Queensland Fire Department (QFD) and Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) sit at the heart of community safety across one of Australia’s most hazard-exposed jurisdictions. With more than 27,500 volunteers operating through 1,400 brigades, RFSQ is one of the largest and most community-embedded emergency services in the nation. Its strength lies in deep local connections, strong volunteer leadership and a shared commitment to protecting Queensland communities.
Following significant reform, RFSQ is entering a new phase focused on strengthening capability, trust, governance and delivery.
The opportunity
The Deputy Chief Officer (Strategic Capability) is a senior executive role responsible for shaping the strategic foundations that enable RFSQ to operate effectively now and into the future. Recently elevated, this role offers significant scope to design, influence and deliver contemporary capability frameworks across the organisation.
Reporting to the Chief Officer, you will work at an enterprise level to translate strategy into practical outcomes that support volunteers, regions and communities. A key focus over the next 12 months will be establishing fit-for-purpose strategy, frameworks and development pathways to support future readiness.
This role requires a leader who can operate with integrity, transparency and strong ethical judgement, with an understanding of the unique nature of volunteer service, and the ability to balance timely delivery with collaborative engagement. The role balances enterprise-level strategy with a grounded understanding of operational environments and volunteer-based service delivery.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading strategic planning, capability frameworks and reform delivery
- Strengthening training pathways, succession planning and workforce development
- Overseeing mitigation strategy, operating models and resource-to-risk planning
- Driving organisational uplift in culture, systems and ways of working
- Coordinating delivery of initiatives that are ready to implement
- Providing executive advice on capability risk and future readiness
About you
You are a highly credible operational leader with experience in rural fire, emergency management or complex service delivery environments.
You are a senior executive with a strong background in strategy, capability development and organisational leadership.. You bring a collaborative, transparent leadership style and a strong ethical foundation.
You understand the importance of volunteers to community safety and are committed to building systems that respect their contribution while improving efficiency, consistency and outcomes. You are politically astute, future-focused and motivated to lead meaningful reform.
What’s on Offer
- A rare opportunity to design and embed the strategic capability foundations of Queensland’s rural fire service.
- Executive remit to lead reform, uplift workforce capability and address long-standing legacy challenges.
- A foundation opportunity to create lasting impact for the organisation, its volunteers and the communities it serves.
How to Apply
For a confidential discussion or role related questions, please contact Adam Dent or Sarah Curran of The Orchard Talent Group on qfd@orchardtalent.com.au. To apply please submit your current CV and a statement of suitability via the link.
Please refer to the QFD Senior Officer Application Guide for further information on how to apply for this role: https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-07/Application-Guide-Public-Service-All-PS-Class-Streams-and-Senior-Officer.pdf
The nominated applicant will be required to disclose any serious disciplinary action taken against them in the Queensland public sector.
Please note applicants must have a legal right to work in Australia.
Applications close 25 February 2026
The Orchard Talent Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.