Fire & Ecology Project Officer (Forest, Fire and Regions) (Jan 2025)

About the position

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team and make a difference at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. 

In the Policy & Planning Division of the Forest, Fire and Regions Group, we support environments and communities to be resilient and thrive, through advancing forest, fire and emergency management policy and planning. Work with a high performing team and apply your problem-solving skills to help manage Victoria’s unique ecosystems in the context of threats such as bushfire and climate change while promoting biodiversity, nature based tourism and enabling Traditional Owners to manage Country in line with self-determination.

As the Project Officer you will work collaboratively across the division and DEECA, building relationships and providing policy and project support to the deliverables of the state-wide forest and fire ecosystem sciences unit, the regional risk and evaluation team in the Barwon South West Region and the Hume regional fuel management teams. 

You will get the opportunity to work in field and in office, to work on: 

• The development and continuous improvement of decision support tools and modelling to support fire management decision-making for ecosystem values.
• Identifying bushfire management approaches which minimize risk to life and property and maximise ecological outcomes. 
• Supporting the development, delivery and use of the new metrics for quantifying Ecosystem Resilience.
• Undertaking and supporting targeted research projects with a range of stakeholders. 

The position plays a key role supporting the development of high-quality policy, drawing on strong research, analysis and communication skills to contribute to the overall program. 

The position requires policy and critical thinking skills, flexibility and adaptability to readily adjust to changing priorities, as well as strong interpersonal skills to understand the drivers behind others’ opinions and to build respectful relationships. 

About us:

DEECA brings together Victoria’s energy, environment, water, agriculture, forestry, resources, climate action, and emergency management functions into a single department to maximise connections between the environment, community, industry and economy.

Our challenge is to improve Victoria’s liveability with a population that is expected to almost double by 2050, while responsibly tackling climate change and protecting our natural environment, infrastructure and heritage for future generations.

The opportunity for you:

The DEECA Science Graduate Program is a two-year learning and development initiative open to recent graduates of science, natural resource management including ecology, conservation, sustainability, geoscience and geology, agriculture, urban and regional planning, computer science, engineering or related fields.

As a graduate, you'll:

• have diverse roles across the Department.
• work across metro and regional Victoria
• enjoy flexible work principles, including start times (7am-7pm) and hybrid work teams (mix of on-site and remote work).
• commence as an ongoing employee - with guaranteed job at the end of the program
• upon successful completion of the program, be reclassified to a VPS 3 salary of $74580.
• be supported with mentors and buddies
• participate in extensive learning and development - program guided and self-directed!

We recognise the significant responsibility our Department has as land and natural resource manager to support self-determination and create opportunities for Traditional Owners to care for the Country and provide opportunities to enhance First Peoples' connection to the Country. We are committed to creating a culturally safe environment, where individuals feel safe, valued and able to enable their culture, spiritual and belief systems.

Next steps:

Applications for the 2025 program open on 9 June 2024 and close 5pm 10 July 2024.