Technical Officer (Vpsg3)

The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) was established to ensure Victoria's strong economic performance by growing industries and regions. Here at DJPR, we're making sure Victoria's economy benefits all Victorians by creating more jobs for more people, building thriving places and regions and nurturing inclusive communities.

Our work supports a range of diverse portfolios and operates across metropolitan, regional and international offices. We also oversee various public entities, including public corporations, regulatory authorities and specialist boards.

The Department strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and offers reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities.

Our values are accountability, integrity and respect, and underpin everything we do.

Technical Officer

• $72,751 - $88,336: (Plus Superannuation)
• Fixed Term – 3 years
• Usual hours of work: Full Time (flexibility may be available)
• Usual work location: Bundoora (flexibility may be available)

The Team

The position of Technical Officer forms a part of the Agriculture Victoria Research Branch within the Agriculture Victoria Group.

The Agriculture Victoria Research Branch represents DJPR's agricultural research and development function. The Agriculture Research Branch provides a discipline-based science and technology delivery function in the following areas: a) Genomics and Cellular Sciences; b) Microbial Sciences, Pests and Diseases; c) Plant Sciences; d) Plant Production Sciences; e) Animal Production Sciences; and f) Agriculture Resources Sciences.

The Role

This position reports to the Research Scientist, you will provide scientific, technical, and operational support to Agriculture Victoria Research's research and surveillance portfolio. This role will undertake activities to underpin Victoria's agricultural biosecurity, agricultural productivity and public health.

• Contribute technical knowledge for science capability development with a strong focus on outcome, innovation and scientific rigour.
• Identify and apply scientific and technical developments for continual improvement to ensure the quality of laboratory and diagnostics outputs for the Microbiology team.
• Undertake standard processing work and provide guidance to other staff for diagnostic testing, data entry, the collation of laboratory data and the quality management system.

About You

The Technical Officer will require strong theoretical technical knowledge and laboratory experience and organisational skills, particularly arbovirology and veterinary virology. The position will apply this knowledge and experience across the Microbiology group and be responsible for conducting routine diagnostic testing using a range of molecular-based diagnostic testing methods, including high-throughput sequencing methods. In addition, this position will contribute to science projects and laboratory test development, while participating in the general operational activities to support our quality management system and regulatory accreditation. Many of the duties will be repetitive and will require independent work.

Further Information

For a confidential discussion, please contact Peter Mee on 0408 142 116.

Applicants will be required to comply with the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Region's (department's) COVID-19 Vaccination requirements, in line with the Chief Health Officer (CHO) Directions and any other legislative requirements, directions, policies or procedures, including but not limited to any requirement to provide evidence of vaccination status.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. To be eligible for this position you must hold the mandatory qualification as outlined in the position description. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.

Please note: If you require an adjustment to participate in any stage of the recruitment process or have a particular requirement to be communicated with by either telephone or email only, please notify the DJPR Recruitment Team at recruitment@ecodev.vic.gov.au with the position number in the subject line.

How to Apply

Applications close at midnight on 13 September 2022.