Business Support Officer

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

RFSQ provides holistic rural fire management support and advice across Queensland, where team members work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, especially our volunteer Rural Fire Brigades, to enhance service delivery and build operational capability to meet legislative and organisational requirements. RFSQ has four (4) Regions made up of eight (8) Districts and twenty-five (25) Areas; and a Strategic Capability function that provides state-wide support across Queensland. The team provide support to volunteers and staff, delivering a professional service to the community on a 24 / 7 basis, in line with phases of bushfire prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

As the Business Support Officer, you will be responsible for providing high level confidential administration services to support staff, volunteers and brigades, with business and operations activities. You will set priorities and monitor workflows to manage the functions of human resource and finance administration, and records and database management. You will also be required to coordinate RFS medal and awards nominations, official functions, diary management and/or secretariat duties as required, and monitor for compliance with policies and procedures to ensure efficient and effective service delivery to meet regional objectives.

Key requirements

Highly desirable requirements
- Government purchasing qualifications (level 1).
- Knowledge of or experience in the use of human resource systems, finance systems, database management and reporting.
- Knowledge of, or experience working with volunteers and/or within a volunteer organisation.

Special requirements
- The incumbent may be expected to participate in an out-of-hours call roster during emergency operations. This may require work outside of normal hours (e.g., night shift), including weekends, extended working hours and may include deployment to other parts of the state or interstate.

Your key accountabilities

Your part in the ongoing success of our department, in supporting key operations and business services will see you responsible for a variety of work, including, but not limited to:

- Ensure timely and appropriate provision of support to staff, volunteers, and brigades through the provision of high-level administrative support, including assisting in the preparation, review and coordination of correspondence, reports, and other materials in accordance with departmental requirements.
- Undertake general office duties, mail distribution, filing, diary control, travel arrangements and functions, maintenance of office equipment and asset records to ensure the effective management of the office.
- Respond to enquiries from staff and volunteers relating to uniforms, equipment and stationery etc., which includes, receipting, ordering and system maintenance to ensure records reflect correct status and items are dispatched.
- Coordinate and process training records, human resource, and finance administration activities, including end-to-end administration processes, ensuring compliance with departmental policy and procedures.
- Liaise and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including members of the public and volunteers to support key processes, procedures, and delivery services.
- Utilise databases to create, update, analyse and report on business activities and provide operating support to ensure compliance and effective maintenance of records and access to information.
- Prioritise workload effectively and perform duties responsibly in the absence of supervision using initiative to resolve issues and provide recommendation for continuous improvement.
- Where required, undertake support and administrative duties during emergencies and disasters which may involve short-notice activation and rostering outside of business hours.

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