Fisheries Director and Senior Fisheries Scientist roles

• EL 2 - $136,118 - $158,149 per annum plus superannuation
• Agvet Chemicals, Fisheries and Forestry Division and the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
• Canberra, ACT

• Provide strategic policy and regulatory advice on aquaculture and recreational fishing.
• Lead scientific research and provide scientific advice to support the development of fisheries policy and management.
• Work across domestic and international fisheries issues.

Who we are
The Fisheries Branch provides policy advice to portfolio ministers and the executive on commercial, recreational and Indigenous fishing and aquaculture, including the intersection of Australian fishing interests with domestic and international marine environment obligations. The branch also has responsibility for the setting of regulatory policies for fishing in Commonwealth waters which are operationalised by AFMA. The branch has responsibility for Australia's whole-of-government policy on regional and international fisheries management organisations which safeguard Australian fishing interests on the High Seas and in respect of migratory stocks, and for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The Natural Resources Branch provides scientific and economic research, analysis and statistics that inform policy development for, and management of Australia’s domestic fisheries, Australia’s engagement in international fisheries, and Australia’s forests, water markets and agricultural land. The branch capability includes geospatial analysis, scientific sustainability assessments for fisheries and forests, and economic assessment and forecasting. The branch produces a range of outputs including regular publications and datasets, research and technical reports, representation and engagement in meetings and direct advice to policy makers.
The Fisheries Director role sits within the Multilateral, Aquaculture and Recreational Fisheries Section within the Fisheries Branch in AFFD and is responsible for key policy and program work across domestic and international fisheries. This includes leading on Australia’s engagement in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) and Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)) and multilateral forums (UN, FAO, OECD, APEC and global oceans). Domestically, the section leads policy development and advice for aquaculture and recreational fishing, supports research and science through FRDC and ABARES and manages the branch’s research program. The section is responsible for the delivery of programs including developing Australia’s seaweed industry. The section is also responsible for the trial of stereo video technology in tuna farms in Port Lincoln.
The Senior Fisheries Scientist role sits within the Fisheries Science Program sits within the Natural Resources Branch at ABARES. The branch provides scientific and economic research, analysis and statistics that inform policy development for, and management of, Australia’s domestic fisheries, Australia’s engagement in international fisheries, Australia’s forests, water markets and Australia’s agricultural land. The Fisheries Science Program provides scientific support for the development and implementation of fisheries legislation and policy. We undertake the critical role of auditing fisheries management performance against legislated and policy objectives. This provides transparency and facilitates the green credentials of the fishing industry, opens markets and aids public confidence. We advocate for quality science in Australia and internationally to support management decisions. We lead Australia’s scientific representation at Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and provide scientific advice to support Australia’s policy positions in those forums. We contribute to Australia’s brand of good science, evidence-based decision making and honest brokering. The fisheries science team works at the interface of policy and science. The program works across domestic and international fisheries issues, with scientists routinely working across both areas. It also collaborates with the Natural Resource Economics Program within ABARES, and other organisations, on issues and projects of mutual interest. The program works closely with external collaborators in delivering advice to a range of clients, including the department’s Fisheries Branch, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), international bodies, and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).
The Jobs
The duties of the Fisheries Director role will include:

• leading Australia’s delegations to SPRFMO and Compliance Committee of CCAMLR
• attending and supporting Australia’s head of delegation to WCPFC
• managing responsibility for the trial of stereo video technology in tuna farms in Port Lincoln
• delivering on the government’s election commitment to support Australia’s seaweed industry
• providing strategic policy and regulatory advice on aquaculture and recreational fishing
• leading and developing a team which includes remotely based staff
• managing budgets, contracts, procurement and human resources matters.

The duties of the Senior Fisheries Scientist role will include:

• leading scientific research and providing scientific advice to support the development of fisheries policy and management
• providing high level scientific representation in domestic and/or international fisheries forums
• developing and maintaining effective and trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders and clients (domestic and potentially internationally)
• successfully communicating and presenting complex science to a variety of lay or technical audiences
• providing effective leadership within the program, including supervising and mentoring staff and building a sense of purpose and direction within a multi-disciplinary research team
• engaging with the ABARES Executive and the broader department
• managing financial and human resources and ensuring compliance with administrative requirements.

In addition to the above duties, the Senior Fisheries Scientist may be required to provide high level scientific representation and leadership in international fisheries forums, including Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. The position is likely to have responsibilities across both domestic and international fishery areas, including the potential to lead Australia’s scientific engagement in at least one Regional Fisheries Management Organisation. The relative level of domestic versus international responsibilities will depend on the skills and background of the successful applicant.
What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience
Fisheries Director

• Demonstrated experience in leading a team.
• Strong public policy experience and capability.
• Experience in international engagement.
• Program delivery and contract management experience.
• Fisheries policy experience.

Senior Fisheries Scientist

• A scientific reputation and record of achievement with respect to the application of quantitative or qualitative analyses of fisheries resources within the areas of stock assessment, ecological risk assessment, fisheries bycatch research, resource sharing, climate change impact, fisheries population ecology and status determination and the communication of outputs to diverse audiences.
• Experience in achieving outcomes in domestic and/or international multilateral fora.
• Experience in the cultivation and maintenance of relationships domestically and/or internationally.
• Demonstrated scientific expertise and record of achievement (national and internationally) in fisheries or marine science, particularly with respect to stock assessment or status determination.
• A demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, the APS Values and Code of Conduct.

Mandatory qualifications (only for the role of Senior Fisheries Scientist)
A PhD in a related field or at least 10 years relevant experience in a related discipline.
For additional information, please read the Job Description below.