Senior Predictive Services Officer

About this role

This role presents a unique opportunity to make a significant impact within the Victorian Fire Sector. Operating at the intersection of science application and prediction, you'll help drive world-leading best practices and contribute to a culture of continuous innovation. As part of a dynamic and supportive team, you'll have the opportunity to grow professionally and lead change in an evolving environment. We value a flexible work culture that promotes collaboration, fosters creativity, and ensures work-life balance. This role allows you to contribute to reforming practices and enhancing user experiences, ultimately making a real-time, tangible difference in fire management. If you're passionate about influencing change and making a lasting impact, this is the role for you.

Skills & qualities relevant to this role include:

Leadership & Strategic Thinking: We're looking for a candidate with exceptional leadership abilities who can guide teams through change, demonstrate resilience, and adapt to a dynamic operating environment. You will need to think strategically and make decisions with a national perspective, ensuring alignment with broader goals.

Collaboration & Influencing: Success in this role requires the ability to work collaboratively across government, industry partners, and other stakeholders. The ability to influence decisions at a national level and lead diverse teams will be key in driving systemic change and the effective implementation of policies.

As a valued member you will contribute to several strategic areas:

Strategic Leadership: Lead the reestablishment of the team's role within the new operating environment, ensuring alignment with organizational and government-wide objectives. You will guide the team through a period of transformation, ensuring that innovative strategies are effectively implemented in collaboration with national-level stakeholders

Driving Change & Innovation: Play a crucial role in shaping strategies that enhance the fire management customer experience. You will drive the reform of existing practices, ensuring more efficient and effective results. This includes reviewing predictive services systems and tools, implementing the AFDRS FISI metrics, and integrating ongoing science applications into emergency management operations

FBAN Community of Practice: Continue to support the development of the Fire Behaviour Analysts (FBAN) program in Victoria. This includes establishing cross-agency training standards and agreements, standardizing processes and templates, and ensuring the maintenance of both capability and capacity within the team.

Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications

• Demonstrated capability in fire behaviour science, emergency management or hazard modelling and prediction.
• Emergency management operational experience and a tertiary qualification in a relevant field are desirable.

This is an ongoing position. The work location for this position is flexible within Victoria with hybrid work arrangements available.

To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience.

For further information please refer to the attached position description.

Applications close at midnight on Wednesday, 19 March 2025.

Other relevant information:

For this particular vacancy, priority consideration applies to Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs and Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a National Police Check.  

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.  

A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

DEECA welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and we focus on the essential requirements of the job and being consistent and fair in our treatment of all applicants. We also understand that a balanced life is important to our employees. Talk to us about our flexible options such as working some days from home, starting early or late, working part time, job sharing or accessing paid or unpaid leave.