Deputy Chief Officer

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/DCORR1885962

Salary: $225,000 - $290,600 (inclusive of super)

- Fixed Term, Full Time 5 year contract

ROLE SUMMARY:

The Deputy Chief Officer (DCO) – Readiness and Response (RR) is a senior leadership role that provides authoritative advice and expertise in shaping and influencing effective operational service delivery to ensure robust levels of readiness and response across the State and with interstate agencies.

The DCO-RR will support the VICSES Chief Officer Operations (COO) in implementing the Operational Capability Strategy; delivering VICSES services safely and implementing initiatives that effectively enable the strategic objectives and priorities of VICSES.

The DCO-RR leads an integrated team of staff across the State; engaging with volunteer leaders applying astute judgement, strategic leadership and guidance, exercising high levels of delegations, working in a matrix model for building a flexible and agile workforce, driving a culture of high performance, innovation and interoperability for emergency response and improving safety performance.

They are accountable to the COO for developing and maintaining statewide operational frameworks, operational doctrine, systems, and communications, specialist response and emergency management risk assessment and planning at Municipal, Regional and State levels for VICSES hazards.

This role has accountability for making Readiness and Response decisions on behalf of VICSES under the State Emergency Management Plan and associated sub-plans and will undertake operational command and control functions during specific regional and statewide operations.

The DCO-RR maintains Emergency Management Commissioner accreditation to perform the most senior multi-agency Control role during Major Emergencies performing the State Response Controller.

WHO WE ARE:

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is a volunteer-based emergency service. Our highly skilled and equipped Volunteers are trained comprehensively in a wide range of emergency environments. To minimise the impact of emergencies when they occur and strengthen the community's capacity to recover swiftly and safely, VICSES focuses on working with communities and partners in building resilience to achieve more aware, informed and prepared communities. We support them to understand their risk and the relevance of taking action before, during and after emergency events.

As the largest road rescue network in Australia we have specialist teams that provide a 24/7 response to road accident and trauma incidents. We assist Victoria Police in search and rescue operations, and play an important role in supporting the Country Fire Authority, Fire Rescue Victoria, Parks Victoria and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action during emergency incidents.

TO APPLY:

Please view the Position Description and submit an application via Careers.Vic

Applications should include a cover letter detailing your relevant skills and experience, with a current resume.

For further information about the role, please contact Alistair Drayton at alistair.drayton@ses.vic.gov.au

Applications close Tuesday, 30 September 2025

VICSES is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to being a child safe organisation and are taking a leadership role in gender equality in the emergency management sector. For more information on our values and the benefits of working with us, please click here - ses.vic.gov.au/join-us/careers

Applications close Tuesday 30 September 2025 at 11.59pm

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