Lead Officer, State Control Centre Operations and Watch Desk

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers

We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?
Job Details
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Department: Department of Justice and Community Safety
Work Type: Ongoing - full time
Job Function: Emergency Management
Classification: VPSG5
Work Location: Melbourne - CBD
Reference: VG/EMV591
Closing Date: 23-Jul-2026
Salary Range: $116,413 - $140,849
Job Duration: N/A
Attachments: Position Description - VPS5 - EMV591 - Lead Officer, State Control Centre Operations and Watch Desk - Ongoing, Full time - July 2026.docx (Word, 539KB)
Position Description

Contact: Christine Samuel
Christine.Samuel@emv.vic.gov.au

Position Details

  • Manage a team of Watch Desk staff in the State Control Centre
  • Ongoing, Full time shift work opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
  • VPS grade 5 - $116,413 to $140,849 plus superannuation.

 

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Lead Officer, State Control Centre Operations and Watch Desk to provide a critical role at Emergency Management Victoria.

About the Business Unit

Emergency Management Victoria (EMV), within the Department of Justice and Community Safety, is responsible for the overall coordination of the emergency management system in Victoria. EMV drives the integration of policy, strategy, operational coordination, sector specific technology, and planning across Victoria's emergency management sector, contributing to safer, more resilient communities.

EMV works closely with government and agencies across the emergency management portfolio. The organisation is led by the Deputy Secretary & Chief Executive, and Emergency Management Commissioner, and includes oversight of statutory entities and offices and the department's emergency management accountabilities.

EMV has legislative responsibility for managing the State Control Centre (SCC), Victoria's primary control centre for managing emergencies. It comprises a Watch Desk, which provides a base service and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and stewardship teams that are functionally aligned to the Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS) framework and principles. Stewardship teams focus on sector-wide governance, coordination and engagement, capability building, strategic planning and continuous improvement. They also support internal SCC business and provide core operational support to the SCC, as needed.

About the Role

Some of your duties will include:

  • Manage a team of Watch Desk staff, providing clear direction, advice, mentorship and necessary support to deliver on the SCC service offer
  • Lead the collection, analysis and interpretation of current and forecast operational information, translating this into timely, accurate and relevant intelligence products, including reports, briefs and correspondence such as incident notifications, community messaging and warnings.
  • Ensure the SCC delivers on its core legislative and operational requirements and that relevant processes, procedures, capacity and systems are in place to support operational requirements.

 

This is a designated shift work role and you will be required to perform duties on a 24/7 rotational roster, including days, nights, weekends and public holidays.

You will be remunerated in line with these shift work requirements, as well as receiving an additional week of annual leave and substitute leave for public holidays in accordance with the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024

This role requires you to work on-site at the State Control Centre at all times.

 

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

  • Prior experience developing processes, procedures, capacity and systems to support operational requirements.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the State's Command and Control arrangements that operate within Victoria (or like jurisdiction) is desirable. 
  • Demonstrated experience with coordinating emergency management activities is desirable.

Qualifications/requirements

  • Tertiary qualifications in intelligence, communications or another similar discipline is desirable.

How to Apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.


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