Feral Cat Eradication Field Officer

The KILB is currently seeking to appoint Feral Cat Eradication Field Officers

These exciting roles will be delivering on-ground actions to control and eradicate feral cats on Kangaroo Island. You will join a passionate and dedicated team, that is applying advanced feral cat monitoring and control technologies, including motion activated 4G cameras, cage and soft-jaw leg hold traps that are linked to trap monitoring tools and networks. On-ground operations will be delivered in accordance with detailed work plans developed to ensure control and eradication efforts are targeted and efficient and best practice principles are adhered to.

This role will have responsibility for installation and maintenance of feral cat monitoring and control tools and the collection of field data, which provides information on program progress and reporting. A critical aspect of the role will be in developing and maintaining relationships with community and landholders to access properties to deliver coordinated and strategic cat control.

About you

1. We are seeking a motivated and committed individual with:
2. Demonstrated experience with vertebrate pest control programs, or similar.
3. Experience working in teams, often independently in remote and isolated field locations.
4. Well-developed communication skills and experience liaising with landholders, community groups and stakeholders.
5. Demonstrated experience in the installation, use and maintenance of field equipment, including remote camera monitoring equipment and pest control devices.
6. A sound understanding and experience in field data collection, using remote applications and records management systems.
7. Holds a current South Australian Firearms licence (desirable).

About us

Kangaroo Island (KI) was recently named one of world's best travel destinations recognising it as a premier eco-tourism destination which offers distinct local produce, abundant native wildlife, natural experiences, and some of the nation’s most pristine beaches.

KI is Australia’s third largest island with a population of around 4,980 people. Just under 50% of the island remains covered in natural habitat, supporting abundant and diverse flora and fauna. This thriving biodiversity underpins the health and wellbeing of the island’s community, and successful tourism and sustainable primary production industries. The island’s economy depends on the natural environment with primary industries and tourism accounting for around 90% of gross regional product.

The Kangaroo Island Landscape Board employees between 30 and 40 staff and is responsible for delivering programs that support the regions priorities towards managing and protecting our productive and natural landscapes. A key focus is supporting land holders to manage their land, water, pest animals and weeds. The Board is dedicated to preserving the islands biodiversity through programs that support threatened and endangered species and works with a diverse range of key stakeholders to secure the future for these species and communities.

The Kangaroo Island Landscape Board is delivering the Feral Cat Eradication Program, first by removing feral cats on the 38,000 ha Dudley Peninsula as a proof of concept for the whole of Kangaroo Island. This ambitious program if successful will make Kangaroo Island the largest inhabited feral cat free island in the world. Application of novel monitoring and control technologies have vastly improved the efficacy of these programs and place the Board at the forefront of feral cat management nationally. This role represents an exciting opportunity to join a passionate and dedicated team, applying the latest technology to deliver a program of national significance.