Molecular Biologist/diagnostician

APS 5 - $81,690 - $89,615 per annum plus superannuation
- Plant Protection & Environmental Biosecurity Division
- Brisbane, QLD,Cairns, QLD

**Who we are**
The Plant Protection and Environmental Biosecurity Division (PPEBD) provides policy leadership and support for plant health and environmental biosecurity. PPEBD is the home of the Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer (ACPPO) and Australian Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer (ACEBO). The division: aims to improve Australia’s plant health and environmental biosecurity systems and outcomes; helps meet relevant national and international obligations; and works to minimise the impacts of current and emerging biosecurity risks to Australia’s agricultural production and trade, environment, Indigenous and cultural heritage and associated amenities. The division is comprised of two branches: the Plant Health Policy Branch and the Environmental Biosecurity Office, which also oversees the Australian Plague Locust Commission’s activities.

The Plant Health Policy Branch provides a national focal point for plant biosecurity issues within Australia and has responsibility for the national leadership in managing Australia's plant health. The work of the branch underpins biosecurity and helps to open new, and maintain existing, domestic and international markets for Australian plant industries. This is achieved by; providing focus for national and international plant biosecurity activities; preparing for and coordinating national responses to plant pests and exotic weeds; promoting reform of the plant biosecurity system; improving plant health capacity and capabilities in near-neighbour countries and trading partners; domestically improving national surveillance and diagnostic capability and capacity; and assisting the department to meet national and international obligations and influencing plant health policies.

The Diagnostic section provides national leadership in the management of policies and procedures relating to plant health diagnostics.

**The Job**
The role conducts DNA testing for biosecurity plant health in the department’s laboratory at Brisbane. Under the general direction of the Senior Molecular Biologist, the Molecular Biologist/Diagnostician will undertake duties that include, but are not limited to:

- working effectively with other staff in the laboratory to ensure timely delivery of diagnostic activities, quality controls and technical advice
- conducting a range of procedures and molecular tests of entomology and/or plant pathology samples
- conducting genomic analysis for the determination of population assignment or functional characteristics of an organism.
- contributing to engagement with internal stakeholders to resolve complex molecular diagnostic issues in support of biosecurity decisions
- contributing to the implementation of strategic initiatives for the section nationally
- reporting, recording and analysing diagnostic results and verifying data, preparing formal reports and providing technical input to work instructions, guidelines and requests for operational policy advice
- complying with WHS requirements in the laboratory including contributing to a positive WHS culture, the identification and assessment of hazards and the development of safety controls
- contributing to the development and delivery of technical training to internal stakeholders
- contributing to operational and strategic initiatives in the section and SSG
- promoting and adhering to the Australian Public Sector (APS) Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct.

**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**
- Demonstrated experience in delivery of molecular diagnostics utilising conventional and emerging technologies as well as experience in troubleshooting and transferring skills to technical staff.
- Knowledge of the techniques used in analysis of DNA sequence data for the taxonomic assignment of plant pathogen and/or entomology samples
- Demonstrated experience in the accurate reporting of diagnostic data.

**Mandatory qualifications**
The successful applicants will have either tertiary qualifications in science (minimum bachelor’s degree) with a specialisation in molecular biology or the equivalent based on demonstrated experience and with graduate qualifications.