Fire Officer - Affirmative Measures - (Indigenous)

Who we are  

Australia’s natural and cultural heritage is unique. Our land and seascapes are distinctive, home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, and to some of the oldest living cultures on earth. These environments and cultures are an essential part of our national identity, and visitors travel from across the country and the world to experience them. The Director of National Parks (the Director) is responsible for six national parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 58 Australian Marine Parks and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.  

Parks Australia is the federal park agency that supports the Director, and they are a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department). We work to showcase these natural and cultural wonders to the world, demonstrating to all why these places are so special, and inspiring communities to become more invested in their care and future. 

Kakadu National Park is a world-heritage listed site for its natural and cultural values, and one of three national parks, leased by their Aboriginal owners to the Director of National Parks, and jointly managed by Traditional Owners and Parks Australia. Parks Australia assists with ongoing management of the park’s natural and cultural heritage. In addition to ongoing management of the park’s natural and cultural heritage, this branch also manages strategic priorities for Parks Australia, managing a range of strategic planning and major capital projects across the three jointly managed parks. 

The Country Section is responsible for the protection of the Kakadu National Park’s biodiversity assets and natural values. The section does this by providing strategic advice and support to the operations section on fire, feral and weed management, managing Country through a significant fire programme; implementing and assisting significant species projects; responding to the threat of climate change; data and knowledge management; and planning. The section is an important part of creating an inclusive cross-cultural working environment. 

The Job 

Under general supervision and at the direction of the Fire Management Manager and Fire Coordinator, Country Section, and in accordance with the Lease Agreement, Kakadu Plan of Management and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) implement biodiversity and cultural focused fire management programmes across Kakadu National Park.  

The duties will include:  

• Work with the Operations Team and Park staff to implement annual fire plans and late dry season response plans and tools. 
• Assist in the coordination and implementation of strategic prescribed burning programs in the wet and dry season, including aerial and ground burning with a key responsibility for implementing the parks Fire Management Strategy. 
• Monitoring seasonal fires using web-based tools such as NAFI. 
• Assist in coordinating late dry season fire response and suppression activities across all park districts and liaise with senior staff to support these efforts.  
• Sign up new casual employees and extend existing casual employees and lodge staff timesheets. 
• Maintain data and GPS records associated with fire management activities using ArcGIS.  

All duties will be performed in accordance with the Park’s Lease Agreement, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and Management Plan. 

What we are looking for 

Knowledge and experience 

• An awareness of issues affecting Indigenous people in remote locations and the ability to contribute sensitively and effectively to the joint management of the park as well as developing and supporting relationships based on mutual trust, respect and consideration of values and culture.  
• Demonstrated experience, and a sound level of practical knowledge in planning, coordinating and implementing fire management in a protected area, particularly aerial burning and on-ground burning with Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders, including incorporation of Traditional Knowledge and Skills, in fire management.  
• Demonstrated experience in strategic fire management, planning, and reporting, including an ability to use navigational mapping and tracking devices.  
• Effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills including the ability to consult and negotiate sensitively in a remote and cross-cultural workplace.  
• Demonstrated application of safe working practices in relation to fire management and a working knowledge of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.  
• Have an awareness of issues affecting Indigenous people in remote locations and a capacity to contribute sensitively and effectively to the joint management of a World Heritage National Park.  
• Experience with and ability to use navigational mapping and tracking devices.  
• Good administrative skills and experience, with the ability to use digital data capture devices and perform data entry and mapping tasks. 

Skills and capabilities 

You should be able to demonstrate:  

• Skills in planning, coordinating, and implementing fire management in a protected area, particularly aerial burning and on-ground burning and fire suppression with Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders, including incorporation of Traditional Knowledge and Skills, in fire management.  
• Ability to effectively supervise staff in a cross-cultural environment including encouraging Aboriginal traditional owners and other relevant Aboriginal people to participate in all aspects of fire management in the park; and share the traditional owner’s vision for the future of the park including participating in the exchange of knowledge, experience and skills between Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff, the community and public.  
• Demonstrated ability to be an effective team member with experience in supervising and training participants from a variety of backgrounds, but also a collaborative approach to working alongside other teams on-park (e.g., operations) to assist with fire management. 

Desirable qualifications 

The successful applicant must possess the below units of competency or have the ability to obtain them. 

• PUAFIR204 - Respond to wildfire. 
• PUAFIR303 - Suppress wildfire. 
• PUASS00080 – Prescribed Burn Crew Leader. 
• PUASS00081 – Prescribed Burn Crew Member. 
• PUASS00086 - Simple Prescribed Burn Officer. 
• PUASS00067 - Complex Prescribed Burn Officer. 
• PUASS00068 – Complex Prescribed Burn Planner. 
• PUAFIR008 - Operate aerial ignition equipment in an aircraft. 

CANDIDATES PLEASE NOTE 

We are running 2 separate recruitment process' for this position, one is an Identified position and one is Affirmative measures - Indigenous. Further information below: 

Affirmative measure - Indigenous employment – The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the 'Racial Discrimination Act 1975'. This vacancy is only available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.  

Identified position – This position is an ‘Identified’ position which signifies that the role has a strong involvement in issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The successful applicant must have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and an ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People.