Heritage Officer – Perth

Heritage Officer – Perth

Application Closing Date: August 2, 2026

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 a full time (75 hours per fortnight) Heritage Officer to join the team in our Perth office on a permanent contract. Supporting the Team Leads and the Heritage team, you will assist in the planning of and preparing for heritage surveys to protect our native title clients’ heritage, whilst liaising regularly with and seeking instruction from native title groups on the conduct of such surveys.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Undertake all heritage survey arrangements for the client groups assigned to the Officer’s portfolio
• Participate in fieldwork and/or assist with fieldwork logistics as required.
• Liaise with Government and Non-Government proponents and developers to negotiate the conduct of cultural heritage surveys at the direction of the Team Lead (Senior Archaeologist)
• Liaise with appropriate Traditional Owner representatives regarding survey information and logistics
• Assemble historical data from the DPLH and other archives relating to survey areas
• Interpret and evaluate historical data relating to the survey area and native title holders or claimants of that area.
• Prepare all documents necessary to conduct heritage surveys
• Prepare regular updates for PBC’s and claim groups on survey activity
• Undertake proof-reading of reports and other documents as required
• Ensure Heritage reports are prepared in a timely, culturally appropriate and cost effective manner
• Heritage survey budget information and other relevant documentation is produced and issued in a timely and cost-effective manner
• Ensure liaison occurs promptly, effectively and in a culturally appropriate manner
• Assist with the retrieval and collation of documents for the handover of heritage materials to Aboriginal Corporations
• Undertake GIS training in house and assist with the creation of maps for fieldwork and the preparation of spatial data

About You:

You may be planning to study, are currently studying, have recently left university or are looking for a career change after obtaining a qualification in Archaeology or Anthropology and are seeking to gain exposure and knowledge in cultural heritage and social surrounds. Working alongside a collaborative and supportive team, you will assist Traditional owners fulfill their cultural heritage aspirations and be encouraged to grow to your full potential with professional development opportunities.

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

• Working towards a Tertiary qualification in Archaeology or Anthropology is required. A qualification in heritage management, archaeology or anthropology is looked upon favourably.
•   A minimum of two years Heritage Survey experience required with a focus on Western Australia
• A current Australian manual driver’s licence required, 4WD and First Aid Certification desirable.

Skills

• Strong 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 liaise effectively with external stakeholders, including government.

Desired Knowledge

• Understanding of Indigenous issues, particularly those to do with heritage, native title, and other land matters is highly desirable.
• Theory and practice of anthropology or archaeology (desirable).
• 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.
• 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 First Nations candidates to apply.

To apply for this role, which has a generous range of benefits including: salary packaging; flexible working arrangements; and, but not limited to, 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, 2 August 2026, however applications will be reviewed as they are received.

If you have any questions relating to this opportunity, please email careers@ymac.org.au.