Archaeologist – Perth

Archaeologist – Perth

Application Closing Date: September 8, 2024

About the Organisation:

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) is the Native Title Representative Body (NTRB), delivering native title and other services across the Pilbara, Mid West, Murchison and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia. YMAC is run by a First Nations board of directors, representing several native title groups, each of whom have their own language, culture, traditions and protocols.

YMAC services include native title claim and future act representation; heritage services; executive office, community, and economic development assistance; land administration, and natural resource management support.

Country is our mother, our provider and keeper of our cultural belongings. Culture and Country go together. You can’t have one without the other.

Our Vision:

Through connection to Country, Aboriginal people pursue and achieve economic, social, and cultural goals and aspirations with strength and confidence.

Our Mission:

For current and future generations, we work with and for Australian Aboriginal people to protect rights and manage Country and opportunities.

About the Role

YMAC’s Research, Country and Culture Services (RC&CS) team provides Research, Heritage, Social Surrounds and Land & Sea Management services to PBC’s and Traditional Owners in the management of their Country and Culture. YMAC’s RC&CS is a skilled and coordinated team of archaeologists, anthropologists, environmental scientists, land and sea management specialists, ranger coordinators, managers and administrators who contribute to the ongoing empowerment of our clients – Aboriginal communities and organisations throughout the Yamatji and Pilbara regions.

YMAC is currently seeking two full time (75 hours per fortnight) Archaeologists to join the team in our Perth office on a permanent contract. Supporting the Heritage Manager and the Heritage team, your role is to plan and undertake heritage surveys to protect our Native Title clients’ heritage, produce high quality heritage reports for our clients and proponents, and to liaise regularly with and seek instruction from Native Title groups on the conduct of such surveys.

This role is based in Perth, but will require travel to regional centres and remote communities. We are also open to considering regional applicants to be based out of our regional offices.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Lead archaeological field investigations in relation to Cultural Heritage surveys, and participate in Social Surrounds consultations, Cultural Mapping, Site Recording, and other projects as required by the line manager.
• Liaise with appropriate Traditional Owner representatives regarding heritage survey information and logistics.
• Liaise with Government and Non-Government proponents to negotiate the conduct of heritage services as required.
• Participate in Social Surroundings projects through the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EPA) as necessary and assist with the identification, documentation and analysis of potential impacts.
• Provide support to Traditional Owners in the formulation of recommendations regarding impacts, cumulative impacts, and mitigation strategies in the Social Surrounds framework.

About You

You will be able to demonstrate at least two (2) years’ Heritage Survey experience, with a focus on Western Australia, and regular travel to remote areas is either something you have experience in or you have a willingness to do so. You will also be confident in leading heritage surveys.

What YMAC Offers

YMAC believes in providing a safe and supportive working environment, and the best way to do that is to ensure our employees are well-looked after. YMAC provides the following in addition to your standard employee experience:

• Salary Packaging
• Annual CPI increases
• Flexible working arrangements:
  • Working from home arrangements
  • Extra weeks’ paid leave over end of year shutdown
• Cultural Leave for First Nations employees
• Annual Wellness & Uniform Allowance
• Paid Parental Leave

If you’d like to know more, our Enterprise Agreement can be found here.

Selection Criteria

Qualifications & Experience:

• Two (2) years’ Heritage Survey experience with a focus on Western Australia.
• Tertiary qualification in Archaeology (with Honours) required. A secondary qualification in Anthropology will be looked upon favourably.
• A current Australian manual driver’s licence required, 4WD and Remote First Aid Certification desirable.
• Prior experience leading heritage survey teams and undertake heritage surveys independently if required.
• Prior experience working directly with communities, and to communicate clearly and effectively.
• Prior experience working directly with First Nations people in a culturally appropriate manner.
• Experience identifying and analysing cultural, social, aesthetic and economic values and potential impacts in a Social Surroundings framework is desirable.

Skills:

• Good organisational and time management skills.
• Proven capacity to work autonomously, determine priorities, and deal with competing demands within limited time frames.
• The ability to exercise sound judgement, initiative, and an innovative approach to problem solving.
• Ability to work under pressure in an often challenging environment.
• Personal drive, integrity and excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work with Government and non-government organisations in exploration and resource extraction, infrastructure and other development contexts.

Desired Knowledge:

• Understanding of First Nations issues, particularly those to do with heritage, native title, and other land matters is highly desirable.
• Theory and practice of anthropology of native title and First Nations Australia.
• Knowledge of Native Title and Aboriginal Heritage legislation.
• Knowledge of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EPA) to the extent that physical protection of the environment is required to protect social and cultural significance is desirable.
• Knowledge of GIS packages and spatial mapping skills is desirable.
• Occupational Health & Safety legislation and requirements.

How to Apply:

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and values inclusion and diversity in all forms including, but not limited to: genders, cultural backgrounds, LGBTQ+, disability & neurodiversity. We strongly encourage Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.

To apply for this role, which has a generous range of benefits including, but not limited to: salary packaging; flexible working arrangements; and an extra week’s paid leave over Christmas shutdown, please submit your CV and cover letter addressing the above selection criteria via Seek.

A current National Police Clearance is required prior to commencement of employment with YMAC.

Applications for this position close on Sunday 8 September 2024, however we reserve the right to commence the recruitment process and extend or close this advertisement prior to the closing date.

If you have any questions relating to this opportunity, please call the People and Development Team on (08) 9268 7000 or email careers@ymac.org.au.