Executive Manager

About us

As a department our purpose is to help the community to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from the impact of fire and emergency events.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is the primary provider of fire, rescue and emergency management programs and services throughout Queensland. The department encompasses the Fire and Rescue Service, disaster management services, the Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service, and also supports other volunteer groups providing emergency response to Queenslanders.

QFES is one department with many services, many capabilities and many partners.

Purpose of the role

The QFES Reforms form part of the Queensland Government's Disaster and Emergency Management Reform Program, which aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of Queensland disaster and emergency services. The reform program involves several significant changes to QFES, including the transition of Marine Rescue, State Emergency Services, Disaster Management from QFES and the establishment of a new Queensland Fire Department (QFD).

The Executive Manager IR (Reform) will, with the Director IR (Reform), provide advice, representation and, advocacy for and within QFES, performing traditional industrial relations functions such as consultation with unions, advocacy before industrial tribunals and engagement with relevant IR and HR teams in relation to the implementation of industrially sound arrangements to support the QFES Reforms.

Reporting to the Director IR (Reform), you will assist in leading and managing the development and implementation of the industrial relations initiatives to support the new QFD. You will provide industrial relations advisory and support services to senior executives and key stakeholders on reform and will work closely with the industrial relations team to prevent and manage industrial disputes. You will focus on the department's IR strategy to deliver and continuously improve client relationships that enhance and enable an agile and diverse workforce and engage with the IR team on reform matters as they relate to certified agreements and awards, consistent at all times with relevant statute and other industrial instruments, to ensure all employment practices, risk management frameworks and policies and procedures align with legislation and best practice approach for the organisation.

Key requirements

Highly desirable requirements
- Possession of relevant tertiary or postgraduate qualification/s in industrial/employee relations.
- Knowledge and/or experience in interpreting relevant legislation and industrial instruments and the enterprise bargaining process, negotiating with employee representative bodies and/or managing grievances and disputes.
- Knowledge of IR systems, including legal framework, with specific knowledge of the Queensland IR legislative context.

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:

- Lead and manage the development and implementation of industrial strategy, employment practices and risk management frameworks, policies and procedures to ensure they meet industrial relations reform principles.
- Lead and manage the interpretation of variations to industrial instruments, awards and enterprise agreements and guidance materials to ensure the department meets compliance obligations regarding industrial relations legislation.
- Provide high-level expert advice to senior executives on all matters relating to employee and industrial relations, public sector policy, employment frameworks and management of enterprise agreements to influence decision marking and achieve business objectives.
- Represent the department on internal and external meetings and forums, including appearance as an industrial advocate in Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, and other tribunals to support resolution of issues and meet agreed outcomes.
- Partner with key stakeholders and relevant unions/employee representatives through the negotiation, development and implementation of enterprise agreements for all employee groups to ensure they meet best practice approaches and deliver robust processes.
- Prepare and review complex briefing material, cabinet submissions and correspondence in relation to industrial relations issues, employment and policy frameworks and best practice, in accordance with organisational guidelines and governance.
- Plan and manage complex projects and initiatives in accordance with best practice methodologies and ensure they are delivered on time, on budget and meet business requirements.
- Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team, fostering teamwork and managing human resource, and financial management practices, including developing of staff through performance, planning and review.

Capabilities

To determine your suitability for the role, you will be assessed on the fol