a station on the Sydney Metro West line 1 and is also part of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2. This new connectivity created through major infrastructure investment signals a shift in the future role of Sydney Olympic Park.

Sydney Olympic Park Authority are custodians of the Park – being a precinct place manager, as well as a strategic master planner, and development consent authority.

The Authority is established under the Sydney Olympic Park Authority Act 2001 and is part of the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. As well as working closely with the Department, the Authority also needs to regularly engage with other government entities and the surrounding local government areas to achieve the future vision for the precinct.

We are an inclusive and accessible workplace, where your individual contributions are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to feel a sense of connection and belonging. DPHI supports various employee affinity groups, practices flexible working, offers job share and workplace adjustments.

Join us

If excited by the information above, we look forward to receiving your application, including a copy of your resume and cover letter expressing your interest and suitability for the role.

Applications close Thursday 25 September 2025 at 11.55pm.

Should you require further information about the role please contact Jenny O’Meara, jennifer.omeara@sopa.nsw.gov.au, Senior Manager Environment and Ecology.

A recruitment pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months.

Please note to be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, or hold a valid Australian working Visa for the duration of the appointment. 

We encourage and support applications from people with disability. Please reach out to us to discuss any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed during the recruitment process, ensuring that you have every opportunity to showcase your talent, skills, and potential. Contact the Talent Team via talent.acquisition@dpie.nsw.gov.au or (02) 63637676​ - HR Support, option 2, DPHI People Advisory, option 1 and reference 'Request an Adjustment - Job Title and Reference Number'.

Check out our Aboriginal applicants guide to assist with applying for the role or contact our Aboriginal Career pathways team for a yarn