Development Operations Manager

Help to create the future of Perth Zoo with us—your next career adventure starts here! 

THIS IS A 5-YEAR FIXED-TERM, FULL-TIME POSITION

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION CLOSE AT MIDDAY ON TUESDAY, 29 APRIL 2025

Be part of one of the world’s best inner-city zoos and help guide Western Australia's journey into the natural world. Our vision is to lead in conservation, foster community connections, and create a collective impact. Our purpose is clear: empowering a future where wildlife and humanity thrive together.  

At Perth Zoo, we believe in the power of conservation and education. By joining our Fundraising Team, your expertise will directly contribute to saving wildlife and inspiring people to connect with nature.  

Bring your experience in managing change, engaging stakeholders, and implementing systems to a role where you can truly make a difference. With a blank canvas to elevate your career, you'll find endless opportunities for growth and impact.  

With the new Master Plan 2040, you will be a key driver of progress, enabling Perth Zoo to become Western Australia's heart of wildlife conservation and education. 

About the Job

Reporting to the Head of Development, the Development Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring that the Zoo’s fundraising processes and infrastructure are optimised to support the year-on-year growth of a successful and comprehensive fundraising program.

We are seeking a candidate with a proven ability to drive transformative change from the grassroots level. The role demands someone skilled and eager to engage and align a diverse array of stakeholders throughout the journey.

Key responsibilities include database analysis, financial reporting, compliance and improvement of policies and procedures. The initial major task will be implementing and maintaining a new fundraising platform and customer relationship management (CRM) system.

At the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), we have adopted Leadership Expectations which provides a common understanding of the mindsets and expected behaviours required of all our employees and the public sector. In this role, you will be Leading Others to help drive positive change.

About You

• Skilled individual with a degree in information systems or equivalent experience to manage CRM and fundraising platforms, ensuring data integrity and security.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and internal stakeholder engagement skills.

• Committed to applying and suggesting improvements of relevant policy and procedure documents.

• Experienced in overseeing donation processing, receipting and stewardship processes.

• Confident in leading system transformation initiatives

• Able to manage the Development budget and collaborating with other areas on financial matters.

Selection Criteria
Applicants should address the following three (3) criteria. These should be addressed in no more than three (3) pages in total.

1. Showcase experience in developing and implementing a new CRM (or equivalent) system in a complex environment with numerous stakeholders and dependencies. Highlight the challenges faced, the strategies employed, and the key factors that led to success.

2. Illustrate strategies to increase efficiency, particularly those related to or equivalent to increasing donor satisfaction and reducing the cost to raise a dollar.

3. Provide examples of being the backbone of fundraising (or equivalent) efforts, including instances where data analysis was utilised to make strategic decisions and recommendations.

About Us

We are a statutory authority of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), one of Western Australia's largest state government agencies, providing exciting and challenging career opportunities in biodiversity conservation and park and natural resource management. We employ people with world-class scientific, policy, land and marine management, visitor services, research and educational skills.

For more information on what we do, our recruitment process, and why working at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is an attractive proposition, please visit our website.

Benefits of working with us

In addition to the attractive salary and opportunities to contribute to biodiversity and environmental conservation initiatives, the department offers incentives including:

• Flexible working arrangements.
• 11.5% superannuation, full employer contribution and salary packaging options.
• 4 weeks annual leave with 17.5% loading paid as additional pay every December.
• 3 days additional public sector holidays each year.
• Cultural leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
• Access to study, bereavement, foster caring and parental leave.
• A confidential employee assistant program (EAP) for you and your family, including psychology and counselling services.
• Free entry to the Zoo for you and 4 other people.
• Well-established learning and development programs.

How to apply: 

All applications are to be submitted online. Select 'Apply for job', located at either the top or the bottom of the screen, and follow the instructions; you will need to provide a:

• a covering letter.
• a statement addressing the above requested criteria (in no more than three (3) pages).
• current CV, including the details of two referees with one being a recent or current manager/supervisor.

For further job-related information: contact Niklas Mittmann on 0420 231 *** or for further information about Perth Zoo, visit https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/.

We have a detailed Job Application Kit to provide information about us, the values of the department and practical guidance on the process for you. Please ensure you have saved your documents in MS Word (.docx files only) or PDF format and have allowed plenty of time to submit your application, as late, emailed and proforma applications will not be accepted.

Prior to commencement, the successful applicant will need to possess or obtain:

• A current (issue date not older than 6 months) and satisfactory National Police Check.

For the full role description, detailed responsibilities and a full list of selection criteria, please refer to the Job Description link below. The documents linked to this advertisement are available in alternative formats upon request.

Eligibility: To be eligible for permanent appointment, it is essential to have Australian citizenship, New Zealand citizenship or Australian permanent residency status. To be eligible for contract employment, it is essential to have a visa with entitlement to live and work in Australia for the term of the contract.

A search for additional applicants may be conducted for this position where necessary to provide a more diverse and/or competitive field.

Substantive Equality Statement

Perth Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages Indigenous Australians, young people, people with disabilities, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and women to apply for positions within our agency. The Department also promotes flexible working arrangements. People with disability will be provided with reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace.

Applicants with a disability who require adjustments in the recruitment process, including an alternative to applying online, can contact the Senior Recruitment Officer on (08) 9219 9879 or ***********@dbca.wa.gov.au. Do not send applications to this email; they will not be accepted.

Similar appointments may be made from this process within a 12-month period to positions that may be permanent or contract, including contract appointments with the possibility of subsequent permanency.

Attachments: - DBCA Job Application Form.docx
- DBCA Job Application Kit.docx
- Job Description Form ZPA3169603.pdf

You can view and print these PDF attachments by downloading Adobe Reader.