Senior Applied Fire Scientist - Fuel Assessment

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action is seeking a Senior Applied Fire Scientist - Fuel Assessment for a fixed term role in Victoria, Australia. The position involves leading a national project to improve bushfire fuel assessment methods, requiring strong expertise in fuel measurement and collaboration. Candidates need relevant qualifications and experience in environmental science, GIS, SQL, and programming. Flexible work arrangements are available.
Overview

Work type: Fixed term - Flexible

Salary: $113,022 - $136,747

Grade: VPSG5

Occupation: Environment

Location: Negotiable

Reference: VG/50966251MAY

This role is an exciting opportunity to join a small team of fire behaviour specialists dedicated to leading bushfire behaviour and risk research projects and implementing the outcomes into decision making processes. This role will lead a newly funded project that leads a national project, updating and improving the way fire agencies assess bushfire fuel.

The Senior Applied Fire Scientist – Fuel Assessment will lead the ‘Fuelling the Fire Behaviour Models of the Future' project, a national project which aims to develop a revised fuel measurement guide that can be applied for operational decisions and modelling based applications. The project utilises a variety of measurement techniques including the use of terrestrial lidar scanners. The position leads the project on behalf of other states and territories and works in collaboration with subject matter expertise outside of fire agencies.

In this role, strong technical expertise in fuel measurement is required, alongside strong collaboration skills to ensure the project is delivered in line with other states and territories expertise. If successful you will use your project management skills to ensure the project is delivered within timeline and budget constraints.

Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications
• A tertiary qualification in natural resource management, environmental science, geospatial science, data science, economics or equivalent is mandatory.
• Demonstrated technical and practical expertise in fuel measurement and its application for operational decision making or fire modelling is mandatory.
• Expertise in GIS, SQL and either R or Python is mandatory.
• Experience in designing, executing, analysing and publishing scientific studies is desirable.
• Experience in applied bushfire science or hazard modelling and prediction is desirable.

This is a fixed term position available for a period of 3 years. The work location for this position is flexible within Victoria with hybrid work arrangements available.

To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience.

For further information please refer to the attached position description.

Applications close at midnight on Tuesday, 27 May 2025.

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a National Police Check.

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

DEECA welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and we focus on the essential requirements of the job and being consistent and fair in our treatment of all applicants. We also understand that a balanced life is important to our employees. Talk to us about our flexible options such as working some days from home, starting early or late, working part time, job sharing or accessing paid or unpaid leave.

Applications close Tuesday 27 May 2025 at 11.59PM

Posted 13 May 2025