Principal Plant Pathologist

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

• Fulfil your career in science and leadership in a highly-motivated, innovative national team contributing to Australia’s world-class biosecurity system
• Manage a multi-location team of scientists delivering diagnostics and risk mitigation advice for exotic diseases and plants, and biosecurity awareness training
• Enjoy competitive remuneration and conditions

Who we are
The Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division (BPSSD) safeguards Australia’s plant health status to achieve, maintain and expand overseas markets, while protecting the economy and environment. The division includes four branches, which together focus on providing scientific analysis and technical advice, facilitating the safe importation of plants and plant products, improving systems, market access, capacity building and stakeholder engagement. The division provides diagnostics, with advice on biosecurity risk and measures, and biosecurity training. The division conducts surveillance and response at first points of entry and approved arrangements sites nationally, and delivers plant, animal and aquatic health surveillance in northern Australia. The division works closely with communities and Indigenous rangers and regulates biosecurity risk in the Torres Strait.
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 Plant Pathology and Botany Section supports regulatory decision-making and biosecurity policy settings with plant health diagnostics at the Australian border, scientific expertise, and operational intelligence, working with the department and stakeholders to safeguard Australia from exotic plant diseases and weeds and to enable continued agricultural access to improved crop varieties imported through post-entry quarantine.
The Job
The role provides leadership, management and technical direction to the department’s Plant Pathology and Botany Section (PPaBS) team, across it’s laboratories in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Mickleham and Perth. As an Assistant Director, the Principal Plant Pathologist will have a high level of leadership skills, and knowledge and working experience in plant pathology, be self-motivated, and be able to work independently and collaboratively, with minimal supervision. Under the general direction of the Director, the Assistant Director will undertake duties that include, but are not limited to:

• Leading and managing recruitment, performance, professional development of scientific staff in specific teams within PPaBS, as required
• providing leadership, oversight and technical support to teams within PPaBS, as required, for identification and management of samples submitted to the laboratories for identification, disease diagnosis, and provision of associated operational advice on biosecurity risk and biosecurity measures, including management of plant health issues in imported plants under post-entry quarantine.
• leading engagement with internal and external stakeholders to resolve complex plant health issues for goods under biosecurity control and associated Approved Arrangement facilities
• providing leadership, reporting and strategic contributions for PPaBS nationally, including: development and implementation of data and quality management systems; building and maintaining conventional and innovative diagnostics capability and capacity; effective and compliant financial management, including cost recovery; and business planning and monitoring of key performance indicators
• fostering WHS in PPaBS , including building and fostering a positive WHS culture, and contributing to WHS management in PPaBS and SSG nationally
• contributing to development and delivery of technical training to internal and external stakeholders
• leading and contributing to operational and strategic initiatives in SSG, the division and the department, as required
• leading, promoting and ensuring effective implementation of Australian Public Sector (APS) Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct.

The successful applicant may be required to periodically undertake field surveillance and travel to other locations in Australia and, if required, offshore.
Knowledge and experience

• Demonstrated experience in managing and motivating a team, undertaking complex tasks, to prioritise effort to meet changing operational needs, to negotiate resolution of issues or conflicting points of view and to harness the skills and knowledge of the team.
• Demonstrated experience in leading delivery of plant health diagnostics for a diverse range of plant pathogenic taxa, utilising traditional and innovative diagnostic technologies, and experience in troubleshooting and transferring skills to technical staff.
• Demonstrated experience in interrogation, analysis and reporting upon statistical and diagnostic data, utilising workplace information systems.

Skills and capabilities

• Demonstrated ability to think laterally and harness information and opportunities to support the needs of a diagnostic laboratory, including marshalling professional expertise and contributing own expertise to achieve policy, innovation, WHS and laboratory quality assurance outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to provide impartial and forthright advice with effective and concise communication of relevant information (orally and in writing) to a broad range of audiences, within a regulatory context
• Demonstrated initiative, self-motivation and ability to commit energy and drive to see that personal and team goals are achieved in an efficient and timely manner
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain productive, positive, respectful relationships with other members of a team, and with professionals external to the Section and the department, including contributing and facilitating regular, constructive feedback and communication, while fostering a positive culture of innovation and change.

Mandatory Qualifications
Post-graduate qualifications in agriculture or biological science, with specialisation in plant pathology and diagnostics, or equivalent based on extensive demonstrated experience with at least graduate qualifications
For additional information, please read the Job Description below.