Community Safety Team Lead

Lead the Way in Community Safety on the Outback Coast

The Community Safety Team Leader provides operational leadership, coordination and specialist expertise across community safety, compliance, animal management, local laws and emergency management functions. The role is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of frontline regulatory services while fostering a proactive, community-focused approach to safety, education and compliance.

The position leads the day-to-day operations of the Community Safety team, overseeing work allocation, staff development, performance and service delivery to ensure legislative obligations and organisational priorities are met. The Team Leader provides guidance and support on complex compliance matters, promotes continuous improvement and ensures a consistent and professional approach to customer service and enforcement activities.

The Community Safety Team Leader also plays a key role in emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities, contributing to the development and implementation of Local Emergency Management Arrangements (LEMA) and working collaboratively with emergency service agencies, government departments, community groups and other stakeholders to strengthen community resilience.

As the senior operational leader within the Community Safety function, this role provides a visible presence across the Shire, supports safe and responsible use of public spaces, and drives initiatives that enhance public safety, environmental protection and community wellbeing.

What You’ll Do

As our Community Safety Team Lead, you will:

• Demonstrate successful leadership through the application of the Shire's core values by promoting a work culture of sustainability, quality improvement, efficiency, and excellent customer service that corresponds to our Code of Conduct and Customer Service Charter.

• A commitment to a safe work environment and WHS legislation, policy and processes.

• Lead and coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Community Safety team, including work allocation, rostering, resources, staff development and service delivery.

• Support emergency preparedness, response and recovery, including Local Emergency Management Arrangements (LEMA), hazard mitigation, seasonal readiness and emergency exercises.

• Oversee tourism, coastal and visitor safety operations, including high-use and remote locations, Camp Hosts, visitor risk controls and responsible tourism initiatives.

• Build strong partnerships with the community and key agencies, providing advice, education and representing the Shire across meetings, forums and inter-agency activities.

• Oversee regulatory compliance and enforcement across animal management, bushfire, off-road vehicles, litter, local laws and other relevant legislation.

• Lead complex investigations and enforcement matters, ensuring decisions and actions are consistent, professional and meet legal, ethical and procedural requirements.

• Provide strategic oversight of Community Safety services, including reporting, budgets, resource planning, emerging risks, governance and advice to Executive Leadership.

• Champion a strong safety-first culture, leading WHS risk management, safe work practices, staff capability and continuous safety improvement across field operations.

About You

You’ll bring:

• Demonstrated experience in accounts payable, finance administration, or similar role.

• Highly developed ability to uphold a values-based approach in the workplace.

• Formal qualifications in emergency management, regulatory services, law enforcement, or local government law with demonstrated experience applying these in complex operational environments.

• Advanced understanding of Local Government legislation, compliance frameworks, and enforcement practices, including high-level capability in investigations, evidence management and prosecution processes.

• Extensive experience in community safety operations across regional or remote local government settings, with the ability to manage diverse community, visitor and environmental risk factors.

• High-level leadership capability, with proven experience coordinating multidisciplinary field teams, setting operational standards, mentoring staff, and improving service performance.

• Demonstrated competency in incident management systems (e.g., AIIMS/ICS), bushfire operations, natural hazard management, or disaster preparedness, with experience supporting or coordinating multi-agency emergency responses.

• Proven experience leading or coordinating emergency management activities, including hazard mitigation programs, preparedness planning, community resilience building and recovery coordination.

• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to integrate emergency preparedness, community safety and resilience into broader organisational planning, community programs and infrastructure considerations.

• High-level analytical, governance and reporting capabilities, including preparing high-quality reports, operational reviews, incident analyses, business cases and improvement recommendations for senior management and Council.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong partnerships across agencies, including DFES, WA Police, RSPCA, DBCA, SES, tourism operators, community groups and neighbouring LGAs.

• Experience leading multi-agency operations, regional emergency programs, or interdepartmental community safety initiatives.

• Alignment with our CARECHIP values — Courage, Authenticity, Respect, Excellence, Cohesion, Humility, Inclusion, Passion.

Why Join Us

Your package includes:

• Salary: $99,593.89p/a plus superannuation, district allowance: $1,243.15p/a, housing allowance $6,337.62p/a (if eligible).

• $5,000 retention bonus after 3 years’ service.*

• 5 weeks annual leave + 2 Local Government public holidays.

• Training and professional development opportunities.

• Annual leave travel assistance, gym and club membership subsidies, and aquatic centre access.

• Additional allowances and subsidies under our Attraction & Retention Policy.*

• A supportive workplace focused on safety, wellbeing, and community impact.

*Subject to corporate policy.

How to Apply

If you’re ready to help maintain our financial practices, we’d love to hear from you. To view the full position description: PD. COMMUNITY SAFETY TEAM LEAD

Applications close: 4pm Thursday 22 October 2026
For more information, please contact Denika Sweetman, Manager People, Culture & Wellbeing on (08) 9941 0000.

The Shire of Carnarvon reserves the right to close applications early and/or commence the shortlisting and interview process prior to the advertised closing date. The position may be filled at any time upon identification of a suitable applicant.