About ELCA

Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) is a growing coalition of former senior Australian fire and emergency service leaders representing every fire service in Australia, a number of State Emergency Services and land management agencies, and Emergency Management Australia. We are deeply concerned about the seriousness of the climate change threat, calling for stronger government action on emissions and the necessary resources to better prepare fire and emergency services and communities for increasingly frequent and damaging extreme weather events.

ELCA is a project of the Climate Council. We are 100% independent, and funded by public donations.

Our Impact

Since our inception in April 2019 and throughout extreme weather crises like the 2019/20 Australian bushfire crisis, ELCA has acted as a source of trusted information and thought leadership on impacts of climate change for Australians. Led by Climate Councillor and former Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSW, Greg Mullins, ELCA cuts through the political noise and clearly outlines how worsening extreme weather is being exacerbated by climate change caused by emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, and the serious impacts on Australians.

Through a carefully executed media strategy, meetings with decision-makers and policy submissions, ELCA’s growing cohort of experts has had a transformative impact on the public debate. We have:

• Clearly articulated how worsening bushfire conditions, floods, and other extreme weather events are being aggravated by climate change.
• Shut down the fallacy that climate change shouldn’t be mentioned during bushfires, floods, and other weather-related disasters.
• Debunked dangerous myths aimed at diverting attention away from the seriousness of climate change, and the necessary required action.
• Advocated for better resourcing for fire and emergency services, recovery agencies, and communities.
• Publicly warned governments of the risks and consequences of a failure to take adequate climate action.
• Underlined the fact that burning coal, oil and gas is driving climate change, which in turn is worsening extreme weather events.

About the Role

This role is a unique opportunity to work for a high-profile organisation and some of Australia’s most experienced emergency service leaders. As a person skilled in policy, communications, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and project management, your role is to drive ELCA’s external and internal engagement work and maximise the opportunities for further positive impact.

Key Duties:

• Advocacy: Lead work to build ELCA’s policy agenda, building on the recommendations of the Royal commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (RC), State and Territory government inquiries, and expert input from the ELCA membership.
• Stakeholder management: Externally, build support for this agenda by organising and preparing briefings and meetings with major stakeholders and decision-makers including government ministers, advisors and key emergency services agencies like the Australasian Fire & Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC).
• Secretariat function: Internally, help coordinate updates and meetings of ELCA, including periodic strategic planning meetings, in partnership with ELCA founder and Climate Councillor Greg Mullins.
• Communications: Support ELCA’s public communications and campaigning. This role coordinates support from the Climate Council’s expert communications team to ELCA spokespeople.
• Coordinate efforts to hold the Australian Government and the National Cabinet accountable for the delivery of the national climate and disaster risk assessment and the mapping of responsibilities and accountabilities at all levels of government, across the spectrum of preparation, prevention, response and community recovery.

About you

• You are skilled and experienced in stakeholder management, policy development, communication and advocacy, with a passion for emergency services work and climate action.
• You possess outstanding project management skills, including managing project progress and adapt work as required, ensuring projects meet deadlines, managing relationships with stakeholders, and resolving any conflicts.
• You demonstrate superior written and verbal communication skills in materials that convey ideas and information in a clear and engaging manner.
• With expertise in establishing positive working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, your key strengths will be your excellent problem solving and planning skills.

Reporting

The ELCA Director reports to the Climate Council’s Director of Research. The role has no direct reports.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Campaign experience: A minimum of eight years experience in a policy or advocacy-related role, with strategy, convenor and advocacy responsibilities.
• Project Management: Experience managing programs, meeting project timeline and consultation.
• Stakeholder relations: A mature approach to stakeholder relationships, and experience in dealing with experts, the media, government officials and departments.
• Policy development: Experience in developing policy recommendations for federal and/or state governments.
• Results-driven: Confident interrogating data, analysing reports and optimising/testing advocacy campaigns to drive results.
• Growth mindset: Willing to learn, grow, test and try new approaches.

Desirable

• An understanding of the Australian emergency services organisational landscape.

Qualifications

A public policy or emergency services-related qualification

Benefits

• Sydney, NSW (other locations considered)
• Full-time (0.8 FTE considered)
• Competitive market salary on offer
• Hybrid working arrangements by negotiation

How to Apply

The Climate Council is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, personal appearance, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, or political affiliation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply for all advertised positions.

Your application must demonstrate that you have the qualifications, experience, key attributes and skills required for the position.

Your application should include:

Cover letter

Resume

Candidates will be required to undertake written tasks as well as interviews.