Operations Planning Officer

APS 6 - $88,408 - $100,378
- Australian Antarctic
- Hobart - TAS

The Operations Planning Officer will report to the Operations Planning Lead and is responsible for assisting in the planning, coordination and liaison required to provide operational support for projects, as part of the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) annual season plan.

**Who we are**
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is part of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. As primary agency for Australia's Antarctic Program (AAP), the AAD is responsible for achieving the Australian Government's Antarctic goals.
These goals are to:

- maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhance Australia's influence within it
- protect the Antarctic environment
- understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system
- undertake scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.

The AAD also has responsibility for administering the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard and McDonald Islands.

Antarctic Operations and Safety Branch plan, coordinate, facilitate and deliver operations for the Australian Antarctic Program by safely resupplying and sustaining the Antarctic Stations and building operational capacity to deliver future Antarctic projects.

The Operations Planning Section is responsible for science campaign and operational planning, annual season planning, service level agreement project planning and approval.

**The Job**
- Undertake lead role in planning support to a range of AAP projects.
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, facilitate and lead planning groups.
- Manage planning for projects within a project management framework including:

- assessment of project support requests, resource allocation, and documentation
- development of Service Level Agreements in a timely manner which align with priorities, available resources and AAD operating procedures
- development of risk assessments for activities outside AAD operating procedures
- manage multiple projects simultaneously in a dynamic environment.
- Assist in development of annual AAP season planning including:

- development of operational plans for the utilisation of station, aviation, maritime, and field resources
- consultation with Science Planning and Coordination, and integration of Station and Field, Shipping, Aviation and Supply capabilities and schedules.
- As required work within the Operations Branch to assist:

- the AAD Incident Management Team
- in the development and implementation of operational policies and practices required for the safe and effective delivery of operational support
- undertake project work for other sections within the Operations Branch to support Branch priorities.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**
- Demonstrated experience in project management.
- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
- Relevant experience in multidisciplinary operational planning of remote area logistics, scientific, aviation, maritime, infrastructure or other relevant operations, is highly desirable.

**Skills and capabilities**
- Demonstrated experience in planning projects within a project management framework, including the production of project and operational plans, and risk assessments.
- Proven capability in managing multiple projects simultaneously, workload prioritisation and resource allocation, in a dynamic environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the proven ability to produce operational plans, documentation and briefs, within tight timeframes.
- Proven ability to communicate, liaise and maintain relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience working collaboratively as a team leader, team member, and facilitating and leading planning groups.

**Please note** that the successful applicant may be required to travel to the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions therefore they may be required to meet specific medical, adaptability and personal qualities requirements appropriate to working in those environments.

In order to undertake travel to the Antarctic & sub-Antarctic regions they will need to:

- demonstrate the range of personal qualities and interpersonal skills necessary to perform as a successful team member within isolated Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments
- demonstrate an ability to effectively adapt and respond to the demands of living and working in an isolated and confined environment as determined by a psychological (adaptability) assessment
- be certified as fit for Antarctic service by the AAD’s Polar Medicine Unit.

**Desirable qualifications**
- Demonstrated proficiency/qualifications in project management.

**For additional information, please read the Job Description below.