Assistant Director, Coordination and Planning

Requisition Number: 135138
Position Number/s: 60160616 
Classification: Executive Level 1 
Location: VIC  
Division: National Resilience Capability Progs  
Branch: Coordination and Planning  
Section: Coordination and Planning - VIC/TAS  
Security Classification: Baseline Vetting 
Salary: $117,335.00 to $133,729.00  
Contact: James Drummond - James.Drummond@nema.gov.au 
Period of Vacancy: Ongoing 
Number of Vacancies: 1 

Applications close: 04/11/2024 at 11:59pm (midnight) - AEDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

Who can apply:

Please note this opportunity is available to current Australian Public Service employees and all eligible members of the community.
 

About the National Emergency Management Agency:
The National Emergency Management Agency's work has a real impact on the lives of Australians, particularly those living in rural and regional areas.

The National Emergency Management Agency's guiding principle is “Locally led, locally understood and locally implemented” and we bring together local communities, government, non-government and key industry representatives to support disaster recovery and resilience across the country.

Your work will help people who are recovering from natural disasters and prepare them for the future.

Section Overview

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Coordination and Planning Branch provides national coordination across Government to support states and territories to respond to disasters.  Working through meaningful partnerships, the Branch seeks to build Australia’s capacity for disaster response, recovery and resilience and support communities when they need it most.

Assistant Directors are Coordination and Planning Officers (CPOs) that manage the delivery of work through CPO teams who support the state, territory and local governments, and communities, across the full emergency management continuum.

The Branch comprises a Strategy and Coordination Section, and six state teams (NSW/ACT, QLD, VIC/TAS, SA, WA, and NT) dedicated to supporting and partnering with jurisdictions, who have lead responsibility under emergency management governance arrangements. The Coordination and Planning Branch supports delivery of national policies and programs and contributes to key NEMA functions, such as the Crisis Coordination Team (CCT).  

Position Summary

Assistant Directors for Coordination and Planning Branch are located across Australia in metropolitan and key regional locations, working in partnership with Australian, State and Local Government to support disaster-affected communities to collectively build resilience, reduce risk and harm, and effectively respond to and recover from disasters.

Assistant Directors manage a network of Coordination and Planning Officers to ensure strong coordination with Australian and State and Terittory government organisations , more joined up support for communities and an ability to surge support across the nation when required.

This is achieved by supporting NEMA with:

• Response and early recovery planning
• Recovery and resilience program design, assurance and improvement
• Decision making through information and issues management
• Senior Official visits and associated briefings.

In partnership with States and Territories, Coordination and Planning Officers also:

• Coordinate information and, when required, directly support communities (including vulnerable communities) to understand and access Commonwealth support
• Support and enable the development of local resilience, recovery and response plans and preparedness activities.

At times, the Assistant Director may be required to assist in other functions delivered by the Branch and may be required to work outside of standard business hours, in support of Emergency Management and Response operational priorities, including a surge capacity to disaster impacted communities and fulfilling functions within the CCT.

Assistant Directors are expected to exercise high levels of initiative, judgement and leadership within their jurisdiction.  They provide detailed technical, professional and/or policy advice in relation to complex problems and provide a conduit between NEMA and the states and territories to assist with strategic planning and coordinated response to operational or program issues that arise. 

Specific Duties / Responsibilities:

• Engage and collaborate with key stakeholders (internal and external) to identify and maintain mutually beneficial and productive working relationships, including with federal, state and local governments, and actively building and maintaining relationships with teams across NEMA
• Provide expertise across a broad range of activities potentially relating to the work of different program areas, including anticipating problems and oversighting issues management
• Consider and effectively manage competing priorities and strategic directions when achieving team planning and outcomes, in line with agency goals and objectives
• Implement change and manage ambiguity in the workplace
• Coordinate and undertake detailed work activities with an awareness of their possible impact on strategic, political or operational outcomes for NEMA and disaster management coordination
• Communicate and make decisions that are based on professional judgement, evaluating risks and in the context of a complex and changing environment
• Promote the agency’s business objectives through key strategic relationships with range of stakeholders, working in direct partnership with state and territory disaster management agencies
• Present the agency’s position in the context of more complex issues, including identifying new stakeholders while considering future needs/direction and a changing environment
• Plan and monitor work processes, direct and coordinate quality assurance practices and set performance indicators
• Prepare draft reports, briefing papers, Ministerial correspondence, discussion papers and information briefs
• Represent the agency by promoting its interests at cross-agency and community levels (as required), including engaging empathetically with disaster-affected communities.

Experience/Role Requirements/Qualifications

This position requires the following:

• High level stakeholder engagement and management experience managing complex and sensitive issues
• Strong personal resilience and ability to lead teams through change and ambiguity
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities and strategic directions when achieving team planning and outcomes in line with agency goals and objectives, in response to an unpredictable and dynamic work environment
• Experience in emergency management
• Sound decision making and judgement
• Ability to deploy to disaster impacted areas (if required)
• Valid driver’s license.

Applicant response:

As part of your application, you will be required to prepare a pitch of no more than 500 words and your resume. (minimum 11pt font in MSWord or PDF format)

Please ensure you read the instructions carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.

Your pitch should outline:

• Why you are interested in the role and what you can bring to the team
• How your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role, and particularly your organisation and collaborative skills
• Any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

How to apply:

Prior to preparing your response it is recommended you review the Work Level Standards relevant to the classification you are applying to. It may also be useful to refer to the Integrated Leadership System information relevant to the classification. You are required to submit your application in the online recruitment system (ourPeople).

As part of your application, you will need to provide:

• Your CV
• Your Applicant Response document
• Details of two referees
• Include your full name and the Requisition Number - 135138 in the footer of any documents being uploaded.

Eligibility and Specific Conditions of Employment

To be eligible to work with the NEMA you must:

• Be an Australian Citizen
• Fulfil the Agency’s minimum requirements by satisfactorily answering all screening questions during the application process
• Obtain and maintain the required AGSVA clearance
• Satisfy a probation period
• Undergo a health assessment (if applicable).
   

Technical Assistance

If you are experiencing problems submitting your application online, please email the nature of the issues you are experiencing to Recruitment (recruitment@homeaffairs.gov.au) including screen captures if necessary. A response will be sent during business hours.

Notes

Remuneration: The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package, including salary, superannuation benefits and flexible working conditions appropriate to the level of the position.

If you have identified as having a disability, please indicate whether you require any support throughout the selection process. For further information please contact Recruitment: recruitment@homeaffairs.gov.au.