Recruiting now for the role:

Director, People and Capability

Applications close midnight, Wednesday the 24th of September 2025

 

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Overview

About the Role

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Overview

Who we are:

For decades, Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (AVCGA) and Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland (VMRAQ) volunteers have kept people safe on Queensland’s oceans and waterways. From 1 July 2024, Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) began bringing together these trusted organisations into a single, integrated volunteer marine rescue service for Queensland, with the same experienced volunteers at the helm.

While MRQ is a new service, our marine rescue volunteers have a long and proud history of keeping people safe on Queensland’s oceans and waterways for more than 50 years. We will respect their history and we are proud to be continuing the AVCGA and VMRAQ’s legacy.

MRQ’s top priority is the safety of our community and our members. To avoid disruption to marine rescue services to our community, VMRAQ and AVCGA are transitioning to MRQ in phases throughout 2024 and 2025. Current marine rescue services will be maintained throughout the transition. Find your local marine rescue service.

When transitions are complete, we’ll have around 2,500 Queensland members operating across 47 units and undertaking around 4,000 activations throughout the state each year.

MRQ operates as part of the Queensland Police Service, who are responsible for coordination of our disaster and emergency services response.  

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Benefiting community, volunteers and Queensland

The launch of MRQ symbolises the Queensland Government's commitment to innovation, efficiency, and enhanced service delivery, ensuring that marine rescue services are equipped to meet future disaster and emergency challenges with expertise.

Operating as a single marine rescue service as part of Queensland’s coordinated disaster and emergency network, ensures that marine rescue services are equipped to meet future disaster and emergency challenges with expertise.

Community:

  • One single integrated marine rescue service.

  • Current marine rescue services maintained and continued through implementation and transition.

Volunteers:

  • Improved support at local and regional levels.

  • Improved volunteer protections including access to health and safety programs.

  • Improved access to replacement vessels.

  • Improved volunteer recognition.

For Queensland:

  • One single integrated marine rescue service and safety network.

  • Better resourced service, with volunteers able to respond, educate and contribute to their community.

Director, People and Capability

Your key accountabilities

The core capability requirements for this role are:

  • Lead and manage the delivery and implementation of initiatives to attract, recruit, develop, reward, and retain MRQ volunteers which improve outcomes for the delivery of essential emergency, safety, preparedness, mitigation and response services across Queensland.

  • Lead and enable the development of a high-performance culture within MRQ by integrating people, culture and sustainability strategies and initiatives to enhance the capability to deliver high quality community safety services.

  • Provide high-level strategic advice and direction on contemporary and emerging volunteerism issues and trends and represent MRQ at forums to ensure positive outcomes.

  • Develop and maintain strong collaborative partnerships across government and non-government service sectors to foster commitment, cooperation, and influence decision making in volunteerism, community safety and emergency management.

  • Represent and negotiate on behalf of MRQ at high level inter and intra-jurisdictional meetings and manage liaison and coordination with key government and non-government agencies in building awareness and strengthening preparedness and responses to emergency management.

  • Manage human, financial and physical resources ensuring client service and performance management and drive a culture of accountability and fairness that encourages and enables teams and individual staff to meet challenges, develop skills and achieve results.

  • Manage and respond to a range of high-level departmental and ministerial correspondence, briefing notes and communication materials from internal and external clients and stakeholders, in accordance with departmental requirements and governance.

  • Manage multiple complex projects and initiatives in accordance with strategic priorities to ensure continuous improvement and effective governance and reporting to meet the needs of the department. Whilst monitoring organisational risk and governance frameworks.

 

Role Requirements

  • Possession of Open ‘C’ Class Queensland Drivers Licence

  • Nil

  • Demonstrated experience in the planning, coordination, and management of maritime services, specifically relating to community and maritime safety.

  • Ability to travel intra-state in alignment with service requirements.

    You will be required to provide 24/7 support from time to time.

How to Apply

Requirements

To be considered, please provide the following information in your online application, for the assessment of your suitability:

  • A short (no more than two pages) statement focusing on how you align with the core accountabilities outlined in the role statement below.

  • Your current CV highlighting your relevant experience, qualifications, and achievements.

If you need assistance with your application please reach out to us.

Download Position Description

Applications for this role close midnight, Wednesday the 24th of September 2025

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General Enquiries

Please reach out and a member of our team will get in touch.

Confidential Enquiries