Kakadu National Park is searching for a Park Manager

ONE of Australia’s most remote CEO jobs is up for grabs for bosses open to wrangling crocs and living in one of our nation’s most beautiful regions.

IF WORKING in one of the most remote and beautiful parts of our country sounds like something you’d be into, then Australia’s National Parks organisation has exactly what you’re looking for.

The Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park is looking for a Park Manager and is promising whoever gets the gig a “ride on the wilder side of life”.

“This is the top job in the park and it’s not for the faint-hearted. You’ll be a unique combination of CEO and host of one of the most amazing destinations in the world,” the job description reads.

The majestic Gunlom Falls in Kakadu National Park. Picture: Justin Kennedy

The national park, which covers almost 20,000 square kilometres in the Northern Territory, is Australia’s largest.

Along with countless waterfalls, open plains and picturesque watering holes, the region is also home to a whopping 10,000 crocodiles, which equates to about one every two square kilometres.

The Park Manager will be in charge of making sure tourists have both a good and safe time as well as making Kakadu National Park even more prominent on the world stage.

The scenic park is already hugely popular with tourists — the Instagram account Kakadu Tourism already boasts close to 40,000 followers.

While the job “isn’t for the faint-hearted”, it doesn’t mean people shouldn’t apply.

Miranda Schooneveldt, who works for Parks Australia, said the job was like nothing else.

“In terms of lifestyle it is like nothing else you’ll ever experience. It is a completely unique job and I doubt there’s anything like it in the world,” she told news.com.au.

Ms Schooneveldt said there’s plenty of perks that come with the job including having new adventures every day and freedom to explore one of the most remote parts of our great country.

“You can swim in some of the most beautiful natural pools in the world and the fishing is just out of this world, we have barramundi by the thousands,” she said.

Kakadu’s Jim Jim Falls.

“It is a remote job but that’s both its challenge and its beauty. It isn’t for everyone and we admit that but if you have an adventurous spirit the rewards can be astronomical,” she added.

The person who eventually scores the coveted job will be in charge of up to 75 staff members and will essentially “play host to the world as it arrives on your front doorstep.”

Kakadu National Park has been home to Bininj/Mungguy for thousands of years and is a place of enormous cultural significance and ecological and biological diversity.

The recipient will work side-by-side with Kakadu’s Aboriginal Traditional owners to understand and work towards their vision.

The manager will be based in Jabiru, a town of 1000 people that works as a service hub for anyone and everyone visiting or living in the park.

The Ranger uranium mine, which sits just outside of the town, is closing in 2021 which will change the entire nature of the town for better or worse.

Parks Australia is hoping whoever scores the role of CEO will make sure the town changes for the better.

Ms Schooneveldt also said, along with all the amazing perks of working in one of Australia’s best national parks, the lucky job getter will often find themselves sharing their office with plenty of wildlife.

“We care for a lot of injured wildlife, so you’ll definitely find yourself sharing an office with a wallaby, or a quoll or sugar glider,” she said.

A saltwater crocodile sits at Cahills Crossing in Kakadu National Park. Picture: Parks Australia.

And of course whoever takes the role will be financially rewarded.

The salary is listed from $120,881 to $140,445 with the park giving the CEO 27 days off a year to explore other parts of Australia or even just more of Kakadu.

“Kakadu is the jewel in the crown of Australia’s tourism industry and when you’re standing in it, it’s not hard to see why,” the job description reads.

Thrillseekers need to apply by November 22 through the government’s online recruitment site.

Originally published as Kakadu National Park is searching for a Park Manager