Associate Director Aerial and Spatial Analysis Team (ASAT) Posted: 11/04/2025Closing Date: 10/05/2025Job Type: Full TimeLocation: BrisbaneJob Category: OperationsDisaster Relief Australia (DRA) brings hope to communities devastated by disaster. We unite the skills and experience of military veterans, emergency responders and motivated civilians to deploy Disaster Relief Teams around Australia and the world. With our army of dedicated volunteers, we respond to disasters and deliver support to those who need it.If you thrive in a dynamic environment and are ready to work for a growing organisation that is built to serve communities in need, apply now. Job Description The Associate Director, Aerial and Spatial Analysis Team (AD/ASAT) is a full-time position that is responsible for the development and support of DRA's Aerial Damage Assessment Teams (ADAT) and the Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) capability.Reporting to the Director of Field Operations (GMFO), the AD/ASAT will oversee the development and execution of DRA's disaster intelligence and analytics capabilities. The management of DRA's volunteer ADAT overarching capability, ensuring the charitable delivery of volunteer-driven ADAT services and its interoperability with DRA's commercialised services.Key accountabilitiesThis is an opportunity to undertake a leadership position, managing a cutting-edge capability with the potential to have a significant impact on disaster response and relief operations in Australia and Asia Pacific.The recruitment and management of volunteer and paid staff.Maintenance and oversight of DRA's UAV fleet.The management of relevant software and reporting systems.Coordinate operational deployments, ensuring the seamless deployment of field teams, and the efficient and effective creation of intelligence packs by remotely based teams.Lead the launch, development and ongoing growth of the ASAT Capability.Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, training and ongoing management of identified Image Analysts and Remote Pilots, from both within existing DRA membership ranks and external sources.Support the production of all information and damage assessment reports by DRA GIS analysts.Coordinate external training with partner RTOs, and internal training with identified subject matter experts.Manage the maintenance of mission critical assets, including the identification of additional capabilities as operationally required.Oversee the deployment of ADAT staff on disaster relief operations.Oversee Image/GIS Analyst activity during operational deployments, providing direction and carrying out quality control.Ensure an effective safety culture in the ADAT, reflecting the importance of safety in all activities.Seek out, identify, and establish partnerships with commercial partners, to provide training, equipment, and systems for ADAT.Undertake regular reporting to the GMFO on ADAT and GIS teams activities, challenges, and successes.Represent DRA at industry events, including conferences, identifying and exploiting opportunities to increase the profile of DRA and the ASAT capability.This role will further coordinate the training provided by partner Registered Training Organisations, primarily for those gaining the Remote Pilots Licence accreditation, as well as the coordination and delivery of internal DRA training events, in particular the Level 1 (Image Analyst) and Level 2 (GIS Analyst) courses and ADAT skills maintenance and currency training.The AD/ASAT will collaborate with DRA's Chief Remote Pilot, ensuring that regulatory requirements are met, and that documentation and manuals are up to date and fit for purpose.The AD/ASAT will continue to develop and maintain a stringent safety culture, in line with the standards of the wider aviation sector. This role requires seasoned stakeholder management skills and experience, which will be used to maintain strong relationships with existing partners, while simultaneously seeking out and gaining additional support as identified or required.Key relationshipsThis position reports directly to the General Manager, Training and Capability. Other key relationships include:External stakeholders and industry experts.Other members of the DRA Training Team.DRA Finance.Logistics and Procurement Manager.Safety and Risk Manager.Strategic Communications Manager.Capabilities for the roleWe are looking for the rare breed who can dream of impossible things and then roll up their sleeves to turn them into reality.Experience and BackgroundExperience initiating, developing, managing and expanding successful projects and programs.Leadership positions in Defence, Emergency Services or Aviation sector.Experience of the emergency management sector.Stakeholder management and relationship development.Training development and implementation.Risk management and the implementation of safety systems.Demonstrates accountability and ownership of decisions and subsequent consequences in success and failure.Experience in the RPAS sector is considered highly desirable.Experience in the use of geospatial information systems.Business development and contract negotiation.Advanced stakeholder management.Budget management and financial acumen.A high degree of IT ability, including Microsoft Office and RPAS/mapping software, and an ability to quickly gain a thorough understanding of new software systems utilised by the ADAT.Understands that a good plan vigorously executed now is better than a perfect plan next month.Collaborates with ease alongside and in coordination with others, including volunteer leaders and team members to drive results.The ability to work autonomously, with limited direct supervision.The ability to manage a volunteer workforce is highly desirable.Training RequirementCore Operations (within one month of commencing role, if not already completed).Remote Pilots Licence (within three months of commencing role, if not already held).