Queensland Fire Department

Status: Permanent Flexible Full-time

Classification: PO4

Salary: $114,946.95 - $123,608.40 per annum

Division: Rural Fire Service QLD

Region/Directorate: STRATEGIC CAP

Work Unit: Bushfire Resilient Communities

Location: Albion 4010

Closing Date: Midnight 23 March 2025

Reference No: QLD_QFD_20623_25

Current Queensland Fire Department employees and volunteers must apply via their internal careers site

About us

The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) provides fire prevention, preparedness and response services to fire in the built and landscape environments, as well as scientific and specialist capabilities to Queensland communities. The QFD provides a multi-hazard emergency response, including road crash rescue, bushfire, hazardous material, technical and vertical rescue, severe weather incidents, remote and swiftwater rescue, and provides a number of functions supporting community safety outcomes.

The department encompasses Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR), Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ), as well as the broader department which work together to pre-empt, prevent, mitigate and manage the consequences of fires and other emergencies on Queensland communities and support our large volunteer membership across the state.

The QFD is an organisation that is focused on reframing the department’s relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, and organisations through the Path to Treaty, Closing the Gap and building our cultural capability.

Purpose of the role

The Bushfire Resilient Communities Unit leads land use planning resilience for RFSQ ensuring the state's interests regarding bushfire hazard, risk and resilience under Queensland’s State Planning Policy are addressed within state and local planning instruments. This includes advising on referred development proposals that interact with bushfire hazard areas, including vulnerable, essential services and major infrastructure services. The Bushfire Hazard Mapping team is also responsible for the provision and publication of up-to-date bushfire prone area mapping needed to support implementation of the Queensland’s land use planning and building frameworks with respect to bushfire hazard.

Reporting to the Executive Manager, you will be responsible for creating and maintaining Vegetation Hazard Class and Bushfire Prone Area mapping products by spatial analysis of vegetation data, satellite imagery, fire weather and climate data in partnerships with internal and external collaborators. You will also participate in field surveys needed to calibrate vegetation and bushfire hazard models, and undertake other tasks as needed to support RFSQ’s role in the effective implementation of Queensland’s State Planning Policies and frameworks regarding bushfire hazard.

Key requirements

Mandatory requirements

• Tertiary qualification in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based discipline, or scientific discipline.

Highly desirable requirements

• Knowledge of and/or experience using GIS and spatial analysis tools, including ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online or QGIS.
• Knowledge of and/or experience working with regional ecosystems and related vegetation mapping products and remote sensing imagery.
• Knowledge of and/or ability to acquire knowledge of bushfire science and its application for land use planning and building decisions.
• Knowledge of and/or experience conducting data management and analysis, creating scripted workflows, preferably using Python.

Special requirements

• It is expected that the incumbent may 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 deployment to other parts of the state or interstate.

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:

• Manage the development, maintenance and publication of vegetation hazard class, bushfire prone area, fire weather, climate change and associated mapping products, and site data needed to support the implementation of relevant frameworks with respect to bushfire hazard.
• Contribute to scientific, research and spatial analytical knowledge used in the development and review of bushfire hazard and related vegetation mapping to ensure validity of information for statutory land use planning and building decisions.
• Contribute to the planning and management of projects relating to vegetation and bushfire hazards, and associated mapping, ensuring program deliverables meet desired timeframes, outcomes and budget allocations.
• Provide high level bushfire, emergency management and service delivery advice to senior management and stakeholders regarding bushfire mapping products and/or issues to support effective land use planning and decision-making.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders relating to bushfire hazard and risk, issues and initiatives to support program delivery and achieve quality outcomes.
• Prepare and review complex reports, briefs, submissions and correspondence relating to bushfire hazard and associated data sets in accordance with departmental requirements and governance.
• Represent the department on committees, forums and working parties regarding data sets and procedures used to produce and/or verify information and associated geospatial products.
• Participate within a dynamic work environment, fostering teamwork and observing human resource activities including actively participating in performance and development programs.

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 – Individual Contributor (leading self)

Vision

• Stimulates ideas and innovation
• Leads change in complex environments

Results

• Builds enduring relationships
• Drives accountability and outcomes

Accountability

• Fosters healthy and inclusive workplaces
• Demonstrates sound governance

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

• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Courage
• Loyalty

To find out more about the behaviours and competencies required for this role, visit Leadership competencies for Queensland | For government | Queensland Government

Want more information?

Please contact Robert Preston, Executive Manager on phone 0417 272 218 or email [email protected].

You can also visit our website to find out more information about joining our team.

How to apply

Please refer to the QFD Public Service Application Guide [All PS Classifications/Streams and Senior Officer] for information on how to apply for this role and contact us to discuss any reasonable adjustments if required.