Entomologist

APS 5 - $81,690 - $89,615 per annum plus superannuation
- Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
- Brisbane, QLD,Melbourne, VIC
- Undertake diagnostics and imaging and provide advice for arthropods of biosecurity concern.
- Contribute to meeting the biosecurity challenges of the future.
- Work in a motivated team with a wide range of skill sets and backgrounds.

**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 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 **Operational Science and Surveillance** (OSS) team has four technical sections, (1) Entomology, (2) Plant Pathology & Botany, (3) Surveillance, and (4) Technical Response, with a national network and laboratory facilities located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Collectively our work contributes to Australia’s favourable animal, plant and environmental status through the delivery of diagnostics services for pests, pathogens and plants/seeds, and biosecurity surveillance and response activities within Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry jurisdictions. The OSS team also provides technical, policy and pest mitigation advice and delivers training to departmental and industry staff.

**The Job**
Under the general direction of the Senior Entomologist, the Entomologist will contribute to scientific services and operational and policy advice. The duties of the roles may include, but are not limited to:

- Undertaking diagnostics of insects and other invertebrates to a high level and in accordance with departmental policy, procedures and the laboratory quality management system.
- Preparing specimens for diagnostics and long-term preservation in departmental reference collections.
- Undertaking high quality diagnostic imaging of invertebrate specimens.
- Providing risk-based biosecurity management advice to Biosecurity Officers and other stakeholders.
- Maintaining paper-based and electronic data and records in line with policy, data and quality standards.
- Maintaining and developing diagnostic and other technical capability through participation in training, competency assessments and laboratory proficiency testing in line with quality system requirements.
- Contributing to the provision of technical advice and reporting for OSS clients that cover a range of policy, auditing, inspection, risk management and treatment activities
- Participating in pest inspections, surveillance and response activities.
- Liaising, negotiating and communicating with technical specialists, government agencies, industry bodies and other stakeholders.
- Assisting with the development and delivery of training and awareness courses for inspection staff and other stakeholders.
- Participating in working groups and other network meetings and contributing to the development and review of national policies and procedures
- Prioritising and managing time to provide an efficient and effective service to meet internal and external client expectations, within a regulatory environment.
- Working independently or under limited guidance and with a high level of initiative, integrity and flexibility to support the work practices of the team and the day-to-day operations of the laboratory.
- Providing innovative advice and supporting changes that may affect Operational Science and Surveillance and/or delivery of key outputs to clients.
- Promoting and ensuring compliance with departmental WH&S policies and guidelines and being alert for and reporting risks regarding WH&S issues.

The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of 18 months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill future vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.