Strategy Specialist (Traditional Owners)

• Make a real difference and help shape our customers’ Energy Future. 
• Elevate your career at one of Australia’s best energy organisations. 
• Inclusive and Supportive Culture> Flexible Work Environment 

When you choose AusNet, you’ll join genuine people working together making Real. Progress

At AusNet, we’re the link between renewable energy sources and local communities, playing a key role in the clean energy transition and providing essential energy to every Victorian family.

Help us lead the way, while enriching your career with real people who encourage you to bring your best and make real impact – for your career, our communities, and Australia’s cleaner energy future.

Purposeful work with genuinely good people. That’s refreshing.

Are you prepared to wield real influence within the monumental Western Renewables Link Project (WRL)? This groundbreaking endeavor stands as the largest transmission build in over three decades, a vital conduit poised to channel renewable energy from western Victoria's abundant wind and solar farms to power homes across the state and the National Electricity Market.

Step into a role with a meaningful impact, driving real progression in social and economic realms for Traditional Owners, enriching the delivery and lasting legacy of the Western Renewables Link (WRL). As a pivotal player in this vital transmission infrastructure project, you'll spearhead efforts to bridge energy from western Victoria's wind and solar farms to homes statewide and to the National Electricity Market. Your focus will centre on collaborating with five distinct Traditional Owner groups within the WRL project area, navigating compensation negotiations for land access. Through your dedicated efforts, you'll pave the way for securing social acceptance of the project, fostering meaningful relationships, and ensuring tangible benefits and social value outcomes for Traditional Owner groups and broader indigenous communities.

Join us in shaping a sustainable future while adding real relationships and empowering Traditional Owners and their invaluable contributions to our collective progress."

With a 3/2 Hybrid split Office / WFH , this role is based in Ballarat and is part of the Western Renewables Link project team, Development & Future Networks team. 

This role will deliver real outcomes, including but not limited to:

• Develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including traditional owner communities, governments, and industry.
• Advocate for project interests with traditional owner groups, understanding and addressing a wide range of opportunities.
• Prepare and share project materials for various audiences.
• Lead negotiation processes with Traditional Owners for land access compensation.
• Promote IAP2 principles to secure social license for the project.

You don’t need to check every box; however, we are looking for a good combination of:

• Financial expertise in compensation and benefits modeling, ideally in senior executive roles within government or private sectors.
• Knowledge of the Traditional Owner Settlement Act and Native Title relevant to land access and compensation for the Western Renewables Link.
• Minimum five years of hands-on engagement experience in complex projects.
• Proficiency in applying IAP2 principles.
• Strong time management, project planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven stakeholder management and frontline engagement skills, spanning local government, regional development, and infrastructure projects.

A real place to belong 
 

We celebrate unique voices, refreshing perspectives and diversity in our team. Engage and connect through our social club, family day, wide range of events or by joining one of our Employee Network Groups.  

We believe in more than just competitive pay. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Flexibility: whether this is hybrid work, flexible hours, or part time arrangements, we’ll work with you to help balance work and life.
• Leave: more than typical personal leave and a generous 14 weeks of paid parental leave, with no minimum service.
• Community giving: a paid day to volunteer with our social impact partner, Foodbank, or for a cause that matters to you.
• Perks: we offer all the other perks you’ve come to expect like purchased leave, income protection insurance, novated leasing, corporate discounts, private health cover discounts and more.

As an industry in transformation, we’re excited by the possibilities ahead.

So, if you’re passionate about our purpose and committed to making real progress, bring your energy and join AusNet. Together, we can shape a new way forward.