Hydrologist

About this role

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

The focus of the Hazard Preparedness and Response (HPR) function is to strengthen resilience in the Australian emergency management sector. We work with emergency management partners to support disaster preparation, response, and recovery through expert advice, collaboration, and strong relationships. As a Hydrologist in the HPR Queensland team, you report to the HPR Queensland Manager and will be a key contact for emergency agencies in Queensland, with support roles in NSW and the ACT.

The role involves delivering Bureau products, providing expert advice, and supporting continuous improvement. By connecting weather, climate, and water information to decision-making, you will help partners understand risks, timing, uncertainty, and impacts. You will also collaborate across the Bureau to ensure hazard information is clear, relevant, and embedded in services and communications.

Sound knowledge of hydrology is essential along with complementary knowledge, or ability to develop in meteorology, oceanography, and climatology. 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 responsibilities of the Decision Support Hydrologist include but are not limited to: • Delivering an outstanding customer experience, through partnership with Queensland Emergency Management agencies. In this role you will connect seamlessly and coherently within the Bureau's national footprint. • Maintaining situational awareness of unfolding severe weather events that might cause floods. • Working hours outside the scope of standard working hours during severe weather events, in support of Bureau operations and our emergency management partners. During these events you will contribute to decision support services for emergency management partners, including deployment into Emergency Operations Centres. • Supporting the development of new and upgraded flood warning services guided by priorities identified in Flood Warning Consultative Committees. The Decision Support Hydrologist will be supported and guided by the Decision Support Senior Hydrologists to deliver program and project outcomes. • Working with Emergency Management partners, local governments and water agencies to capture the flood warning needs of specific communities and inform performance targets of the new services. In doing so, this role will raise awareness and understanding of the Bureau's flood warning services and help co-design and deliver a fit-for-purpose Total Flood Warning Systems (TFWS). • Liaising with the wider Bureau, particularly with EPS – Water, Business Solutions Group (BSG) Agriculture & Water and the Data and Digital Group (DDG), to help build the Bureau's flood forecasting and warning capability for specific locations and communities, including flood warning infrastructure. • Support the preparation of proposals for discussions with customers and partners, outlining the potential for providing flood prediction for specific locations and the required data collection infrastructure (gauges, telemetry). • Responding to customer inquiries, contributing to pre-season briefings and exercises and post-flood review, debriefs and activities. • Supporting and sharing information with TFWS partners, develop communication and education material, contribute to high level committees, forums and coordinate meetings. • Contributing to the Local Weather Narrative, sharing customer insights and collaborating on service delivery with other operational teams within the Bureau. • Prioritising your development opportunities that will be provided to develop or maintain your flood forecasting and warning competency and your communication and customer engagement skills. • Commitment to APS Values and Code of Conduct and understanding of the Bureau's diversity and inclusion statement of commitment and the Bureau way. • Complying 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.