Marine Transport Safety Investigator

Do you have a keen interest in advancing safety within the marine industry. The ATSB has a unique job opportunity for anyone interested in investigating incidents and accidents.  

When the ATSB investigates a marine accident or incident, investigators will seek to determine its circumstances, identify any safety issues, and encourage relevant safety action. Don’t worry, we will teach you our investigation processes and detailed analysis methodology, all we ask is for you to bring your experience and knowledge of the marine industry to the table.  

The experience we are looking for is:

• At least 2 years of current or recent experience as a ship master, chief engineer, chief mate or first engineer on seagoing vessels or as a ship superintendent, surveyor, pilot or similar.
• Highly developed knowledge and understanding of the ISM Code, shipboard operations, and safety management systems.  

We will accept applications from non‐Australian citizens if you are a resident looking to become an Australian citizen or if you can demonstrate working rights in Australia.

Travel: This job is primarily onshore, approximately 10% of your time may be spent travelling: to accident sites, to undertake onsite investigation activities, for training, or to attend industry conferences.

An allowance of $13,069 pa will be payable for 18 weeks restriction after induction training has been completed (approx. 6 months) and you are placed on the deployment roster.

OUR ORGANISATION

The ATSB improves safety and public confidence in marine, rail and aviation transport through:

• independent ‘no blame’ investigation of transport accidents and safety occurrences;  
• safety data recording, analysis and research; and  
• influencing safety action through fostering safety awareness.  

The ATSB is established by the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (TSI Act) and conducts its investigations in accordance with the provisions of the Act.  Under the TSI Act, it is not a function of the ATSB to apportion blame or provide a means for determining liability.  The ATSB does not investigate for the purpose of taking administrative, regulatory or criminal action. For further information about the ATSB refer to our website www.atsb.gov.au

ABOUT THE ROLE

Trained Transport Safety Investigators (TSIs) will lead 1‐2 investigations at any point in time. They will also work to support other investigators seeking your technical or industry knowledge.  You will receive formal and on‐the‐job training to help you apply ATSB’s specific investigation methodology.  Each investigation is different and will require differing levels of research, evidence collection, analysis, and documentation of your findings to meet the needs of different audiences.  You will also be required to build and maintain effective internal and external stakeholder relationships. The ATSB takes safety seriously, which is why we have multiple levels of checking and enquiry to ensure the findings and outcomes for each report are solid and can stand up to external scrutiny.  

Investigators work in accordance with the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003, its subordinate legislation, and ATSB policies and procedures.

Our Ideal Person will demonstrate:

• A good understanding of the maritime industry, ships and shipboard operations, the ability to interpret and apply legislation, regulations and standards, and demonstrable involvement and interest in marine safety and safe shipboard operations.
• Analytical reasoning and problem‐solving skills, and the ability to collect relevant data and evidence, conduct research and interpret information, and apply technical and industry knowledge impartially and without bias.
• A good understand of writing principles and practices and developed capability of compiling concise, logical, and technically‐correct written outputs.
• Well‐developed verbal communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to interact professionally with internal and external stakeholders, including those from different cultural backgrounds, and represent the ATSB’s interests with Government and private sector organisations and the public.
• A strong commitment to learning and self‐development, keen interest in embracing new and challenging opportunities, and committed to an honest, ethical and professional approach to achieve objectives while adhering to legal and organisational requirements.  
• Project management skills to scope and achieve defined outcomes, within agreed resources and timeframes.
• Collaborative leadership skills, working in small teams with other technical specialists to achieve outcomes.
• An ability to motivate self and work collaboratively, recognising and respecting the work preferences and different views of others.
• An ability to apply and promote effective health and wellbeing practices, and work in accordance with WHS legislation and the agency’s policies and procedures.
• An ability to model and promote the Australian Public Service (APS) values and ATSB principles.

What we can offer you:

• Flexible working arrangements, includes flexible start and finish times Monday to Friday.
• Extensive leave provisions: 18 days sick/carers leave pa, 20 days annual leave pa, compassionate leave, bereavement leave, long service leave after 10 years.  
• Access to on‐the‐job learning and paid professional development opportunities to support your career.
• We will pay for and support you to complete a Graduate Certificate in Transport Safety Investigation.
• Work supplied mobile phone.   
• Travel allowances when traveling for work.
• A variety of salary packaging options.  
• Access to our health and wellbeing program, including tools, resources and supports.  

More information about the role

• Our Transport Safety Investigators (TSI) attend accidents that may involve fatalities and/or serious injuries to people.  You will be trained to interview the injured people or members of their family (next of kin) where a fatality has occurred.
• Your safety is important to us. Our investigators are vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus and in some cases Typhoid before attending accident sites.  Additional inoculations may be required when travelling and/or if attending overseas accident sites.
• We can’t predict where (environmental conditions) or when you will be deployed; however, we do have excellent flexible working arrangements that support you to maintain a good level of physical and mental fitness to undertake field deployments.
• TSIs participate in: 
• an on‐call after hours deployment roster arrangement, and are on‐call to respond to an accident for up to 18 weeks per year
• a general notifications roster, and are responsible for our after‐hours hotline for 15‐24 hours every 6 weeks.

HOW TO APPLY

Please visit Employment opportunities | ATSB and download the application kit to apply for the position.