Tweed Shire Council

Cadet Ecologist

Tweed Shire Council is offering exciting new paid positions for people of all ages and abilities. This is your chance to gain invaluable experience and a recognised degree qualification while you earn.

About the Cadetship:

Tweed Shire Council is proud to offer a Cadetship with our Sustainability & Environment team. As a cadet, you’ll gain hands-on experience while completing your second-to-last to last year for study of a Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning or equivalent.

Ecology Cadets generally follow a standard rotation program during the cadetship, with the opportunity to become more focused towards the end of the cadetship depending on organisational needs and the incumbent’s experience and preferences. 

The aim of the program is to produce cadets with strong technical and employment skills who are well-rounded, are capable, and whose contextual awareness is beginning to develop to the point they can be given greater independence - ultimately enhancing the incumbent's ongoing professional development and future career progression. 

In order to meet the requirements of the Cadetship, successful completion of training and tertiary studies is required.

What you'll do:

• Assist in the assessment of tree permit and development applications in line with relevant environmental legislation and Council policies.
• Support site inspections to assess vegetation, land conditions, and compliance with permit requirements.
• Access and interpret environmental data, including maps, reports, and ecological information, to inform assessments.
• Manage and maintain documentation related to applications, inspections, and outcomes.

What's on offer:

• A full-time position for a maximum period of up to 24 months, commencing July 2025.
• A starting base salary of $72,400 per annum +11.5% super. Salary progression is based on satisfactory completion of study plus work performance.
• Council will cover the associated course costs for the second-to-last or last year of your degree.
• Paid work placement while you learn.
• 70-hour fortnight, 9-day fortnight.
• Leave entitlements including annual leave, sick leave, and public holiday pay.
• Training and professional development opportunities are available to develop skills and grow your career.
• Ongoing coaching, mentoring, and support.
• Flexible work options for a healthy work/life balance.
• Access to Health and Wellbeing Programs to support our staff.
• Generous employment conditions (we have too many to list - click here for more).

We are seeking:

• Confirmation that you are enrolled in your second-to-last or last year of your undergraduate Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning or equivalent.
• Strong academic record – particularly where relevant to the position and ecology.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in teams and individually.
• Demonstrated sound written and oral communication skills.
• Aptitude to manage multiple priorities to meet deadlines. 
• A positive attitude and self-motivated.
• A Current drivers licence.  

About us:

• Located on the picturesque far North Coast of NSW, bordering the Gold Coast.
• The Tweed is a vibrant, diverse location offering a lifestyle near the water, in a rainforest or on a farm.  
• Tweed Shire Council is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds in both traditional and non-traditional roles.  We provide workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options. 
• Join an employer of choice. Professionals Australia (Local Government Engineers’ Association) has named Council the 2021 Employer of Choice for our great employment practices within NSW local government. 

Where it's located:

This position is based in Murwillumbah and can be directed to work from any Council work site.

Position closes: 

Friday 6 June 2025 at 12 noon sharp (NSW time).  Late applications will not be permitted.

TIPS for Addressing the Selection Criteria

Click here for more information on the Recruitment Process

Click here to view our Values

Pre-Employment Screening:

Tweed Shire Council conducts pre-employment assessments as part of its recruitment process. 

Job offers are not made until screening has been completed. Tweed Shire Council uses third-party providers to undertake:

• Pre-employment medical – some roles require a functional (physical) assessment, and all positions are subject to drug and alcohol screening (a positive test result means the recruitment process ends and your application will not be considered).
• Background screening - verifies that the information you have provided throughout the recruitment process is true and correct.  Click here for more information.

Reference Checks are undertaken by the panel. Your 2 referees should ideally be your current and most recent supervisors.  Your referees are not contacted unless you’ve been interviewed and are a preferred candidate.

How To Apply:

You must use your own email address, and not one used previously by another person that has applied for a position with council.

Once you start your online application, you cannot save and return to it later. 

1. Have your Resume document ready to go.
2. Fill out all questions below. Click 'Next'. 
3. You'll then be prompted to attach your resume and other documents (if applicable). Click 'Next'.
4. Review your application to confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to submit your application.

If you'd like to COPY and PASTE question fields into a separate Word document to work on over time, please find them listed below:

1. Why are you interested in working at Tweed Shire Council, and what excites you most about this particular opportunity?
2. Are you currently in your second-to-last or last year of a Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning or equivalent? Please provide details.
3. Please describe your knowledge of local flora and fauna.
4. Please describe your knowledge/experience assessing permit or development applications, particularly in relation to environmental legislation or Council policies.
5. Have you participated in site inspections to assess vegetation or environmental conditions? If so, what was your role and what did you evaluate?
6. What experience do you have accessing and interpreting environmental data such as maps, reports, or ecological information? How have you used this data?

SK97188A

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