Program Support Officer, Grade 3/4, Various locations

Program Support Officer, Grade 3/4, Various locations & creation of Talent Pool

• Explore a fulfilling role as a Program Support Officer with a focus on providing excellent project and administration support in activities ranging from utilising the Microsoft Office suite, contribute to preparation of reports, responding to correspondence, managing team inboxes, coordinating meetings and workshops, researching and drafting documents.
• 1 x Full-time ongoing position supporting the Community Capability team in our Emergency Management Directorate located from Wollongong Headquarters (flexible location may be considered).
• 1 x Full-time temporary position supporting the Operational Capability team within the Capability and Training Directorate until June 2025, with possible extension or made ongoing. This role can be flexibly located at State Headquarters (Wollongong) or any Zone Headquarters (Wagga, Goulburn, Sydney(Rhodes), Metford, Goonellabah, Tamworth, Dubbo, Broken Hill). 
• Creation of Talent Pool for future roles-based at State Headquarters (Wollongong) or various Zone Headquarters.
• Work in a volunteer-based emergency service agency supporting communities of NSW.

About the opportunity

The NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) has an exciting opportunity for an Administration Professional looking to utilise and expand their skills and knowledge whilst working with a team of dedicated staff and volunteers.

You will utilise your skills to assist the Community Capability or Operational capability Team in the delivery of a range of projects/programs and initiatives to facilitate the timely delivery of objectives.

Working within the teams, you will undertake basic research and analysis in assigned areas. You will also contribute to the preparation of reports to inform decision making and contribute to policy/program/project development.

A talent pool will be created for a Program Support Officer for future roles.

About the NSW SES

Our Mission: NSW SES saving lives and creating safer communities.

Our Vision: A trusted volunteer-based emergency service, working together to deliver excellence in community preparedness and emergency response.

The NSW SES serves the NSW community as the lead agency for floods, storms, and tsunamis as specified by the State Emergency Service Act, 1989. It is recognised as the most versatile and widely used emergency service organisation in NSW, with volunteers who are highly skilled, experienced, and well-trained in the wide variety of roles they perform.

Each NSW SES Unit is as unique and varied as the community it serves, reflecting the vast mix of risks faced and roles required in the diverse locations and communities across the state. In addition to flood, storm and tsunami, NSW SES provides specialist capabilities that include general land rescue, vertical rescue, road crash rescue, and alpine and remote area search and rescue. The NSW SES responded to over 47,000 requests for assistance from the community over the 2022-23 year.

The NSW SES has over 10,000 volunteer members, and a full-time equivalent workforce of over 370. There are 262 volunteer Units across the State and our volunteer Units are either local, community-based Units, State-wide or regional Units established to provide specialist capabilities. They are varied and unique in their capabilities, designed to address specific risks to communities of NSW.

About you

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have experience in providing a broad range of administrative and project support services to senior level management.
• Enjoy working within a collaborative team environment to achieve outcomes to support communities of NSW.
• Proven high quality writing, communication and administration skills

What we can offer you 

• Employment with attractive leave entitlements including parental, recreation and flex leave and other leave entitlements.  
• Attractive salary package of up to $97,217 pa (salary range $79,032– $86,539). Total remuneration package includes salary plus employer's 11% contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading.
• Flexible work options working within operational requirements.  
• Mental Health & Wellbeing programs and services.  
• Operational and leadership training, and industry development opportunities.
• Comprehensive immunisation programs including the flu vaccine.  
• Opportunities to build invaluable relationships across emergency service agencies, emergency service committees and other Government and community organisations.

How to apply 

Your application should include as separate attachments:

• A cover letter (maximum of one page) identifying which Zone location you are applying for and briefly responding to the essential requirements, and your interest in the role;  
• An up-to-date resume of no more than four pages detailing your skills and experience relevant to the role.
• Targeted Questions – no more than ½ page each question.

Applications that do not address the targeted questions and submit a CV will not be considered. 

Targeted Questions

1. Describe your experience in delivering administrative support activities and services concurrently across multiple areas of responsibility, under tight timeframes whilst maintaining attention to detail.
2. Problem solving and thinking on your feet will be daily requirements for this position. Please provide an example of a situation where something unexpected occurred while you were managing other work tasks. Describe how you solved this issue and what were the outcomes.

Find out more

The role description is available here.

For more information about the ongoing role, applicants are encouraged to contact Leanne Evans, Staff Officer Emergency Management, on leanne.evans@ses.nsw.gov.au.

For information about the temporary Operational Capability role applicants are encouraged to contact Justin Putze, Manager Capability, on justin.putze@ses.nsw.gov.au

Talent Pool

A talent pool may be created through this recruitment process. A talent pool is a group of candidates who have undergone an assessment process and have been identified as suitable for this role or similar roles for a period of 18 months.

Being part of a talent pool means that you may be considered for ongoing or temporary employment for a range of similar roles. This offers exciting opportunities for you to gain a wide range of experiences to build your public service career.

For more information on how to apply for a role in the NSW Public Sector please click here.

Applications close: Sunday 28 January 2024, 11.59pm

The NSW State Emergency Service is a proud employer of a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, cultural background, faith, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We are committed to reflecting the diverse community we serve and creating an inclusive and flexible workplace. People with disability are supported to access adjustments in recruitment processes and in the workplace, to enable them to demonstrate their skills and capabilities to meet the requirements of the job. As supporters of flexible working, we welcome discussions about how our roles can be undertaken flexibly.