Assistant Director

Who we are

The Operational Strategy & Reform (OS&R) Branch is responsible for managing divisional governance, business planning and reporting, project management, operational change management, business continuity, data and analytics, recruitment, and financials including budget and cost recovery arrangements. The branch leads regulatory capability and uplift for the division through decision support capability and reform initiatives and supports regulatory assurance functions including the exercise of regulatory decisions relating to infringement notices given by biosecurity officers. The branch drives reform through detection technology capabilities, automation advances, operational business improvements and border modernisation initiatives.

The Traveller Operations & Policy (TO&P) Branch develops and implements regulatory policy for traveller biosecurity and human health, delivers biosecurity regulatory screening and inspections of goods at air and seaports, manages non-compliant travellers including by issuing infringement notices, and drives modernisation and reform initiatives. The branch is responsible for leading the planning and design of the department's requirements for the new Western Sydney International Airport.

The Cargo Operations North and Response (CONR) Branch delivers regulatory assessment and inspections of goods, across the biosecurity continuum (offshore, at the border and onshore) to verify compliance with Australia's biosecurity and imported food requirements. Cargo Operations Pathway works with policy and risk owners within the department to influence and inform operational policy and deliver regulatory functions in accordance with legislative requirements, national standards within an integrated, risk-based operating model. The group has a national footprint with a presence in all capital cities and major regional ports.

The Cargo Operations South & Detector Dogs (COS&DD) Branch delivers regulatory assessment and inspections of goods, across the biosecurity continuum (offshore, at the border and onshore) to verify compliance with Australia's biosecurity and imported food requirements and has a presence in Victoria and Tasmania. The branch is also responsible for national delivery of client contact services, along with biosecurity detector dog program policy, training, and operations.

The division is looking to fill a number of Assistant Director roles in the following teams:

• Travellers Operations
• Cargo Assessments
• Cargo Inspections
• Infringement Notice Unit

Please note a merit pool will be established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy is advertised in the Gazette. Not all positions are vacant immediately and the merit pool will be used to fill future ongoing vacancies as they become available.

The Job

The role of an Assistant Director is to provide leadership to support the achievement of regulatory outcomes in line with the department's business plan and BOD strategic direction.

The successful applicants will need to influence change, while contributing to business planning and decision-making processes. They will also be required to demonstrate innovative leadership while providing support to and leading managers and teams in a regulatory environment.

Depending upon the role, duties may include all or some of the following:

• leading and taking responsibility for teams delivering regulatory services within geographically dispersed locations building capability of teams through coaching,
• performance feedback, conflict resolution and career development,
• engaging and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities, achieve outcomes and facilitate cooperation,
• responding to issues that arise outside of normal working hours may be required,
• researching, interpreting and applying complex legislation,
• undertaking strategic planning to meet business objectives in line with sound decision making,
• effectively manage competing priorities including delivering on complex project outcomes,
• managing and developing well-researched policy and complex policy advice,
• preparing reports, briefing papers, Ministerial correspondence and discussion papers,
• promoting the APS Values, the APS Employment Principles and compliance with the Code of Conduct.

The Assistant Director Infringement Notice Unit will bring a focus to the department's regulatory practice principles.

In addition to the above general duties this vacancy's duties will also include:

• contributing to the development of policy and decision support material,
• identifying and improving policy and decision support materials, providing regulatory advice, ensuring compliance with administrative law, and contributing to improvement initiatives.

Please note that the merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.

What are we looking for

Knowledge and Experience

The successful applicant will have:

• Demonstrated success in leading, managing and supporting staff to work collaboratively in a challenging, complex and fast paced operational regulatory environment.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory decision-making frameworks and applying legislation.
• Proven experience in a regulatory environment, collaborating with government bodies and engaging with external stakeholders,
• Experience in implementing change and managing ambiguity in the workplace,
• Experience in the effective coaching and mentoring of staff,
• Strong writing skills with experience producing briefings, minutes, ministerial responses, policy and technical documents for senior executives,
• Demonstrated experience in setting budgets and adhering to budgets, including across cost recovered and appropriated funding sources,
• Demonstrated success in leading large, geographically dispersed teams in a dynamic and high-consequence regulatory environment.

In addition to the above, the Assistant Director Infringement Notice Unit has the following specific requirements:

• Experience in the use and application of regulatory sanctions, particularly in the use and administration of infringement notices.