Change Management Lead (Red Fleet)

NSW Rural Fire Service; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 135,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 weeks annual leave

MAP access for members

Salary packaging options

Agreed absence leave day

Learning & development

Fitness Passport

Job summary

NSW Rural Fire Service is seeking a Change Management Lead to drive the Red Fleet Reform Program. You will develop strategies, plans and activities to ensure smooth adoption, stakeholder engagement and readiness across NSW RFS and partner agencies.

You will work with senior leadership to identify change impacts, mitigate risks and deliver measurable benefits. The role supports a landmark reform affecting fleet governance, safety and service delivery across the state.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading change management for complex projects or enterprise reforms.
• Strong stakeholder engagement with executive-level influence and coaching.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, identify change impacts, mitigate risks and drive adoption.
• Understanding readiness planning, adoption support, resistance management and benefits realisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of change management strategies, plans and activities for the Red Fleet Ownership and Maintenance Transfer Program.
• Assess change impacts, identify stakeholder needs and develop targeted engagement and readiness approaches.
• Provide expert advice on change risks and opportunities to leaders and teams.
• Build and maintain relationships across NSW RFS, councils, government agencies and suppliers.
• Monitor organisational readiness, identify resistance and risks, and report on progress to support decision-making.

Skills

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Risk management

Adoption strategies

Job description

Change Management Lead (Red Fleet)

This opportunity offers:

• Temporary employment for a period up to 30 June 2029
• Full time role & 35hour working week
• RFS Level 10/11
• Attractive annual salary $135,149 - $148,929p.a. plus 12% superannuation
• Location: Sydney Olympic Park(flexible working arrangements considered)

Looking for more information?

Why not reach out to our role expert, Michael Taylor, Manager Strategy and Program Management, for a confidential chat on 0467 734 313 or email [e-mail].

Join Our Team: Be a part of a landmark enterprise reform program!

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) is currently undergoing one of its most significant organisational reform initiatives – The Red Fleet Reform Program. The program will prepare RFS to assume ownership, maintenance responsibility, accounting control and lifecycle accountability for the Red Fleet from local councils. Through this reform, the RFS will strengthen fleet governance, accountability and operational capability, ensuring firefighters and volunteers have access to safe, reliable and fit-for-purpose vehicles when our communities need them most.

As part of a service that protects approximately 95% of NSW and relies on the commitment of more than 70,000 volunteers and staff, this program will have a lasting impact on emergency service delivery across the state. Working alongside senior leaders, members, councils, government agencies and industry partners, you will help deliver a landmark reform that supports the RFS mission of protecting lives, property, communities and the environment, while helping establish a sustainable future operating model for one of the state's largest emergency service fleets.

What You'll Be Doing

As the Change Management Lead, you will lead the development and delivery of change management strategies, plans and activities that support the successful implementation of the Red Fleet Ownership and Maintenance Transfer Program.

Working closely with the Director Fleet Transition, Executive Steering Committee, Program Control Group, program team and workstream leads, you will assess change impacts, identify stakeholder needs and develop targeted approaches to support engagement, readiness and adoption. You will provide expert advice on change-related risks and opportunities, helping leaders and teams navigate complex reform while maintaining alignment with program objectives and governance requirements.

You will build and maintain strong relationships across the NSW RFS, councils, government agencies, suppliers and other key stakeholders, ensuring those affected by the program are informed, engaged and supported throughout the transition. The role will be responsible for monitoring organisational readiness, identifying resistance and implementation risks, developing practical mitigation strategies, and providing insightful reporting to support decision-making. Through a people-centred approach, you will help create and embed sustainable change outcomes, strengthen stakeholder commitment and contribute to an enterprise reform seeking to reshape firefighting capabilities in NSW.

About Our Ideal Candidate

We're seeking an experienced and influential change management professional who can successfully lead people through complex organisational reform program. You will be a strategic thinker with strong stakeholder engagement skills, capable of translating program objectives into practical change initiatives that build understanding, readiness and adoption across a diverse stakeholder environment.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Demonstrated experience leading change management activities for complex projects, programs or enterprise-wide reforms, with a strong understanding of contemporary change management methodologies and practices.
• Advanced stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence, coach and partner with executive leaders, project teams and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong communication, facilitation and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, practical and people-centred messages.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in ambiguity, identify change impacts, mitigate risks and drive successful adoption outcomes in fast-paced and dynamic environments.
• Practical understanding of readiness planning, stakeholder alignment, adoption support, resistance management, communications, reporting and benefits realisation.

... If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity, please access the Role Descriptionand our organisation structure.

Note:

As per the role description, candidates are required to meet minimum essential requirements. If you do not meet the essential requirements for this role, your application may not progress to shortlisting.

Why work for us?

• Operational/Corporate uniform available
• Attractive leave entitlements including 4 weeks annual leave per year, plus more
• Free access to our Member Assistance Program (MAP) for all RFS members, and their immediate family
• Salary packaging options available
• One ‘Agreed Absence’ leave day per calendar month
• Ongoing learning and professional development programs (RFS is a Registered Training Organisation giving you access to various internal courses)
• Partnership with Fitness Passport for eligible RFS staff and their families to access more than 845 gyms and pools!

You’ll also get to enjoy:

• Easy access to Sydney Olympic Park Train Station, bus services and parking facilities
• Local eateries and childcare facilities
• Sydney Olympic Park Entertainment and Sports Precinct, including Accor Stadium, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Showgrounds, and Bicentennial Park
• Eligible staff are invited to join the local Sydney Olympic Park Connected Membership program, at an additional cost

Candidates are encouraged to prepare their applications independently to ensure they accurately reflect their skills and experience. The Rural Fire Service values authentic, original responses that reflect individual perspectives and alignment with its values and priorities. Skills, knowledge, and capability will be assessed and verified through the capability assessment process.

Important recruitment Information

• A recruitment (talent) pool may be created through this recruitment process to fill future ongoing, temporary, casual and term, full time or part time opportunities.
• We value a diverse and inclusive workplace and are committed to ensuring our employees represent the diversity of communities that we serve.
• If you require an adjustment during the recruitment process, please include any details that you are comfortable sharing during the application process, alternatively, you can reach out to the role expert to discuss.
• The recruitment process may involve a range of assessment activities to determine your capabilities for the role (aligning to the NSW PSC Capability Framework). The Capability application tool is designed to help job applicants understand and use the NSW Public Sector Capability Framework when applying for jobs with the NSW government. Additional checks for successful applicants will include referee checks and criminal history checks.

Vacancy Reference: R26-273

This may not be the role for you, however you can check out other vacancies in the RFS here, or consider volunteering with your local Brigade.

Learn more about how RFS members support communities across NSW below