The Senior Forest Planning Officer helps shape the sustainable management of Victoria's forests by developing and delivering the Operational Forest Management Program and Fuel Management. The role aligns forest management activities with strategic priorities across biodiversity, recreation, forest health, roading, and public land management. Working closely with Districts, Traditional Owners, stakeholders, and specialist teams, the successful candidate supports the design and delivery of priority projects, addresses complex planning and cultural heritage matters, and provides strategic advice to District leadership. The role also champions cultural safety, fostering inclusive and respectful partnerships that support meaningful participation and positive outcomes for people and the environment. Working closely within the Snowy District, Traditional Owners, stakeholders, and specialist teams, the role aligns forest & fuel management activities with strategic priorities and provides advice on complex planning and cultural heritage matters.
Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in forest and fire management practices
- Experience working with planning systems including FMS, eMAP and ArcGIS (or similar)
- Experience in forest, environmental, or public land management planning.
- Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Knowledge of relevant environmental and cultural heritage legislation.
- Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
- Commitment to cultural safety and Traditional Owner engagement.
This is an ongoing position. The work location for this position is Orbost with hybrid work arrangements available.
To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience.
Please refer to the Key Selection Criteria provided in the Position Description, including the mandatory requirements.
How to Apply:
If you are a current DEECA employee, please apply via DEECA Careers.
Applications close 11.59pm on Sunday, 06 September 2026.
All applications must be submitted through the online portal. We are unable to consider email or manual applications at this time.
Other relevant information:
Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.
To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.
An inclusive, culturally safe and flexible workplace
DEECA fosters an inclusive workplace culture and is committed to a fair, accessible, and equitable recruitment process.
We strongly encourage Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people to apply. We recognise the strengths, knowledge and perspectives First Nations people bring and DEECA is committed to a culturally safe and respectful workplace. If you need support to participate, please contact [email protected].
We support flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work, varied hours, part-time work and job sharing. For more information about our recruitment processes, visit applying for a role with us.
