NEMA Exercise and Lessons Officer

Home Affairs; Australian Capital Territory; Hybrid; AUD 89,000 - 97,000; Part time

Job summary

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) seeks an Exercise and Lessons Officer to design and deliver national level exercises and manage lessons. The role involves coordinating multi‑jurisdictional activities, stakeholder engagement and documentation, with occasional travel and after‑hours work as required.

You will support the Crisis Coordination Team and contribute to continuous improvement in Australia’s emergency management capability, aligning with the organisation’s mission to

Responsibilities

• Engage with Commonwealth, state and territory, industry and other stakeholders to support the delivery of exercise and lesson management activities and maintain productive working relationships
• Draft, coordinate and maintain exercise and lesson management documentation, incorporating stakeholder feedback and ensuring products are accurate, consistent and fit for purpose
• Manage competing priorities and exercise sound judgement to deliver quality outcomes within agreed timeframes
• Contribute to planning and coordination activities, including developing timelines, identifying resource requirements and preparing work plans to achieve section objectives
• Draft briefs, reports, submissions and correspondence, ensuring information is clear, accurate and timely
• Support the design, delivery and evaluation of training, preparedness and capability development activities
• Develop learning resources, workshop materials and capability uplift products
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen national preparedness and emergency management capability.

Job description

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APS Level 5 - $88,834.00 to $96,829.00 plus 15.4% super (part time pro-rata)

Contact Officer

Daniel Whitehorn at [e-mail]

Office Arrangements

Flexible -Flexible working arrangements can be negotiated in accordance with our Enterprise Agreement and the operational requirements of the role.

Applications close on03/11/2026at 11:59pm AEST (midnight) - Late applications will not be accepted.

About our opportunity

This process is being used to fill 1 immediate position/s.
Applicants suitable for the role but not offered the position for the current vacancy may be placed in a merit list or pool to fill similar vacancies for up to 18 months anywhere inACT; NSW; NT; QLD; SA; TAS; VIC; WA.

About the National Emergency Management Agency

The National Emergency Management Agency's work has a real impact on the lives of Australians, particularly those living in rural and regional areas.

The National Emergency Management Agency's guiding principle is “Locally led, locally understood and locally implemented” and we bring together local communities, government, non-government and key industry representatives to support disaster recovery and resilience across the country. Your work will help people who are recovering from natural disasters and prepare them for the future.

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was established on 1 September 2022 as a single, accountable Commonwealth authority that delivers a whole-of-nation approach to reducing disaster risk, planning, preparing for, responding to and recovering from all hazards across the emergency management continuum.

NEMA works closely with states and territories to deliver the best outcome for communities across Australia. To help communities respond and recover, while preparing Australia for future emergencies, we:

• Fund programs and initiatives, big and small, that help communities in times of emergency, as well as to recover and prepare, including through disaster recovery funding and the Disaster Ready Fund to help reduce the risk and impact of disasters
• Have officers located across Australia, working in partnership with states and territories to support disaster-affected communities to collectively build resilience, reduce risk and harm, and effectively respond to and recover from disasters
• Provide national leadership to share knowledge, situational awareness, and trends in disaster efforts to inform, guide and shape the national picture and decision-making at the Commonwealth, state and local Government level – including through policy development and strategy to improve risk reduction, resilience and recovery
• Provide round-the-clock all-hazards monitoring and operational coordination for domestic and international emergencies, including supply chain disruptions, critical infrastructure outages, biosecurity risks and widespread cyber-attacks, and through supporting preparedness and response activities, including through the operationalisation of the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework.
  

For further information on NEMA’s purpose, vision and values, please see the NEMA website.

Overview of the branch and section

The National Capability Branch plays a key role in strengthening Australia’s preparedness for and response to emergencies and disasters. The branch delivers programs and initiatives that enhance national capability, operational readiness and resilience across the emergency management sector.

The branch brings together expertise in national preparedness, emergency management capability development, exercising, lessons management, training and operational readiness. Through strong partnership with Commonwealth, state and territory governments, industry and non-government organisations, the branch drives a coordinated approach to building, enhancing, and sustaining Australia’s emergency management capability.

The National Crisis Exercising and Lessons Capability Section (NCEC) designs and delivers the National Crisis Exercise Program which consists of conceptualising, designing and conducting two national level exercises each calendar year. These exercises explore severe or novel hazards (natural and human induced) to ensure Australia is prepared to respond to and recover from events of national significance.

NCEC supports continuous improvement through conducting lesson management processes. Using the Observations/Insights/Lessons Identified/Lessons Learned (OILL) methodology, the section collects, analyses and develops insights. During national significant events, NCEC works with Australian Government, state and territory agencies, and industry to identify opportunities for improvement with the aim of reducing harm and enhance organisational capabilities.

NCEC delivers a suite of capability uplift programs to build and uplift national exercise and lessons competence. These programs include training courses and workshops which are delivered across Australia. NCEC facilitates OILL workshops through in-house capabilities and collaborates with external providers to design and deliver training courses.

About the role

The Exercise and Lessons Officer supports the design and delivery of national level exercises and lesson management activities that identify opportunities for continuous improvement in Australia’s emergency management capability. The role offers a broad range of work including project support, stakeholder engagement, information management, and lessons analysis.

As part of a collaborative and high-performing team, the Exercise and Lessons Officer contributes to the planning, coordination, and administration of multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency exercises and lessons management processes. The role provides opportunities to build knowledge of Australia’s crisis, emergency response and recovery arrangements, while working closely with colleagues and stakeholders across government and other sectors. Occasional domestic travel may be required as part of this role.

The role may be required to support other Emergency Management and Response Group functions, including the Crisis Coordination Team.

At times, staff within NEMA may be required to work outside standard business hours, particularly during the higher risk weather season.

NEMA is seeking candidates with strong strategic thinking skills, the ability to see the bigger picture, and the capability to develop practical solutions to complex problems.

NCEC works with government, industry and non-government stakeholders to design and deliver exercises, lessons management activities, and capability development initiatives. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal and communication skills to build effective relationships and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds. They will be resilient, adaptable, and responsive, with the ability to remain calm under pressure and focused on achieving outcomes in a dynamic environment.

The ideal candidate will be committed to supporting Australian communities through strengthened preparedness, effective emergency management arrangements and continuous improvement across the emergency management sector. They will be an effective communicator, adapt their communication style to different audiences and ensure stakeholders understand project objectives, progress and outcomes.

We encourage applications from First Nations people, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, mature age people and people from other diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing a working environment that values diversity and inclusion and supports staff to reach their full potential.

Duties and responsibilities

• Engage with Commonwealth, state and territory, industry and other stakeholders to support the delivery of exercise and lesson management activities and maintain productive working relationships
• Draft, coordinate and maintain exercise and lesson management documentation, incorporating stakeholder feedback and ensuring products are accurate, consistent and fit for purpose
• Manage competing priorities and exercise sound judgement to deliver quality outcomes within agreed timeframes
• Contribute to planning and coordination activities, including developing timelines, identifying resource requirements and preparing work plans to achieve section objectives
• Draft briefs, reports, submissions and correspondence, ensuring information is clear, accurate and timely
• Support the design, delivery and evaluation of training, preparedness and capability development activities
• Develop learning resources, workshop materials and capability uplift products
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen national preparedness and emergency management capability.

Role requirements/qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail to ensure consistency and accuracy of documentation
• Project management and or highly developed organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Demonstrated ability to support the planning, coordination and delivery of projects, programs, workshops, training activities or preparedness initiatives
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills with a solutions-focused approach
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to deliver outcomes and contribute positively to team objectives
• Self-motivated and adaptable, with a proactive approach to work and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Assessment Process

The recruitment selection process for this round may include one or more of the following:

• Interview
• Work sample assessment
• Psychometric testing
• Reference checks.

As part of your application, you will be required to prepare a one-page response document (minimum 11pt font in Microsoft Word or PDF format), which you will upload in the next section.

Please ensure you read the instructions carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.

Please prepare a one-page Applicant Response in relation to the advertised role, outlining:

• How your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role
• Why you are interested in the role and what you can offer us
• Any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

As part of your application, you will need to provide:

• Your CV
• Details of two referees
• Include your full name and the Requisition Number – NEMA - 142222in the footer of any documents being uploaded.

Diversity and inclusion

The Department is committed to workforce diversity and applicants who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, come from a diverse cultural or linguistic background or have a disability are encouraged to apply.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability

To be eligible to work with the NEMA you must:

• Be an Australian Citizen
• Fulfil the Agency's minimum requirements by satisfactorily answering all screening questions during the application process and successfully undergo a National Police Check
• Obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 1 (AGSVA) security clearance
• Satisfy a probation period(if applicable)
• Undergo a health assessment (if applicable).

Technical assistance

If you are experiencing problems submitting your application online, please email the nature of the issues you are experiencing to [e-mail] including screen captures if necessary. A response will be sent during business hours.

Notes

The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package, including salary, superannuation benefits and flexible working conditions appropriate to the level of the position.

If you have identified as having a disability, please indicate whether you require any support throughout the selection process. For further information please contact [e-mail] .

The National Emergency Management Agency acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.