Rural Fire Service District Leader

Rural Fire Service Queensland District Coordinators play a crucial role in supporting operational and organisational functions in the management of rural fires, enabling field-based staff and volunteers to concentrate on immediate task execution and response. Each district encompasses operational and support staff, RFSQ volunteers and rural fire brigades who provide fire management, mitigation, and response services for rural and semi-rural communities, including some urban fringe areas across the state.

The purpose of this position is to oversee operations across area offices (between two and four service delivery units) to drive excellence in prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery activities for bushfires and other emergencies across the district.

This leader will work closely with volunteers as well as other area, district, regional, and state stakeholders to contribute to strategic regional and operational planning, implementation, and evaluation of district-wide and department-wide programs and initiatives to enhance rural fire management within the district.

Operational leadership and guidance will be provided to area operations teams, volunteers, and brigades in mitigating the impact of bushfires by promoting community awareness and education initiatives on fire prevention and ensuring appropriate oversight of operational decision-making at a district level.

To ensure operational capacity and capability across the district, this leader will enable community protection and suitable fire management response.

Mandatory Requirements

• Must meet the mandatory requirements outlined in the generic RFSQ Superintendent role description.

Highly Desirable Requirements

• Knowledge of or experience in resource management appropriate to volunteers for the prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery phases in community support.
• Experience in or knowledge of managing a volunteer environment.

Primary Duties

This role appends to the generic RFSQ Chief Superintendent role description, providing clarity on the duties of this position. The successful candidate will lead by example and model QFD values and behaviours in the delivery of the responsibilities of the role.

1. In consultation with the Assistant Chief Officer, lead, manage, and coordinate RFSQ operations during large-scale multi-agency incidents and disasters within the district, maintaining operational awareness and oversight to ensure effective response across the district.
2. In collaboration with Regional Asset Officers and the Asset Services Division, oversee the management and purchasing of district operational assets through financial management best practice, ensuring fit-for-purpose appliances, fleet, and equipment are available to meet operational requirements.
3. Oversee resources to ensure general operational capacity and capability across the district, including managing the senior on-call roster for the district.
4. Liaise with Bushfire Mitigation to oversee the execution of bushfire mitigation activities in the district, including coordinating Chief Fire Wardens and leading the bushfire season debrief for the district.
5. Provide district input into capability planning, regional strategic, and operational planning, contributing to the execution of these plans to meet performance requirements for the district.
6. Support activities that ensure the achievement of performance requirements for the district, including identifying and managing district risk, and overseeing the financial budget.
7. Monitor asset usage for compliance to asset operating standards and policy, including approval of equipment purchasing in line with delegations and the equipment plan, and the final acceptance of assets into the fleet and infrastructure portfolio.
8. Represent RFSQ at a district level during complex major incidents, focusing on the management of political, economic, social, technical, legal, and environmental impacts on the local community.