National Fire Protection Executive: Strategy & Policy

Fire Protection Association Australia; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Fire Protection Association Australia invites an experienced senior leader to guide the organization at the national level. This role combines technical leadership, policy influence and stakeholder engagement to strengthen FPA Australia’s position and mission.

Reporting to the CEO, you will lead a multidisciplinary team, shape strategy, respond to government, regulators and industry bodies, and deliver credible policy advice to members and the sector.

Qualifications

• Must have extensive senior leadership experience in a technical/regulatory context.
• Strong knowledge of Australian Standards and the National Construction Code.
• Proven track record developing policy submissions and influencing government outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and shape FPA Australia's national strategy.
• Lead policy advocacy initiatives and engage with government and regulators.
• Manage stakeholder relationships across government, industry, and standards bodies.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team and drive execution of strategic priorities.

Skills

Senior leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Policy advocacy

Technical leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Fire Engineering degree

Job description

Why join FPA Australia?

This is an opportunity to make a national impact on an industry where the work ultimately contributes to protecting people, property and communities from fire.

You will have the opportunity to:

Shape national technical and policy priorities.
Influence government and regulatory reform.
Work with senior leaders across government, industry and the fire protection sector.
Lead a talented multidisciplinary team.
Represent Australia's fire protection industry at a national level.
Contribute directly to FPA Australia's strategic direction and future.
About the role

This senior leadership role combines technical expertise, strategic thinking, policy influence and stakeholder leadership to strengthen FPA Australia’s position as the nation’s leading fire protection authority.

As an Executive Leadership Team member, you will help shape strategy and represent members and the industry to government, regulators, industry bodies, Standards Australia, fire services and other key stakeholders. Reporting to the CEO, you will lead a national multidisciplinary team of up to seven and drive FPA Australia’s technical strategy and policy, delivering credible, evidence based advice to members, government and industry.

You will:

Technical Leadership – Lead FPA Australia’s national technical strategy, ensuring high-quality technical advice, guidance and industry standards.
Policy & Advocacy – Lead national policy and advocacy initiatives, influence government and regulatory reform, and represent the industry on key issues.
Stakeholder & Industry Engagement – Build strong relationships with government, regulators, fire services, Standards Australia, industry bodies and members.
People & Team Leadership – Lead and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team and foster collaboration across FPA Australia and its State Committees.
Strategic Leadership – Contribute to the Executive Leadership Team, strategic planning, organisational priorities, innovation and the delivery of FPA Australia’s Strategic Plan.

About you

You are an experienced senior leader with the credibility to operate at both a strategic and technical level. You are confident engaging with government, regulators, industry leaders and technical experts and can translate complex technical and regulatory issues into clear advice and meaningful policy outcomes.

You will bring:

Extensive senior leadership experience in the fire protection, engineering, construction, building or regulatory sectors leading technical and/or policy functions.
Strong knowledge of Australian Standards, the National Construction Code and relevant legislation.
A relevant degree in Fire Engineering, Engineering, Building Surveying or a related discipline is desirable.
Demonstrated experience developing policy submissions and influencing government or regulatory outcomes.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering through others.
Exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
Highly developed written communication skills, including experience preparing technical reports, policy papers and submissions.
A strong understanding of the Australian fire protection industry and its regulatory environment and strong analytical, strategic and problem-solving capability.
Experience working within a member-based or industry association and working with Boards and Executive Leadership Teams.