Bushfire Consultant

The Opportunity

We are searching for a Bushfire Consultant to join our growing and talented bushfire planning team. The role is focused on projects within the Greater Sydney region (Newcastle - Wollongong - Blue Mountains).

If you have experience in bushfire consulting, bushfire management, environmental planning, or as a town planner or environmental consultant, we would love to hear from you.

We are an industry leader providing bushfire services to all states and territories across both the public and private sectors. You will contribute to land management, development, infrastructure, and renewable energy projects delivering bushfire management solutions for our clients. We strive to integrate the latest bushfire science into our bushfire assessments, bushfire management plans and other services. This means we work on interesting projects, applying new/emerging tools and techniques, whilst delivering robust outcomes for our clients.

You will have the opportunity to work with leading industry experts in bushfire management and planning, within a strong and collaborative team. We will support you to further develop your skill set and provide you with opportunities to broaden your expertise, while being supported by a team of approachable experts.

The role will include fieldwork, problem solving, communication with project stakeholders, report writing, and tender preparation as well as other tasks depending on your skills and experience. You will work on a diverse range of projects and for a variety of government and private clients.

About the role

We have office locations at Kariong and Beresfield NSW, with a focus on delivering projects in the Greater Sydney region and east coast of NSW. You will have the opportunity to deliver innovative solutions for our clients. Opportunities to work from home located between Sydney and Wollongong and Western Sydney for experienced consultants with a strong track record.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Supporting the planning of structure plans and subdivisions, major tourist developments, and other special fire purpose protection facilities.
• Contributing to and preparing Bushfire Protection Assessment Reports, Bushfire Management Plans, Hazard Reduction Plans, Bushfire Emergency Evacuation Plans.
• Coordinating and auditing bushfire hazard reduction works and assisting with improving the protection for 'high risk' land uses and sites.

You will have direct access to, and opportunity to work closely with, our ecologists, arborists, archaeologists and restoration ecologists to manage and design landscapes that respond to bushfire risks.

About you

To succeed in this role, you will need to have a passion for creating safer and resilient communities in NSW and beyond as regions grow in population, and as we confront the challenges of sustainability and climate change adaptation.

You are a self-starter, someone who initiates new assignments and challenges. You have a desire to succeed, and demonstrate adaptability/flexibility. There are only challenges to be solved and you are willing to muck in. You have a strong client focus and a knack for building and maintaining credible working relationships.

Applicants with a planning degree and experience will be highly regarded.

To be successful:

• A degree in Environmental Sciences, Planning, or Building along preferably with a Graduate Diploma in Bushfire Studies and related experience.
• Working knowledge of relevant NSW bushfire planning legislation and Planning in Bush Fire Prone Areas, Australian Standard 3959 Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas, and other related guidance documents produced by the NSW Rural Fire Service and local government.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, a high standard of report writing ability and a keen attention to detail.
• Prior experience in the planning and/or building construction industry.
• A demonstrated ability to accurately interpret legislation applicable to NSW planning, building or environmental frameworks.
• The ability to undertake site surveys to classify vegetation to structural form.
• Technical understanding of bushfire science, bushfire risk assessment and mitigation, and associated land use planning and approvals processes.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills, as you will liaise with team members from different disciplines, clients and government agencies to ensure delivery of innovative solutions that meet client and broader community expectations.
• Flexibility around geographic locations of work, as some travel and some overnight stays may be required.
• Excellent organisational skills in order to plan and manage projects.
• Work well within a team and able to mentor staff with your technical expertise.
• High level competencies with the MS Office suite.

It would be a bonus if you have:

• Previous consulting and project management experience.
• Experience undertaking assessments and preparing a range of high-quality reports including Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessments, Bushfire Protection Assessment reports, Bushfire Emergency and Evacuation Management Plans, hazard reduction and burn program experience.
• BPAD accreditation (or have completed or have made significant progress in the required training for accreditation).

What can we offer the ideal candidate?

Travers bushfire & ecology can offer work from home and flexible work arrangements for proven reliable and independent employees.

We focus on developing professional careers through the provision of ongoing career development, and generous opportunities for training and industry group involvement. We provide staff with a career pathway from Graduate through to Principal Environmental Consultant, with numerous entry points.

As your role progresses you will be exposed to greater levels of project management and responsibility, client and stakeholder engagement, project scoping and budgeting, and business development and management opportunities, all of which are key elements of a successful career at Travers bushfire & ecology.

We promote flexible and hybrid working options for all positions, whether it is a full-time position (38-hour week) or part-time position (24+ hours). Provide on the job technical training, support, progression and development opportunities.

Benefits:

• VPN network to work from home as required.
• Work phone with internet data package.
• Access to company vehicles for field work.
• All field expenses covered when undertaking field work.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• An inclusive and safe work environment.
• An opportunity to join a close-knit team who are passionate about ecology, bushfire, and environmental science.