Scientific Officer

About Us

As an emergency service agency, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is responsible for ensuring the safety of people and property across Queensland through the provision of effective prevention, preparation, response and recovery activities across a range of emergency situations.

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 (RFS) and the State Emergency Service (SES), and also supports other volunteer groups providing emergency response to Queenslanders.

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

The functions of the QFES are unique. It is the only entity in Australia that delivers high quality fire, rescue, emergency and disaster management services through a single agency. This collaborative approach across the service and with key stakeholders delivers improved safety outcomes for the community.

Purpose of the Role

Research and Scientific is a specialist branch and provides 24-hour, 7-day per week hazardous materials response providing expert advice to QFES and other agencies such as the Queensland Police Service (QPS) on the safe management of chemical and other hazardous materials emergencies including Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) incidents.

The Branch incorporates two response vehicles, one staffed 24-7 by two fire-fighters, supported by the on-call scientific officer and the other staffed by an on call scientific officer drawn from QFES or Queensland Health Scientific Services that supports a network of Scientific volunteers located across Queensland.

We also provide expert technical and scientific advice to support research within QFES and the development QFES policies, programs and activities such as operational support and specialist training.

Scientific Officers form the professional scientific core of QFES requires officers to have a broad scientific knowledge, with particular emphasis on chemical hazards and emergency management of HAZMAT or CBRN incidents. The Scientific Officers also participate in entry operations with the combatant authority (QFES) into contaminated environments donning protective equipment.

Key Requirements

Mandatory requirements
- Tertiary qualifications (minimum degree level) in Applied Science, Science, Chemical Engineering or related fields majoring in chemistry.
- Must be prepared to participate in branch on-call roster.
- A medical test to prove aptitude and fitness for this role will be required before appointment. The objective of the medical test is to prove that the applicant is medically capable of wearing personal protective equipment, such as self contained breathing apparatus and chemical protective suits at a hazardous materials or CBRN incident under the supervision of QFES. This is a condition of employment.
- Minimum C class Driver's Licence (non-restricted).

Highly desirable requirements
- A higher degree in Applied Science, Science, Chemical Engineering or related fields majoring in chemistry will be very highly regarded.

Your Key Accountabilities
- Provide expert advice on hazardous materials management and HAZMAT/CBRN incident response to QFES, QPS, Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and other identified agencies across government.
- Participate in a roster to be periodically on-call as a senior Scientific Officer to attend HAZMAT/CBRN emergencies for the branch.
- Contribute to the development of policies, programs and initiatives to support the QFES strategic focus on hazardous materials management and HAZMAT/CBRN incident response by undertaking research, analysis, and providing expert advice on complex scientific and technical issues.
- Contribute to the enhancement and maintenance of the infrastructure to support the branch.
- Actively contribute to the development and delivery of specialised HAZMAT and CBRN training to the QFES, QPS and other specific agencies.

**Specific duties include some or all of the following**:
Operations
- Provide on-site expert scientific advice in relation to hazardous materials management and CBRN incident response.
- Liaise with Emergency Services, Queensland Police, Queensland Health, local authorities, other government agencies, industry and the public in relation to the emergency.
- Don protective equipment/self-contained breathing apparatus in the support of operations such as assessment, detection and sampling within contaminated environments at HAZMAT or CBRN incidents where required.

Operational policy, training, and support
- Contribute to and lead research projects that are relevant to the operational and strategic needs of the QFES.
- Contribute to the development of policies, strategies and programs to support the focus on hazardous materials management, HAZMAT emergency management including response and operational readiness such as acquisit