Area Controller (AO7) State Emergency Services - Longreach

About us

As a department our purpose is to help the community to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from the impact of fire and emergency events.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is the primary provider of fire, rescue and emergency management programs and services throughout Queensland. The department encompasses the Fire and Rescue Service, disaster management services, the Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service, and also supports other volunteer groups providing emergency response to Queenslanders.

QFES is one department with many services, many capabilities and many partners.

Purpose of the role

SES is the primary responder for storm and flood events and provide support to other agencies such as Queensland Police Service through performing additional functions including search and rescue, emergency traffic management, and road crash rescue. The SES becomes involved in preparing for, and responding to, many different types of disasters and emergencies.

The role of the Area Controller, SES is to provide high level support and assist in the management of the SES groups to ensure effective preparation for and response to emergencies and disasters. You will provide expert advice and support to local governments, government agencies, disaster management groups, culturally diverse communities, non-government agencies and wider QFES on the comprehensive approach to disasters and emergencies including risk management, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery strategies, in all aspects of SES volunteer matters.

Key requirements

Mandatory requirements

• Eligible to apply for, or hold a current valid Blue Card (from Blue Card Services).
• Minimum C class Driver's licence (non restricted).

Highly desirable requirements

• Experience as a volunteer or within a volunteer environment.

Special requirements

• The incumbent will be appointed as a staff member of the SES and the hours of duty applicable to this role are pursuant to the Queensland Public Service Officers and Other Employees Award – State 2015: specifically, the spread of ordinary hours for SES staff are 0600 to 2200, Monday to Sunday.
• This role is also a designated SES uniformed position; therefore, it is expected the incumbent may possess and/or maintain the necessary skills/expertise or experience to be appointed as an Authorised Rescue Officer in accordance with section 148(2) of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990.
• It is expected that the incumbent will participate in an out-of-hours on-call roster during emergency operations. This may require work outside of normal hours (e.g. night shift), including weekends, working extended hours and may include travel to rural and remote communities, intrastate or interstate travel as necessary and/or deployment activities to other parts of the state.

Your key accountabilities

Your part in the ongoing success of our department, in supporting key frontline services will see you responsible for a variety of work, including, but not limited to:

• Support the development and implementation of the SES operational service delivery plan and provide strategic advice on SES response planning arrangements and programs.
• Manage human resources, financial and asset management functions for the area effectively and ensure high quality support is provided to volunteers.
• Lead and manage the delivery of operational outcomes in cooperation with volunteers in a dynamic disaster/emergency management or similar environment.
• Maintain working knowledge and practical application of the Disaster Management Act 2003, Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990, and other applicable legislation and guidelines.
• Drive and deliver outcomes in partnership with staff from local government, other government agencies, authorities, Indigenous communities and community groups to build capability and evaluate the effectiveness of SES programs.
• Support the delivery of community education and awareness programs in accordance with agreed community education strategic plans and represent QFES as a member of Disaster Management Groups as required.
• Contribute to the development, delivery and implementation of SES operational and administrative policy, equipment and processes and facilitate post event analysis and debriefs for the region including the development of improvement strategies in building operational capacity and capability.
• Undertake and support SES operational duties during emergencies and disasters as necessary which may involve intra and interstate deployments including travel to rural and remote communities, at short notice and out of business hours.

Capabilities

To determine your suitability for the role, you will be assessed on the following Leadership Competencies for Queensland behavioural profiles that link to the “key accountabilities” for this role:

Leadership Competency Stream – Program Leader (leading teams and/or projects)

Vision

• Stimulates ideas and innovation
• Leads change in complex environments

Results

• Builds enduring relationships
• Drives accountability and outcomes

Accountability

• Fosters healthy and inclusive workplaces
• Pursues continuous growth

Once you join us we will want you to exemplify the QFES shared values of:

• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Courage
• Loyalty