Principal Program Officer

at  Queensland Fire Department

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
Operational Communications provides strategic direction, advice and planning to deliver initiatives for the advancement of frontline communications capability, equipment and infrastructure used by QFD’s operational workforce. The team is responsible for the delivery of projects and initiatives to enhance operational communication systems including radio, cellular and satellite systems and managing ongoing contracts with whole-of-government network vendors and other service providers. The team also provides direct support with specialist communications equipment and personnel to support field-based operations as required, including deploying at short notice to incidents and disasters to meet operational requirements.
Reporting to the Executive Manager, you will be responsible for managing a small team to develop improved communications strategies and technology, and strengthen the departments operational communications capability. Working with Queensland government partner agencies, you will lead the development and implementation of new equipment and applications to support integrated and interoperable communications strategies.
Key requirements

Highly desirable requirements

• Knowledge and operational experience in an emergency service organisation or similar environment.
• Experience and/or knowledge in Australasian Inter-Service Incident Management System (AIIMS).

Special requirements

• It is expected that the incumbent will undertake operational support duties and 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.

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:

• Provide leadership and advice on the current and future utilisation of operational communications systems and platforms to meet operational and strategic objectives.
• Undertake research and analysis of communications usage, emerging technologies, operational objectives and communications best-practice to improve the overall safety of the QFD workforce.
• Manage initiatives related to the development and deployment of operational communications equipment and strategies, including management of contracts suppliers to deliver equipment and services in line with departmental standards and requirements.
• Research, analyse, interpret and solve problems and issues to support project implementation and integration, and identify opportunities for improvements in processes and service delivery.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships and manage communications with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure communication and technology outcomes for the department.
• Prepare and review complex, reports, submissions, briefs correspondence and presentations on related issues and initiatives, in accordance with departmental requirements.
• Represent the department on industry, community, government and volunteer representative groups to monitor trends and design solutions to address business needs and meet agreed outcomes.
• Build team capability through leadership, coaching, mentoring, skills transfers and positive performance management.

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 - Team Leader (leading others)

Vision

• Leads strategically
• Leads change in complex environments

Results

• Develops and mobilises talent
• 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
• LoyaltyThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.

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:

• Provide leadership and advice on the current and future utilisation of operational communications systems and platforms to meet operational and strategic objectives.
• Undertake research and analysis of communications usage, emerging technologies, operational objectives and communications best-practice to improve the overall safety of the QFD workforce.
• Manage initiatives related to the development and deployment of operational communications equipment and strategies, including management of contracts suppliers to deliver equipment and services in line with departmental standards and requirements.
• Research, analyse, interpret and solve problems and issues to support project implementation and integration, and identify opportunities for improvements in processes and service delivery.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships and manage communications with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure communication and technology outcomes for the department.
• Prepare and review complex, reports, submissions, briefs correspondence and presentations on related issues and initiatives, in accordance with departmental requirements.
• Represent the department on industry, community, government and volunteer representative groups to monitor trends and design solutions to address business needs and meet agreed outcomes.
• Build team capability through leadership, coaching, mentoring, skills transfers and positive performance management

Accountability

• Fosters healthy and inclusive workplaces
• Demonstrates sound governanc