Why work with us?

At Council, we’re proud of our region. We collaborate with community to achieve truly sustainable outcomes, enhance our enviable lifestyle, and create award-winning places and spaces that are uniquely Sunshine Coast. So, if you love it here as much as we do, and you want to shape our region for the future – you’ll want to join our team !

With the vision to be Australia’s most sustainable region - Connected. Liveable. Thriving , our region is a model of sustainability, where caring for our environment, creating vibrant communities and growing our local economy is a way of life.

About the Role

The Environmental Operations Branch is responsible for the preservation, management and enhancement of council’s diverse range of environmental and recreational assets and in partnership with our community, the rich biodiversity of the region’s landscapes. The branch plays an active role within council, liaising with other units, as well as with the community to maintain and deliver high quality environmental outcomes.

As the Fire Management Program Leader, you will be responsible for strategically managing bushfire hazards and fire-related infrastructure across Council’s Natural Area estate. This includes planning, implementing, and monitoring fire operations to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards, and Council policies. You will also oversee the operational use of GIS spatial data for the Natural Areas Fire Team, and provide expert advice and liaison support to both internal and external stakeholders.

Key duties include but are not limited to:

• Planning and delivering programmed fire management activities and responding to bushfire events on Council Controlled estate, actively coordinate and liaise with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, Rural Fire Service, State Government Departments, relevant Disaster Management bodies, council officers and Councillors and, as required, the community.
• Undertake fire risk assessments, develop site specific reserve fire management plans, and maintain an active monitoring program that contributes to managing bushfire hazards on Council controlled lands.
• Undertake environmental assessments and prepare project designs, budget estimates, specifications and contract documents for projects including capital works and ecological monitoring projects in relation to meeting council’s bushfire management obligations.
• Actively lead council employees in delivery of the fire management program and participate in emergency operations and disaster management exercises and responses in both coordination and field operations.

About you

As a requirement of this role, you will possess relevant tertiary education in Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management or equivalent, along with experience in the implementation and delivery of natural resource management programs.

You will have proven experience in fire management strategic planning and operations and, incident control and/or incident management system certification, and demonstrated experience in the use and application of computerised systems for the collection, analysis and reporting of fire related spatial and other data, particularly ESRI related GIS software.

You will have substantial knowledge and understanding of fire ecology and behaviour and extensive experience in leading a team in strategic bushfire risk evaluation, adaptive monitoring, planning and evaluation and implementation of bushfire management activities.

Essential to your success is physical agility and the level of fitness, strength and dexterity to carry out labouring and frequent heavy lifting & bending. As such, appointment to this position is subject to completion of a pre-employment medical assessment.

Our Culture & Employee Benefits

Council is committed to creating an inclusive, culturally diverse , healthy, skilled and dedicated workplace culture. As an employee you will enjoy a range of benefits and working styles to suit you:

• Wellbeing : Your wellbeing is important to us therefore we offer a number of different initiatives such as discounted health related memberships, fitness passport, employee assistance program and development opportunities.
• Flexibility: We know it is important to balance life and work, therefore we offer flexible working including a 9-day fortnight and a hybrid WFH model that help you be your best.
• Extras: Those extras make a difference therefore we offer salary packaging options on novated leases, superannuation, smartphones and devices.

How to apply

Your written application should include:

• A 1-2 page cover letter demonstrating your ability to fulfil the mandatory and desirable requirements on the Position Profile . Keep the key responsibilities in mind when addressing this criteria; and
• A current resume or curriculum vitae.

Once you have these two documents ready, click ‘Apply Now’ and follow the prompts to complete your application.

Further Information

Helpful information to assist you in completing your application is available on the Sunshine Coast Council website.

To learn more about Council’s vision and projects, you can view the Corporate Plan 2025-2030 .

For specific enquiries contact Hetti Malone during business hours on 0408 816 917.

At Sunshine Coast Council, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background including First Nations, disability, religion and sexual orientation. To deliver the best service to our region we want a workforce that reflects the diverse community that we serve. Sunshine Coast Council strongly encourages all suitable applicants to apply for this role.