Bushfire Mitigation Officer

Purpose of specific work area and position

The Bushfire Resilience and Operational Support Branch sits within the Strategic Capability Division of the Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) and leads strategic and operational asset management, bushfire mitigation strategy and land use planning resilience for the RFSQ. The Bushfire Mitigation function comprises operational and non-operational staff with expertise in four key areas - mitigation strategy, first nations capability development, environmental ecology (natural and cultural), and landscape fire policy. The Mitigation Strategy team is responsible for developing and coordinating the implementation of preventative bushfire mitigation strategies across the state.

Reporting to the Manager Bushfire Mitigation Strategy, you will be responsible for supporting the bushfire mitigation network, with the overall focus of the role to enhance bushfire hazard mitigation and vegetation management through: enabling the use of fire in the landscape; providing support to fire management groups; volunteer community educators; fire wardens and brigades; and enhancing community engagement. The role will provide initial and ongoing training to regionally based RFSQ personnel to promote bushfire safety and other education packages, to assist communities with bushfire mitigation strategies and planning.
As the Bushfire Mitigation Officer Vegetation Hub, you will provide operational guidance to support alignment between bushfire management and vegetation management. You may be required to act as a Fire Warden and deliver accurate explanation of legislation and policy regarding permits to light fires, vegetation management and bushfire mitigation. You will provide high quality support to volunteers to build and develop volunteer capability and sustainability in accordance with departmental strategic plans.
You will also be required to assist in the delivery of relevant community safety strategies to ensure a coordinated approach to bushfire mitigation, including developing partnerships with regional staff and external agencies such as Department of Resources, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and local government representatives, to help raise community awareness regarding bushfire risk reduction and bushfire fire preparedness.

Your role will be the key conduit for regional staff in their efforts to assist Area Fire Management Groups, and internal and external stakeholders in analysis of bushfire risks that have potential to impact a community. Your role is one of coordination and engagement at a statewide level to support regional delivery.
Mandatory requirements
- Must meet the mandatory requirements and attributes as outlined in the generic RFSQ Rural Officer Two (RFSO2) role description.

Highly desirable requirements
- Can demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders from rural and near rural communities.
- Knowledge of, or experience working with volunteers and/or within a volunteer organisation.

Primary duties

In addition to the generic RFSO2 role description, the primary duties of the Bushfire Mitigation Officer [Vegetation Hub] include but are not limited to:

- Support the coordination and delivery of bushfire mitigation activities by volunteers, brigades, and partners to enhance bushfire preparedness including education and engagement activities.
- Provide advice, guidance and input for the development and implementation of bushfire risk mitigation plans and strategies, with a focus on vegetation management.
- Provide secretariat support to relevant state level bushfire committees, working groups and supporting tools for Area Fire Management Groups by preparing templates, agendas, recording, minutes and follow up actions and decisions.
- Coordinate reporting outcomes on bushfire risk mitigation plans produced and developed by regions and ensure regional capability planning and operations are coordinated and aligned with statewide mitigation strategies.
- Support coordinated collection of data for field intelligence (e.g. fuel assessments, site inspections) to understand bushfire risk and mitigation planning strategies.
- Undertake bushfire investigations and compliance and assist in the management of community complaints.
- Provide advice and support to the fire warden network regarding the interaction between Permits to Light Fire and other legislation affecting vegetation management or bushfire mitigation issues.
- Undertake risk assessments and evaluate their effectiveness in response to bushfire risk management, property risk management and fire prevention planning for communities.

Additional information
- Be able to meet the attributes of the generic RFSO2 role description.
- Rural Officer One (RFSO1) or applicants with equivalent industry experience, appropriate skills, and knowledge, are encouraged to apply.
- Volunteers and external parties with appropriate skills are highly encouraged to apply, noting that th