Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership has an exciting opportunity for a qualified Independent Chair to join our team!

Title: Independent Chair – Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership
Advertiser: Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership (GHHP)
Location: Gladstone, Queensland
Salary: $18,000 + travel allowance up to $5,000 per year

About GHHP

Gladstone Harbour, located in Central Queensland, is the largest multi-commodity port in Queensland. The harbour is made up of a system of rivers, inlets, channels, tidal wetlands, seagrass meadows and islands, and forms part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area below the low water mark and is adjacent to the southern section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Rapid industrial development in and around Gladstone Harbour, major flood events, concerns surrounding fish health, and UNESCO’s consideration of the Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage Area status led to public concern about the health and ongoing management of Gladstone Harbour.

In order to better monitor and report on the health of the harbour and respond to changes in its condition, GHHP was established in 2013 to inform on the environmental, social, cultural and economic health of the harbour. Since this time, the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan was created in 2015, providing management plans and actions for the entire Great Barrier Reef and its catchments, including Gladstone Harbour into the future.

GHHP is a partnership of community, industry, research organisations, statutory bodies and government. The Partnership was formed to independently report on the health of Gladstone Harbour, and identify opportunities based on rigorous science and strong stakeholder engagement to improve where necessary the health to the Harbour for the future. This is achieved by the production of an annual whole-of-system Gladstone Harbour Report Card. A pilot Gladstone Harbour Report Card was produced in 2014, with more detailed report cards produced annually from 2015.

GHHP’s vision is: Gladstone has a healthy, accessible, working harbour.

Roles and Responsibilities

The GHHP Chair will undertake the following roles and responsibilities:

• Maintain strong relationships with Partnership Partners to ensure the successful delivery of the Partnership’s annual report card for the region and continued financial and in-kind contributions from members of the Partnership;
• Promote the Partnership to prospective partners and sponsors to maintain and increase membership;
• Promote the interests of the Gladstone Harbour region and the Partnership at relevant, Local, state and national forums, meetings and other events, this includes reporting back to the Partnership on the discussion and outcomes of such meetings;
• Represent the Partnership to the media or delegate a suitable representative as appropriate;
• Foster a positive working relationship between all parties in the Partnership, Management Committee and the Host Organisation;
• Maintain strong ties and communication with other Chairs of regional report card Partnerships;
• Be aware of and declare any perceived or actual Conflict of Interest, abstaining from any associated decisions where a conflict of interest may be present;
• Chair meetings and assist with agenda preparation and sign off on meeting minutes; and
• Manage and set the direction of the Executive Officer;

Desired Skills and Attributes

• Commitment to positive environmental outcomes in the Gladstone region.
• Strong experience in providing leadership and strategic direction.
• Preferably based in the Gladstone region. Candidates outside the region will need to demonstrate their ability to promote the interests of GHHP from outside the region.
• Experience in chairing similar initiatives.
• Proven and effective facilitation, relationship-building and communication skills.
• Ability to reconcile opposing views, as well as self-awareness and self-management to be able to empathetically manage situations.
• Background in and/or strong understanding of urban and industrial water management, coastal land management and river, estuarine and marine management.
• Be available for travel including overnight stays around the state and interstate to represent the Partnership as required and approved.
• Availability to attend Management Committee Meetings (approximately 8 per year) and Partners Meetings (2 per year).

Reporting and Supervision

The GHHP Chair reports to Partners of the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership, via the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership Management Committee.

Commitment, Tenure and Salary

Commitment to perform the role of the GHHP Chair is approximately 10 hours per week, commencing from January 2021.

The successful applicant will be offered a one-year contract with two one-year extensions subject to performance. Remuneration for the position is $18,000 per year. Any associated travel aligned to the Partnership functions will be reimbursed up to the value of $5,000 per year.

Further Information

Further information about GHHP, including its governance arrangements and operational structure can be found at ghhp.org.au. For further advice, contact Rachel D’Arcy, Manager, Reef Partnerships, Office of the Great Barrier Reef, Department of Environment and Science via email Rachel.darcy@des.qld.gov.au or phone 0422 008 874 or 0416 142 270.

Applying for the Position

Applicants are required to submit a current resume including names and contact details for at least two (2) referees who have knowledge of your work; and provide a summary of the ‘Desired Skills and Attributes’ that outline your suitability for the position (your response should be no more than 2 pages).

Please forward completed applications and selection criteria to secretariat@ghhp.org.au by 5pm, 30th October 2020.

Assessment of the Position

A selection panel comprised of members of the GHHP Management Committee will assess your ability to perform the work required of the position based on your application and other selection processes which may include an interview. Referees will only be contacted following an interview to verify the information you provide and to comment on how you demonstrate the attributes being sought.