State Operations Officer - SOC

South Australian Country Fire Service
Job reference: 855448
Location: 5035 - KESWICK
Job status: Short Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Primary Purpose of Role:

Aircraft Dispatch:

The State Operations Officer – operates as a State Airdesk Operator where they will work under the direction of the State Air Resources Coordinator (SARC) to deploy aircraft and specialist aviation personnel, resources, and equipment across the State, as required during Fire Danger Season.

• Process requests for aviation resources in accordance with state and territory operating procedures, interpreting a range of operational information, assessing operational need to suppress bushfire, and maintaining awareness of state aircraft availability to update the SARC for competing or complex
• Dispatch aviation resources using the South Australian Computer-Aided Dispatch (SACAD) system, as per SACFS standard operational procedure with allocated F-CTAF and incident talk groups including maintaining records to ensure legislative compliance and agency and aviation data and system requirements are met.
• Identify fire location and proximity to resources using relevant calculations and process requests to dispatch, retain or release aircraft in consultation with the SARC in accordance with contract requirements.
• Maintain regular contact with aircraft, monitor on-ground radio communications of fire conditions and process information affecting aviation resource management including communicating fire changes and any safety concerns to aviation resources to the SARC. Report aircraft accidents, incidents and occurrences including commencing search and rescue procedures on behalf of the SARC as a delegated “Responsible Persons” as per Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulations.
• Ensure aviation operations are conducted safely and according to SACFS Aviation standard operational procedures.

Information dissemination:

• Maintain call routing of the Information hotline for Fire Danger Season dates, Total Fire Ban advice and update messages as emergencies
• Interpret and disseminate Fire weather information and issue total fire ban advice to the media, public and other government
• Under emergency conditions issue emergency warnings and alert messages to the media and the public in times of high risk utilising the national
• Undertake paging for operational and preparedness activities to ensure effective communication and coordination across the agency

Data Quality Assurance and reporting:

• Utilise designated agency reporting incident systems and implement quality assurance processes to ensure the integrity, accuracy and reliability of incident and non-incident data including liaising with volunteers to update and verify incident reports and providing data for a range of agency and government reports and correspondence.
• Provide system specific guidance, training and technical support to CFS volunteers and staff through the AIRS hotline for incident reporting and non-incident reporting.

State Command Team Support:

• Support the functionality, operability, and equipment of the State Command Centre (SCC) and the State Command Team (SCT).
• Process, identify, and effectively label a range of operational data from digital sources, such as aerial Intelligence, and upload it into internal operational systems, enabling State and Regional Command Centers to make decisions in relation to strategic risks and threats.
• Liaise with a range of emergency services and CFS personnel, volunteers, aviation crews and other stakeholders to facilitate incident operations and maintain situational awareness across CFS operations.

CFS Training and Development:

• Assist in the development and delivery of training to staff and volunteers in agency specific operational
• Assist in the development and assessment of Standard Operating Procedures and related matters that affect and/or impact on the operations of

CFS Operational Readiness:

• Exercise autonomy in maintaining CFS operational readiness through weekly coordination of statewide on-call roster changes including notification system updates.
• Provide greater situational awareness to CFS staff & volunteers as well as partner agencies with operational information obtained from SACAD and other operational systems.
• Advise appropriate persons of Government Radio Network (GRN) and other communications maintenance and outages to maximise the efficiency of the
• Enact CFS TFB procedure and policy as well as carry out SCC activation procedure and

Undertaking of an emergency support or incident management role, via a defined ‘operational’ on-call roster, with the potential to be re-called under emergency situations, to enable the provision of emergency service activities by CFS to the community. Whilst undertaking such operational roles, personnel will be required to work in emergency situations, which may include day, afternoon, night, or extended shifts.

Remuneration: 

ASO4 - $82,212 - $86,180

Enquiries:

Phil Hosking - Team Leader Operations Officer - CRD

M 0438 642 *** E **************@eso.sa.gov.au

Application Instructions:

Applicants are required to address the criteria outlined in the Application Guidelines document.

Applications must be submitted online.

The South Australian Country Fire Service is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, inclusion and supports a culture of safety and respect. We welcome and encourage applications from diverse community groups to help us build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Applications close: 04/09/2026 11:45 PM

Attachments:
- Pre-Employment-Declaration_240522.pdf
- State Operations Officer ASO4 PD.pdf
- State Operations Officer August 2026 Application Guidelines.pdf

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.