Plant Pathologist

Join to apply for the Plant Pathologist role at Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

A$84,794.00/yr - A$93,020.00/yr

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 the 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 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 to enable continued agricultural access to improved crop varieties imported through post-entry quarantine.

The role provides diagnostics and associated advice on biosecurity risk and measures, in the department's Plant Pathology Section, at its laboratories at Brisbane, Mascot, Mickleham, Moonee Ponds and Perth. The Plant Pathologist will work effectively in a small team and have 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 Senior Plant Pathologist the Plant Pathologist will undertake duties that include, but are not limited to:

• assessing a diverse range of plants for disease symptoms and collecting samples suitable for laboratory diagnostics, in field or greenhouse environments, as required
• conducting diagnostic testing of samples submitted to the laboratories for identification, disease diagnosis, and provision of associated operational advice on biosecurity risk and biosecurity measures, including advice on management of plant health issues in imported plants under post-entry quarantine
• reporting and analysing diagnostic results and verification data, preparing formal reports, and providing technical input to work instructions, guidelines, and requests for operational policy advice
• contributing to engagement with internal and external stakeholders to resolve plant health issues for goods under biosecurity control and associated Approved Arrangement facilities, including post-entry plant quarantine facilities
• working effectively with other staff in the laboratory to ensure timely delivery of diagnostic activities, quality controls, and technical advice
• complying with WHS requirements in the laboratory, including contributing to a positive WHS culture, identification and assessment of hazards, and development of safety controls
• contributing to development and delivery of technical and biosecurity-awareness training to internal and external stakeholders, as required
• contributing to operational and strategic initiatives in the section and SSG as required
• promoting and adhering to Australian Public Sector (APS) Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct

Please note the successful applicant may be required to undertake activities in and outside post-entry quarantine facilities and may need to travel to other locations in Australia and, if required, offshore.

Please note this selection process will initially be used to fill an ongoing vacancy in Sydney (NSW). However, a merit pool will be established from this recruitment process which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing (both regional and metropolitan) vacancies in a range of locations including Brisbane (QLD), Melbourne (VIC) and Perth (WA). Non-ongoing (specified term) contracts may be offered to new employees for an initial period of up to twelve months with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of two years in total. Should a position become ongoing then the merit pool, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis.

Knowledge and experience

• Experience in delivery of plant health diagnostics for a diverse range of plant pathogenic taxa utilising conventional and emerging diagnostic technologies.
• Experience in troubleshooting and transferring skills to technical staff.

Mandatory qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in agriculture or biological science, (minimum bachelor's degree) with specialisation in plant pathology and diagnostics; or equivalent based on demonstrated experience and with graduate qualifications.

• Not Applicable

• Full-time

• Administrative, General Business, and Other

• Government Administration and Government Relations Services