Manager (FSINS) Innovation and Operational Planning

Purpose of specific work area and position

The Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) Training and Capability Branch leads an agile volunteer and staff development framework, coupled with delivery of strategic planning and innovative capability enhancement initiatives, to promote service delivery excellence. The Innovation and Operational Planning function focuses on research, development and benchmarking to determine service-wide strategic and operational programs and plans that improve the future capability of the RFSQ.

Reporting to the Director Training and Capability, you will lead the functions of the team, overseeing the operationalisation of operating concepts and risk-to-resource models, to build capacity, capability and preparedness of fire and emergency service delivery. You will contribute to the development of innovative capability enhancement initiatives to enhance regional operations and service delivery. In collaboration with senior stakeholders within the Strategic Capability Division and in Regions, you will lead the development of service-wide strategic, operational and capability plans, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and whole-of-government policy.  

Mandatory requirements

• Must meet the mandatory requirements as outlined in the generic RFSQ Inspector role description.

Highly desirable requirements

• Holds a current Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification or can obtain the skill within a mutually agreed timeframe.


• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and provide good organisational and planning skills.


• Work in an adaptable and high-pressure environment to support the development and training outcomes

Primary duties

This RFSQ Role Specification Statement appends to the generic RFSQ Inspector role description (key accountabilities and capabilities), and provides clarity on the duties of this role, and will see you lead by example and model QFD values and behaviours in the delivery of the responsibilities of the role, which includes:

• Lead the development of service-wide strategic, operational and capability plans, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and whole-of-government policy.


• Develop, review, and maintain strategic frameworks, such as operating concepts and risk-to-resource models, to build service-wide capacity, capability and preparedness of fire and emergency service delivery. 


• Working closely with the State Operations Branch, coordinate a system to maintain service-wide operational oversight, including managing rostering for RFSQ personnel in the State Operations Centre.


• Working closely with the State Operations Branch, support inter-region, inter-state and international deployment requests to ensure effective response planning.


• Identify, develop, implement, and evaluate research and development initiatives to cultivate leading-edge innovations and drive service delivery excellence.


• Facilitate strategic working group meetings to ensure regional capability planning is coordinated and managed within each region. 


• Lead, facilitate and/or participate in committees and meetings to provide specialist advice and champion collaborative solutions to address planning and innovation priorities.

Additional information

• Applicants most suitable for the role will hold the rank of substantive Inspector, RFSQ however Rural Officer Two (RFSO2) with the appropriate skills and knowledge are encouraged to apply.


• Volunteers and external parties with appropriate skills are highly encouraged to apply, noting that they may be asked to provide additional information to satisfy internal policies.  


• Have a proven commitment to maintaining bushfire competencies and operating in a regional team environment. 


• Incumbents may be required to travel and work within their area of responsibility and may also be required to undertake intrastate and/or interstate deployment and travel. 


• This is a day work position yet may require flexible hours of work to meet functional demands, including working at night on weekends as part of the role. 


• Incumbents appointed to this position will participate in a personal professional development programme developed in conjunction with their supervisor. 


• Incumbents must have proven commitment to maintaining competencies and operating in a team environment. 


• Those appointed to a role within the QDMA (Queensland Disaster Management Arrangements) framework will undertake appropriate regularly training, to maintain your role within RFSQ as a member of any QDMA appointed position.


• This Role Specification Statement is linked to the generic role description, that provides the ‘key accountabilities’ and ‘capabilities’ to be addressed by the applicant. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review this role specification statement with the role description and consider the requirements when preparing their application.

​​​​​​​Note: Where there is a conflict between the Role Description and the Role Specification Statement, the Role Description will prevail. 

• More information on how to apply is provided in the relevant QFD Application Guide.