Local recruitment: Senior Flood Operations Specialist (Australia nationals)

Australia is regularly affected by severe weather events. These events are growing in frequency and severity, leading to increased impacts on the economy, infrastructure, property, and wellbeing. 

To address this, the Bureau of Meteorology has undertaken significant steps to deliver a more customer focussed, integrated and resilient national operation through the Community Services Group (CSG).

CSG is comprised of Environmental Prediction Services (EPS), Decision Support Services (DSS) and National Production Services (NPS) which have been configured to enable scalable, national and resilient services. Operating with a national capability, this program will establish a world class centre of scientific expertise and practice. To achieve this, EPS has been configured into four predictive service units: Severe Weather, Marine and Antarctic, Water, and Climate, each of which play a key role in the value chain of the Bureau’s capability to deliver a suite of valuable products and services to the Australian community.

All Teams in EPS Water work together in an integrated manner to ensure the Bureau continues to develop its foundational flood forecasting and warning capabilities, and seamlessly delivers Water Services that ensure public safety, and meet our obligations under the Water Act.

Responsibilities of EPS Water include leading the Bureau’s rostered National Water Operations Team (NWOT) which delivers flood and 7-day streamflow forecasting services, 365 days a year, adopting a national risk-based approach; applying best practice approaches in water forecasting; and enhancing our flood forecasting systems and tools and as well as help establish CSG’s Rainfall Intelligence capability. All functions have a strong focus on continuous improvement of all our products, processes and tools underpinned by a learning and development culture to ensure continued delivery of high-quality forecast, warning and information services for our customers. 

The primary responsibility of this role is focussed on year-round operational flood forecasting and warning as part of a planned National Water Operations Team (NWOT) roster.  This roster will be extended to provide 24/7 coverage as required during enhanced flood operations. Outside of NWOT duties, this role will lead projects that drive continuous improvement of flood warning services aligned with a key national capability area. This may include the development and improvement of flood forecasting systems, forecasting techniques, processes, training and documentation that support the national Flood Warning Service. There will be an expectation that suitable candidates will be able to work across a number of the teams in EPS Water to develop operational resilience and to ensure diversity of work.

To be successful in this role, you will have a good understanding of operational flood forecasting and the total flood warning system. The role will require the occupant to support shifts on a planned roster and work seamlessly with colleagues in NPS and DSS to deliver an unrivalled water operations service.  

You will possess a sound ability to excel in high pressure, complex and dynamic operating environments such a during severe weather events. During periods of enhanced flood risk and severe weather events, you will be committed to supporting the Bureau and our customers outside the scope of standard working hours.

Position Description – PDF

Position Description – Word