Deputy Coordinator-General

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was established on 1 September 2022 as a single, accountable Commonwealth authority that delivers a whole-of-nation approach to reducing disaster risk, planning, preparing for, responding to and recovering from all hazards across the emergency management continuum.

NEMA works closely with local communities as well as state and territory governments to deliver the best outcome for communities across Australia. To help communities respond and recover, while preparing Australia for future emergencies, we:

• provide national leadership to share knowledge, situational awareness, and trends in disaster efforts to inform, guide and shape the national picture and decision-making at the Commonwealth, state and local government level – including through policy development and strategy to improve risk reduction, resilience and recovery.
• provide round-the-clock all-hazards monitoring and operational coordination for domestic and international emergencies, including supply chain disruptions, critical infrastructure outages, biosecurity risks and widespread cyber-attacks, and through supporting preparedness and response activities, including through the operationalisation of the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework and the Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework.
• work with communities, industry and non-government organisations by connecting local Coordination and Planning Officers and other NEMA staff right around Australia, to share lessons learnt, provide awareness on navigating government services, and gain community and industry-led ideas and concepts to inform strategic policy and planning.
• fund programs and initiatives, big and small, that help communities in times of emergency, as well as to recover and prepare, including through disaster recovery funding and the Disaster Ready Fund to help reduce the risk and impact of disasters.

For further information on NEMA’s purpose, vision and values, please see About us | NEMA.

About the Role

The Deputy Coordinator-General drives national outcomes through influence and collaboration to ensure NEMA and the Australian Government are prepared for, respond to and recover from disasters and crises of national significance.

The Deputy Coordinator-General, EMR Group works to:

• Protect Australia and Australians from national security, emergency management and disaster-related threats through effective coordination, preparedness and policy leadership.
• Strengthen Australia's resilience and reduce disaster risk through strategic capability development and national partnerships.
• Work with key stakeholders to lead continuous improvements to Australia's emergency management and crisis coordination frameworks, capabilities and systems.
• Ensure Australia is equipped to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through nationally coordinated capability uplift and operational leadership.
• Support the delivery of Australian Government non-financial assistance to states, territories and communities impacted by disasters and emergencies.

The role is Canberra based and may require domestic and international travel.

We are seeking candidates who:

• Demonstrate and promote the APS Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct.
• Provide strategic leadership that aligns organisational priorities with Government objectives and national outcomes.
• Contribute as a member of NEMA's Senior Leadership Team to the strategic direction, culture, performance and stewardship of the Agency.
• Lead across organisational, jurisdictional and sector boundaries to achieve outcomes that cannot be delivered by a single entity acting alone.
• Drive organisational transformation and continuous improvement through innovation, evidence-based decision making and adaptive leadership.
• Ensure strong governance, risk management, assurance and performance frameworks are communicated and embedded across the Group.
• Foster an inclusive, diverse and psychologically safe workplace that enables high performance and professional growth.
• Build organisational capability to respond to current and emerging risks affecting Australia's crisis management and emergency management systems.
• Maintain a focus on stewardship by investing in people, capability, partnerships and systems that strengthen long-term public value.
• Champion collaboration, accountability and excellence in service delivery.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

The Deputy Coordinator-General, Emergency Management & Response Group will:

• Provide advice to the Coordinator-General on emergency management, resilience, preparedness, crisis response and related strategic policy matters, including execution of the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework.
• Provide strategic leadership for NEMA's national preparedness, crisis coordination, disaster response and early recovery functions.
• Lead NEMA's future capability program of work, including national operational capability building and nationally significant projects and programs such as AusAlert, Public Safety Mobile Broadband, the National Emergency Stockpile and Aerial Firefighting.
• Drive continuous improvement of Australia's crisis management and emergency management systems through innovation, lessons management, exercising and capability development.
• Provide strategic leadership of the Australian Government's crisis coordination arrangements, ensuring effective national preparedness, situational awareness, consequence management and coordination during events of national significance.
• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with senior leaders across Commonwealth, state and territory governments, industry, academia, the community sector and international partners to strengthen national resilience and crisis response arrangements.
• Lead coordination of Australian Government non-financial assistance through the Australian Government Disaster Response Plan (COMDISPLAN), including activation and oversight of whole-of-government coordination mechanisms.
• Oversee the operations of the National Situation Room and associated national situational awareness capabilities, ensuring the provision of timely and authoritative advice to Ministers, government and senior decision makers.
• Represent NEMA and the Australian Government nationally and internationally, when required.
• Be accountable for issues of exceptional complexity, consequence, political sensitivity and risk.
• Lead by example and foster a culture of inclusion, integrity, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement while building organisational capability and leadership depth.

To be eligible to work with NEMA you must:

• be an Australian Citizen
• obtain and maintain a security clearance at a minimum of Negative Vetting 2
• obtain and maintain an Australian Federal Police Character Clearance/Certificate of Suitability

How to Apply

For further information and to obtain a candidate information pack (CIP), please email *****@amandaorourke.com.au. For further questions after reviewing the CIP or if you need assistance with the application process, please contact Amanda O'Rourke 0452 199 *** or Sharron Jobling 0411 430 ***. Enquiries will be kept in strict confidence.

Please submit your application via email to *****@amandaorourke.com.au quoting Ref. No. 1199 in the subject line.

Remuneration: The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package, including salary, superannuation benefits and flexible working conditions appropriate to the level of the position. A competitive salary package will be negotiated with the successful applicant.

A merit pool will be established that may be used to fill similar ongoing positions within the next 18 months.

If you have identified as having a disability, please indicate whether you require any support throughout the selection process. For further information please contact *****@amandaorourke.com.au.