Deputy Commissioner, Queensland Fire And Rescue

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

QFES is a primary provider of fire, rescue and emergency management programs and services throughout Queensland. The department encompasses Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR) and Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ), and is supported by a significant volunteer workforce to delivery its key functions.

As of the 1 July 2024, QFES will become the Queensland Fire Department (QFD). Established as a dedicated fire department, QFD is committed to strengthening service delivery to meet the needs of Queensland communities. 

The Deputy Commissioner, QFR is responsible for leading the performance and specialist service delivery elements of fire, emergency management and specialist emergency response activities to communities throughout Queensland. This is achieved by overseeing and leading the delivery of all QFR services through our four regional office locations. Along with supporting the Commissioner in the performance of the Commissioner’s statutory functions, you will be accountable for leading improvements in the overarching performance and capability of QFR.

The position requires strong professional leadership and management capabilities. The role requires an ability to lead and manage urban and emergency management services to deliver government priorities along with excellence in client service delivery. The Deputy Commissioner is to provide high level leadership particularly by working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders. As an executive your performance will be assessed in according to four key accountability perspectives: financial; stakeholder and outcome; internal business; and learning and growth.

This position is accountable to the Commissioner, QFES. 

• professional firefighting experience which requires the ability to demonstrate significant knowledge of and practical experience in each of the following:
  • responding to, combating and managing structural fires, bushfires, and incidents involving hazardous materials
  • carrying out specialist and technical rescues
  • responding to and managing disasters.

AND 

• incident control expertise which requires the ability to demonstrate significant knowledge of and practical experience in the control of:
  • incidents of large-scale structural fires and bushfires; and
  • incidents involving hazardous materials; and
  • specialist and technical rescues; and
  • responses to disasters.

AND 

• fire prevention expertise which requires the ability to demonstrate significant knowledge of and practical experience in fire prevention, in relation to:
  • building fire safety; and
  • community education and enforcement; and
  • mitigation and prevention strategies in the built environment and rural environments that are susceptible to bushfires.
• Experience must be obtained by employment as a firefighter in QFR or a fire service (however described) in another State or New Zealand that is equivalent to QFR.

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

Financial

• Provide strategic direction and leadership within QFES to ensure the effective delivery of services through best use of the human, financial and capital resources, ensuring government and corporate objectives are met.
• Management of organisational capability and direction in response to contemporary performance expectations in liaison with our business partners.

Stakeholder and outcome

• Develop strategic partnerships and effective relationships with Local Government, Queensland Police Service, emergency services agencies and other State Government agencies, Commonwealth agencies, Non-Government, organisations and other organisations including volunteer organisations which contribute to the effectiveness of Queensland’s disaster management system.
• Develop and sustain relationships within the organisation, with the Ministers Office, across the public service and with a diverse range of significant external stakeholders including unions and associations.
• Provide executive leadership regarding local, inter-state, national and international trends, issues and initiatives relevant to Fire and emergency management services and oversee policies, considering emerging trends and identifying long term opportunities.
• Represent the interests of the state of Queensland effectively in public and internal forums and on a range of national forums that relate to national security.

• Provide high level visionary leadership within QFES and the community to ensure the delivery of world class professional, preventative and responsive Fire and emergency services.
• Provide leadership and undertake strategic decision making during times of State-wide or critical emergency response.
• Command and lead major incidents and disaster management responses with the capacity to undertake the role of State Fire Controller.
• Strategic management of performance, capability and interoperability across QFES.
• Provide executive leadership to guide the direction of the organisation, its current and future services and the longer-term development of the organisation.
• Ensure QFES compliance with relevant legislation, government policy, corporate direction and contemporary best practice in Fire and emergency service delivery.
• Execute excellence in interpersonal skills to manage negotiations to resolve issues of great significance to the departments operation.
• Ensure that the Commissioner and Minister are provided with proactive and detailed advice on a broad range of complex and sensitive issues.
• Provide a high level of advice, forward planning and strategic decision making that has a significant impact and that is critical to continued success of the department.
• Devise and implement strategies to addresses critical risk areas.
• Strongly influence departmental and whole-of-government policies and priorities.
• Represent or assume the role of Commissioner QFES during planned and/or unexpected absences.

Learning and growth

• Provide leadership and drive direction and accountability against customer measures to support best practice in the raising, training and sustaining of staff that support the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery phases in an all-hazards environment whilst contributing to the broader objective of improving community resilience.
• Support the Commissioner, to ensure, through monitoring and regularly evaluating, emergency capability is continually improving with a priority focus on providing support to local governments and fire/disaster management groups.
• Ensure a strategic approach to the delivery of training for operational staff enables persons to perform the functions under the relevant Acts are met efficiently, effectively and appropriately.
• Implement sustainable and effective performance management and development systems.
• Lead and drive the implementation of government reform agenda and department commitments.
• Lead and model whole of government values which reflect a commitment to customer first, ideas into activities, unleash potential be courageous and empower people.
• Lead and drive the implementation of operationally critical projects of significant scope and complexity including systems, technology, employment relations and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead the development and implementation of effective corporate governance and business improvement frameworks and practices.

As a leader in the Queensland Government, you will display outstanding judgement, high of level integrity, strong agility to adapt to a constantly changing environment, a strong achievement orientation, and excellent communication and negotiation skills.

The position requires a person who will take personal responsibility for serving the government of the day and meeting the needs of Queenslanders. As Deputy Commissioner you will work towards a system of excellence in service delivery and public sector management.

You will have a record of success as a leader in a large and complex organisation with outstanding leadership ability.

You will have extensive experience across the public, private and/or not for profit sector and you will have a strong background in strategy and policy implementation, service delivery, and client service.

You will have a proven track record as an agent of change in challenging environments and in fostering a confident and capable workforce.

You will have extensive experience in an operational environment. 

QFES actively encourages productive working relationships, a healthy work-life balance, workplace diversity and innovation. As such you will be committed to implementing a safe, healthy and secure workplace; and flexible work and lifestyle options.

You will be expected to embed quality of life principles into your working life and role model behaviours that demonstrate a work-life balance.

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 – Executive (leading the function)

Vision

• Leads strategically
• Stimulates ideas and innovation
• Leads change in complex environments
• Makes insightful decisions

Results

• Develops and mobilises talent
• Builds enduring relationships
• Inspires others
• Drives accountability and outcomes

Accountability

• Fosters healthy and inclusive workplaces
• Pursues continuous growth
• Demonstrates sound governance

Once you join us we will want you to exemplify the QFES shared values of:

• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Courage
• Loyalty

Want more information?  

Please contact Natasha Olsson-Seeto or Jevon Seah, from OnTalent on phone (07) 3305 5*** or email ******@ontalent.com.au.

You can visit Deputy Commissioner, Queensland Fire and Rescue - OnTalent to find out more about the role. 

You can also refer to the Senior Executive Service - Employment Conditions for additional information.

How to apply

Please refer to the QFES Senior Executive Application Guide for information on how to apply for this role.

Privacy

QFES have engaged OnTalent to manage this recruitment process. OnTalent will disclose information about you to QFES, for QFES to consider as part of the recruitment process for this role.  To see how OnTalent manages your personal information – click here