Hydrologist

Bureau of Meteorology; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bureau of Meteorology invites applications for a Hydrologist within the Hazard Preparedness and Response South team in Victoria. You will provide expert advice linking climate, water and weather information to emergency management decisions, supporting flood warning systems and service levels for Victoria and national coordination.

You will collaborate with Decision Support Services and Community Engagement teams, assist during severe weather events, and contribute to continuous improvement

Qualifications

• A degree or diploma from an Australian educational institution or comparable overseas qualification appropriate to hydrology duties.

Responsibilities

• Work within a high performing team to contribute to zero lives lost through natural hazards by partnering with emergency management agencies.
• Support development of new and improved total flood warning systems in Victoria and liaise with external partners to prioritise service level changes.
• Maintain situational awareness of weather events leading to flood impacts and provide expert advice on timing, uncertainty and risks.
• Collaborate with the Decision Support Services and Community Engagement teams to ensure hazard information is expressed clearly in products and services.
• Support partner engagement activities to capture requirements for planning, preparation, response and recovery and provide briefings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• During severe weather events, support the Bureau and partners outside standard hours, potentially carrying out operational flood forecasting and decision support roles.

Job description

Australia is regularly affected by severe weather events. These events are growing in frequency and severity, leading to increased impacts for the Australian community.

The focus of the Hazard Preparedness and Response (HPR) program is to build resilience within the Australian emergency management sector. As part of the Decision Support Services (DSS) Program, we work closely with emergency management partners to support preparation for, response to, and recovery from disasters and emergencies. We provide specialist advice through knowledge sharing, collaborative action and the development of strong relationships built on mutual trust and respect.

As Hydrologist in the HPR South team you will connect seamlessly with your colleagues in the Decision Support Services Community Engagement and Community Information teams, as well as the National Production, Environmental Prediction and Business Solutions teams. Reporting to the Manager of Hazard Preparedness and Response Victoria, you will be a key contact for our critical sector partners, focussing on supporting Emergency Service agencies in Victoria. The role will also involve providing assistance to counterpart agencies in other states and territories. You will be supported by the Manager of Hazard Preparedness and Response Victoria and other hydrologists to ensure a seamless transition into the role.

The role is responsible for continuous improvement activities, delivering and sharing Bureau products and information with Emergency Management partners. You are a key contributor to the provision of clearly communicated expert advice, interpreting impacts, timing, uncertainty and risks by connecting climate, weather and water information to customer's decisions to help them effectively mitigate risks. Collaborating across the Bureau's Community Services and Business Solutions Group teams, you will work with our partner agencies to ensure hazard information of value and impact is expressed in our products and customer services, and within the local and national weather narrative.

You will have a sound background in science, while an understanding of hydrology would be highly desirable. You will demonstrate a curiosity and willingness to learn how climate, ocean, weather, and flood impacts on the emergency management sector.

The successful candidate will be committed to supporting the Bureau and our partners outside the scope of standard working hours during severe weather events or peak periods. During such periods, you will contribute to support the needs of our customers and emergency management partners – as such, the successful candidate may be able or required to carry out their duties remotely, with limited supervision.

The key duties of the position include:

The responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

1. 1. Work within a high performing team to contribute to zero lives lost through natural hazards by partnering closely with emergency management agencies across the country.
2. 2. Support the development of new and improved total flood warning systems in Victoria, in partnership with state and local governments, emergency agencies and responders and specialist consultants. Support the maintenance and review of the flood service level specifications in Victoria. With reasonable autonomy liaise with external partners and customers to identify and prioritise service levels changes that meet their planning and response requirements and community needs while optimising operational resources to deliver the service.
3. 3. Support as required other flood service transformation projects in Victoria.
4. 4. Develop relationships with partners and stakeholders in the Emergency Management and first responder communities in Victoria, with a focus on Total Flood Warning System's partners. Support partner engagement activities to capture their requirements for planning, preparation, response and recovery. Support consultative forums and provide briefings to technical and non-technical audiences.
5. 5. Maintain situational awareness of the weather, with particular focus on weather events that may lead to flood impacts.
6. 6. Assist emergency managers with the provision of clearly communicated expert advice, interpreting impacts, timing, uncertainty and risks by connecting water, climate and weather information to customer's decisions to help effectively mitigate their risks.
7. 7. Work closely with your peers and demonstrate a high level of cooperation and innovation across CSG. Contribute to the ongoing delivery of flood warning service development and advice to emergency partners during flood operations using exemplary communication skills.
8. 8. Prioritise your development opportunities and competencies, necessary to deliver the Bureau's Decision Support Service.
9. 9. During severe weather events, you will be committed to supporting the Bureau and our partners outside the scope of standard working hours. This could include fulfilling operational flood forecasting and warning and decision support roles as required.
10. 10. Commitment to APS Values and Code of Conduct and understanding of the Bureau's diversity and inclusion statement of commitment and the Bureau way.
11. 11. Comply with all Bureau work, health and safety policies and procedures, and take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of employees, contractors and visitors who may be affected by your conduct.

Eligibility

A degree or diploma of an Australian educational institution, or a comparable overseas qualification, which is appropriate to the duties; OR other comparable qualifications, which are appropriate to the duties.

Getting to know the Bureau of Meteorology

The Bureau of Meteorology is one of the few organisations that touches the lives of all Australians and all Australia, every day. The Bureau works across Australia and remote islands, providing services from the Antarctic to beyond the equator, and from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.We are Australia's national weather, climate and water agency, in the Agriculture, Water and Environment portfolio of the Australian Government, operating under the authority of the Meteorology Act 1955 and the Water Act 2007. We provide data, information, knowledge, insight and wisdom to help Australians prepare and respond to the realities of their natural environment, including droughts, floods, fires, storms, tsunami and tropical cyclones.Our products and services include observations, forecasts, analysis and advice covering Australia's atmosphere, water, oceans and space environments. We undertake focused scientific research in support of our operations and services. Through regular forecasts, warnings, monitoring and advice, we provide one of Australia's most fundamental and widely used public services.We have strong relationships with our customers, partners and stakeholders in Australia, including the Australian Community and the emergency services sectors, all-levels of Government, and focus sectors including aviation, agriculture, energy and resources, national security and water.

Australia is regularly affected by severe weather events. These events are growing in frequency and severity, leading to increased impacts for the Australian community.

The focus of the Hazard Preparedness and Response (HPR) program is to build resilience within the Australian emergency management sector. As part of the Decision Support Services (DSS) Program, we work closely with emergency management partners to support preparation for, response to, and recovery from disasters and emergencies. We provide specialist advice through knowledge sharing, collaborative action and the development of strong relationships built on mutual trust and respect.

As Hydrologist in the HPR South team you will connect seamlessly with your colleagues in the Decision Support Services Community Engagement and Community Information teams, as well as the National Production, Environmental Prediction and Business Solutions teams. Reporting to the Manager of Hazard Preparedness and Response Victoria, you will be a key contact for our critical sector partners, focussing on supporting Emergency Service agencies in Victoria. The role will also involve providing assistance to counterpart agencies in other states and territories. You will be supported by the Manager of Hazard Preparedness and Response Victoria and other hydrologists to ensure a seamless transition into the role.

The role is responsible for continuous improvement activities, delivering and sharing Bureau products and information with Emergency Management partners. You are a key contributor to the provision of clearly communicated expert advice, interpreting impacts, timing, uncertainty and risks by connecting climate, weather and water information to customer's decisions to help them effectively mitigate risks. Collaborating across the Bureau's Community Services and Business Solutions Group teams, you will work with our partner agencies to ensure hazard information of value and impact is expressed in our products and customer services, and within the local and national weather narrative.

You will have a sound background in science, while an understanding of hydrology would be highly desirable. You will demonstrate a curiosity and willingness to learn how climate, ocean, weather, and flood impacts on the emergency management sector.

The successful candidate will be committed to supporting the Bureau and our partners outside the scope of standard working hours during severe weather events or peak periods. During such periods, you will contribute to support the needs of our customers and emergency management partners – as such, the successful candidate may be able or required to carry out their duties remotely, with limited supervision.