Reforestation Project Manager (Senior Operations Manager)

About Land Life

At Land Life, we're on a mission to restore degraded land at scale. We combine ecological expertise, science and custom-built, in-house technology to deliver certified carbon removal and measurable outcomes for climate, biodiversity and people.

Working alongside landowners, communities and local partners, we restore landscapes that cannot recover without human intervention, bringing ecosystems back to life and creating lasting environmental impact.

In Australia, we focus on large-scale native reforestation on degraded agricultural land, helping reconnect fragmented landscapes, restore biodiversity and support long-term ecosystem recovery.

About the role

As our Reforestation Project Manager, you'll play a key role in the successful planning, implementation and maintenance of our planting projects across Australia.

You'll be the go-to expert for your assigned planting sites, regularly spending time in the field to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently and to a high standard. Working closely with contractors, landowners, technical partners and Land Life colleagues, you'll combine your technical expertise with practical project management to deliver meaningful restoration outcomes.

This is a role for someone who enjoys taking ownership, solving challenges on the ground and turning ambitious restoration plans into reality.

Here's what you'll be doing

• Managing projects from start to finish: Develop annual work plans and oversee the full project lifecycle, from site assessment and design through to planting, maintenance, monitoring and reporting, ensuring projects stay on schedule and within budget.

• Overseeing field operations: Coordinate on-site activities, including seed collection, nursery operations, site preparation, planting, post-planting maintenance and remediation. Conduct regular site visits to monitor progress and address challenges.

• Developing technical planting plans: Assess site conditions, environmental constraints and regulatory requirements, using field data and GIS tools (such as QGIS) to inform site-specific restoration designs.

• Managing contractors and budgets: Prepare and review contractor agreements, obtain quotations, negotiate costs and monitor supplier performance to ensure high-quality, cost-effective project delivery.

• Building strong partnerships: Work closely with landowners, contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders, supporting the Partnerships team with technical expertise during site assessments and landowner visits.

• Monitoring restoration outcomes: Collaborate with Operations and Monitoring colleagues to assess planting performance, including germination, species survival and biomass monitoring, and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Ensuring safety and compliance: Maintain high standards of quality, work health and safety (WHS), and environmental compliance across all project activities.

• Driving continuous improvement: Identify opportunities to improve restoration practices, strengthen partnerships and make project delivery more effective.

What you'll bring

• At least 5 years of experience managing nature restoration, forestry, reforestation or similar environmental projects, ideally involving large-scale projects in Australia.

• A relevant tertiary qualification in ecology, forestry, natural resource management or a related field, or equivalent extensive professional experience.

• Strong practical knowledge of Australian ecosystems, native vegetation and restoration techniques.

• High-level proficiency in GIS, including spatial data collection, analysis and mapping, ideally using QGIS.

• Experience managing contractors, project budgets, timelines and multiple stakeholders.

• A sound understanding of environmental regulations, site safety and quality requirements.

• A current driver's license and willingness to travel regularly to project sites.

What makes you a great fit

You're a proactive, organised and practical problem-solver who enjoys balancing planning with hands-on fieldwork. You build strong relationships, communicate clearly and know how to turn operational plans into action.

You take ownership of your work, adapt when challenges arise and bring both technical expertise and a collaborative mindset to everything you do.

Most importantly, you're passionate about restoring nature and motivated by the opportunity to make a measurable, lasting impact.

Location and working arrangements

This role is a remote role based in Dubbo NSW, and surrounding with an expectation of regular travel to project sites, and during peak periods, approximately 50% of your time may be spent in the field.

How to apply

Ready to help bring nature back?

We'd love to hear from you! Please submit your CV and cover letter through our application portal.

Join Land Life and help us restore landscapes, support biodiversity and create lasting environmental impact.