AddressThe Animal and Biological Import Assessments Branch implements biosecurity policies to allow for the safe movement of animals, animal products, genetic material, and microorganisms into Australia. The activities of the branch include the provision of technical advice to staff, importers and stakeholders. Development and publishing of import conditions, instructional material and other guidance material and assessing import permit applications and issuing import permits.
The Biosecurity Import Support Team (BIST) is a service delivery area and the central contact point for industry, the public and the department's import operations areas. BIST is responsible for administering biosecurity import permit applications, conducting non-technical permit assessments, and responding to general enquiries relating to the importation of goods and use of associated systems via phone and email. To deliver effective client service, the team has standard operating hours from 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. This availability is underpinned by a supportive, team-based approach, where a roster system is in place, work is equitably distributed, and clear performance standards are set.
The key duties of the position include
The Job
The role involves the following responsibilities:
- Providing high quality customer service via telephone and email to clients who have applied for an import permit or are importing goods to Australia.
- Assessing import permit applications for animal, biological and plant commodities in accordance with the department's service charter and Australia's biosecurity legislation and import policies.
- Providing advice to importers, operational staff within the department, other stakeholders and government agencies on management of biosecurity risks.
- Supporting import permit, import condition and enquiry workflows by working in partnership with, and escalating matters to the import programs.
- Providing assistance and support to team leaders and supervisors in monitoring operations and service delivery.
- Optimising the Biosecurity Import Conditions database (BICON) functionality by championing its use, preparing changes to BICON, mentoring and training others in its use, responding to content or user enquires and referring system or content matters to the Service Desk or the BICON Content team respectively.
- Building and sustaining supportive, effective and collaborative relationships. Successful candidates will need to enjoy working in a fast-paced and challenging work environment, display initiative, have excellent attention to detail, sound judgement, and deliver high quality work within tight deadlines.
As this is a critical role in an operational area, a successful candidate's performance and aptitude will be reviewed over a six-month probation period, to ensure their suitability for the role. Due to the operational and team-based nature of the role, the position is based in Canberra. We are seeking applicants who are energetic, resilient, capable, and driven, to enable the department to achieve its service delivery goals within a regulatory environment. A flexible approach to problem solving and ability to use initiative is equally important.
Please note that this recruitment process will be used to fill several ongoing vacancies. 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 where the duties are of a similar nature.
