Public Information And Warnings Manager

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
The Public Information and Warnings unit provides strategic and operational response oversight of the public information capability, to ensure operational planning and readiness at the state, regional and local levels. The team works with internal and external stakeholders to ensure Queensland communities receive timely, accurate and relevant information during incidents and disasters, to ensure the safety of the community and effective incident management.
Reporting to the Executive Manager, you will be responsible for managing a team of Public Information Officers in the delivery of timely and quality public information and warning services to meet organisational and legislative requirements. You will oversee the daily operations and functions of the Public Information and Warnings team including timely incident-based information to help communities make informed decisions, take protective action and reduce potential impacts and consequences of a hazard.
Key requirements
Highly desirable requirements
- Qualifications, and more than seven years' experience, in communications or public information related field within a complex and challenging environment.
- Knowledge and/or experience or qualifications in project management and business improvement strategies.
- Minimum C Class Driver's Licence (non-restricted).

Special requirements
- Participate in the Public Information and Warnings 24 hour on-call roster and travel intrastate or interstate, as necessary.
- Deployment at short notice in response to QFD operations during major incidents, emergencies and disasters if required.

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:

- Manage the issuing of critical public information and oversee the delivery of public information and warning initiatives to support operations and the public information and warnings capability.
- Supervise the team's support of QFD operations during major incidents, emergencies and disasters to inform communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from the impact of fire and emergency events.
- Oversee projects and activities by leading a team within a complex disaster management environment, and ensuring project and business outcomes are achieved to a quality standard, and reviewed to enhance a culture of continuous improvement and quality service delivery.
- Provide specialist advice to the Minister's office, the Commissioner and Executive Leadership Team on strategic public information and warning issues and disaster response.
- Prepare, edit and approve a range of public information and warnings products prior to distribution, and in accordance with departmental guidelines and requirements.
- Develop, implement, evaluate and oversee a comprehensive public information and warnings training program to increase the capability of staff and volunteers to effectively communicate with the public during incidents and disasters.
- Establish, build, and maintain effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and represent QFD at meetings and forums and negotiate positive outcomes as required.
- Manage and oversee the functions of the team, including governance, financial management and proactive human resource management, whilst fostering positive teamwork and building capability through coaching others, and assisting in the ongoing development of staff through performance, planning, and review.

Capabilities
To determine your suitability for the role, you will be assessed on the following Leadership Competencies for Queensland behavioural profiles that link to the "key accountabilities" for this role:
Leadership Competency Stream - Team Leader (leading others)
Vision
- Leads strategically
- Makes insightful decisions

Results