🌿 Launch Your Green Career in the Top End: A 60-Second Guide to the NT Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA)
AT-A-GLANCE
Name of Department / Council: Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (statutory body supported by the Department of Environment, Parks & Water Security)
Location: Darwin HQ, with regional staff in Alice Springs, Katherine & remote NT
CEO: Jo Townsend (Chief Executive, DEPWS)
Total Revenue: A$139.4 million (2023-24 operating revenue) Budget Northern Territory
Total Number of Employees: 524 FTE (2024-25 staffing) Budget Northern Territory
DID YOU KNOW? 🤯
The NT EPA’s Container Deposit Scheme has paid out millions of dollars in 10-cent refunds—keeping litter out of Kakadu’s croc-filled wetlands while boosting local pocket-money.
THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO
🎓 Top 5 academic qualifications
Bachelor of Environmental Science – Core field skills for impact assessments and monitoring.
Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental/Civil) – Designs water-security and pollution-control solutions.
Bachelor of Laws (Environmental or Administrative) – Interprets and enforces the Environment Protection Act 2019.
Master of Climate Policy – Guides Territory climate-adaptation strategies.
PhD in Ecology – Provides scientific leadership on biodiversity offsets and species recovery.
🏅 Top 5 certifications
Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP) – National benchmark for regulators.
Project Management Professional (PMP) – Keeps multi-million-dollar remediation projects on track.
ISO 14001 Lead Auditor – Audits mining and waste-facility licences for compliance.
Remote Area First Aid – Critical for safe fieldwork in rugged NT conditions.
Drone Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) – Enables aerial data collection on fire scars and erosion.
👷♂️ Top 5 trades / professions
Diesel Mechanic – Maintains bush-ready 4WD and fire-management plant.
Laboratory Technician – Analyses water and soil samples for contaminants.
Ranger / Land-care Officer – Provides on-ground compliance intelligence.
Data Analyst – Turns satellite & sensor feeds into actionable insights.
Solar Electrician (off-grid) – Powers remote monitoring stations sustainably.
🛠️ Top 5 skills
Regulatory writing – Drafts clear, defensible licence conditions.
Stakeholder engagement – Balances Traditional Owners, industry & community voices.
GIS mapping – Pin-points habitats, fire lines & pollution plumes.
Risk assessment – Prioritises the highest-impact proposals efficiently.
Adaptive leadership – Makes calm decisions during cyclones or bushfires.
🧳 Top 5 work experiences
Mining-environment compliance – Mirrors NT EPA licensing work.
Arid-zone ecological research – Vital for Central Australian assessments.
Major-project EIS preparation – Offers insight into proponent perspectives.
Indigenous land-management programs – Strengthens cultural competency.
Emergency-services incident control – Aligns with Bushfires NT collaboration.
THE KEY FACTS
Name of Department: Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority
Name of CEO: Jo Townsend
Location: Territory-wide (Darwin HQ + regional offices)
Year Founded: 2012 (NT EPA), 2020 (DEPWS restructure)
Main mission & purpose: Safeguard the NT’s unique environment while enabling sustainable development—for instance, rigorously assessing the $43 billion SunCable renewable-energy export project to ensure it protects biodiversity.
Main duties: Licensing, monitoring, enforcement, and strategic advice—e.g. issuing 110+ approvals for recycling, waste, petroleum & mining activities in 2023-24.
Key projects & strategic priorities:
Rolling out the Territory Water Plan to secure supply to 2050 Budget Northern Territory
Modernising the Environment Protection Act assessment process
Expanding remote air-quality & biodiversity sensor networks
Container Deposit Scheme 2.0 with digital refund points
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
Total Employees: 524 FTE Budget Northern Territory
Employees by pay level: From AO2 graduates to EO2C executives.
Salary bands:
AO2 A$56k–63k (field/lab assistants)
AO5 A$89k–94k (environmental officers)
AO7 A$117k–128k (senior project managers)
SAO1 A$141k–154k (team leaders)
EO2C ≈ A$248k (executive directors)
Average salary: ≈ A$103k (blended NT Public Sector rates).
Total Revenue: A$139.4 million (2023-24) Budget Northern Territory
Average revenue per employee: ≈ A$266k.
GETTING A JOB AT NT EPA 🚀
Which Academic Subjects?
Certificate / Diploma Level: Conservation & Land Management, Laboratory Technology, Surveying—hands-on roles that feed data to policymakers.
Bachelor / Master Level: Environmental Science, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Data Analytics—core disciplines for assessment & regulation.
PhD: Ecology, Climate Modelling, Environmental Chemistry—deep expertise for complex approvals.
Which Trades & Professions?
Bushfire-mitigation contractors, analytical chemists, GIS specialists, remote electricians, heavy-plant mechanics.
Which Work Experiences?
Preparing EIS documents, managing waste facilities, collaborating with Traditional Owners, leading emergency responses.
Which Skills?
Soft skills: Concise report writing, negotiation, cultural awareness.
Technical skills: GIS, Python/R data analysis, drone operations, ISO 14001 auditing.
General skills: 4WD proficiency, remote-area safety, project budgeting.
Hobbies & Interests that align 🎣
Wildlife photography, bushwalking, citizen-science water sampling, drone racing, volunteering with Landcare or local bushfire brigades.
Want more information on this organisation? 📞
Website: https://ntepa.nt.gov.au
Jobs portal: https://jobs.nt.gov.au (search “Environment” or “NT EPA”)
General enquiries: ntepa@nt.gov.au | +61 8 8924 4218
Head Office: Level 1, Arnhemica House, 16 Parap Rd, Parap NT 0820
Postal: GPO Box 3675, Darwin NT 0801
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