Assistant Director - Technical Response

• EL 1 - $115,663 - $124,403 per annum plus superannuation
• Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
• Brisbane (QLD), Melbourne (VIC), Perth (WA) or Sydney (NSW)

• Lead a highly motivated team to manage and eradicate plant pests, diseases and weeds detected at Australia's borders.
• The positions prepare, plan and implement activities to respond to pests detected through inspection and surveillance at or near Australia's international borders.
• Two positions available - can be performed from multiple locations.

Who we are
Science and Surveillance Group (SSG) is comprised of scientists, operations and support staff responsible for regulatory advice and training, technical input to biosecurity policy, regulation activity in Torres Strait and diverse surveillance and diagnostic services around Australia, including animal and plant health surveillance measures under the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy.
The Technical Response Section undertakes management and eradication of exotic plant pests, diseases and weeds detected at or near the border, through the department’s inspection and surveillance programs. Many of these detections have the potential to cause significant economic, environmental and/or social harm. The Technical Response Section liaises with other areas of the department involved in the provision of response activity.
The Jobs
As an Assistant Director – Technical Response you will undertake strategic, operational and tactical planning and/or lead the delivery of responses to exotic pest, weed and disease detections. One of the roles will primarily lead preparedness and planning for responses and the other role will primarily lead response operations and logistics. The duties of the roles include, but are not limited to:

• preparing for, planning and managing responses to exotic detections at Australia’s international borders
• ensuring effective delivery of responses, including staff performance, budgeting, management of vehicles and other resources
• developing and updating SSG policies and instructional material with respect to the detection, surveillance and management of pests, weeds and diseases in a response setting
• ensuring that WHS practices are applied and followed within responses
• assisting with the development of, and reporting against, response plans
• leading teams to undertake biosecurity incident responses, under the direction of the person leading the response
• leading, promoting and ensuring effective implementation of the Australian Public Sector (APS) Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct, Work, Health & Safety (WH&S) and rehabilitation policies.

Please note this recruitment process will be used to fill two vacancies and the roles may be able to be performed from any of the locations listed above. The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of 18 months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill future vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.
What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience
The successful applicants will have:

• extensive experience in conducting surveillance for animal or plant diseases, pests and/or weeds
• significant knowledge and experience in botany, entomology or plant pathology, particularly relating to the biology, ecology, management and diagnostics
• knowledge and experience in surveillance design, analysis and data interpretation to assess changes in pest presence/absence or abundance
• demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in, emergency plant pest management arrangements including an understanding of Australia’s national cost sharing deeds
• significant experience in leading or participating in responses, including working in Incident Control Centres, ideally for responses to biosecurity incursions
• demonstrated business management experience with a good understanding of Whole of Government financial policies, procedures and guidelines
• demonstrated project and/or program management experience.

Mandatory qualifications
A Bachelor of Science with a major in entomology, botany, plant pathology, agriculture or a related discipline is mandatory.
Eligibility and other requirements
The successful applicants must:

• hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers licence
• note that the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work
• note that you may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work
• wear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures.

For additional information, please read the Job Description below.