Field Operations Supervisor (Orbost)

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action; Shire of East Gippsland; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) in Orbost, Victoria, seeks a Field Operations Supervisor to lead staff in forest and fire operations across state forests and public land. You will oversee the workcentre, plan projects, and manage use of plant, machinery and equipment to support organisational priorities.

The role has an emergency response focus and may require deployment across Victoria for fire suppression and planned burning.

Qualifications

• Experience leading works programs in forest management, including planned burning and road management, with staff supervision.
• Experience and understanding of forest firefighting techniques and emergency response activities (IFMS).

Skills

Forest management

Emergency response

Job description

Are you ready to take on a pivotal role in managing and leading staff involved in critical forest and fire operations? Join our elite team as a Field Operations Supervisor! Have you ever wanted to spend your workdays as part of a dynamic, hardworking, supportive and community focused team? If so, this might be your opportunity, so read on! As a Field Operations Supervisor, you'll help deliver a wide range of operational tasks such as fire prevention works and forest management activities in Victoria's state forests and other public land. The Field Operations Supervisor in conjunction with the Workcentre Operations Coordinator oversees staff within the workcentre, plans and helps deliver projects and programs with the use and maintenance of plant, machinery and other equipment to support the delivery of our organisational priorities. You'll work as part of supportive team and receive training in line with the requirements of the role such as fire and 4WD training amongst others. This role has an emergency response focus and may require deployment across Victoria for fire suppression and planned burning, so a high level of fitness is essential. If you've read this far, you're still interested, so why not apply? Applicants must hold a current manual Drivers Licence (conditions A, I & V not acceptable for employment).

Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications

• Experience in managing works programs in one or more of the following:
• planned burning, unsealed road management or other operational forest management activities including experience in management of staff.
• Experience and understanding of forest firefighting techniques, the Australian Interagency Incident Management System and other emergency response activities

This position is ongoing, available in the regional location of Orbost, Victoria. To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience. Please refer to the Key Selection Criteria provided in the Position Description , including the mandatory requirements.

Applications close 11.59pm on Thursday, 05 November 2026.

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form, a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and meet the medical and fitness requirements outlined in the position description. Successful applicants will be required to successfully complete the DEECA General Firefighter accreditation. To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

An inclusive, culturally safe and flexible workplace DEECA fosters an inclusive workplace culture and is committed to a fair, accessible, and equitable recruitment process.

We strongly encourage Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people to apply. We recognise the strengths, knowledge and perspectives First Nations people bring and DEECA is committed to a culturally safe and respectful workplace.

If you need support to participate, please contact [emailprotected] .

• We support flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work, varied hours, part-time work and job sharing.