Assistant Director

EL 1 - $115,663 - $124,403 per annum plus superannuation
- Environmental Permitting and Compliance Division
- Adelaide, SA,Brisbane, QLD,Canberra, ACT,Darwin, NT,Hobart, TAS,Melbourne, VIC,Perth, WA,Sydney, NSW
- Make a difference by working for a healthier, cleaner environment for all Australians.
- Drive national initiatives by administering environmental and waste legislation.

**Who we are**
The Environmental Permitting and Compliance Division is looking for people passionate about regulation and the environment. It is an exciting time to join the division within the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The government has announced that it will establish the national Environment Protection Australia (EPA) as a strong independent environmental regulator with a mission to improve trust and transparency in the operation of national environmental laws. It is expected that the work of the division will transition to the EPA in the period ahead. We are a modern regulator that works to a high professional standard to deliver better practice regulation. We use the best scientific evidence and sound judgement, and work with a wide range of stakeholders, to solve complex environmental challenges daily. Our work is engaging and meaningful and contributes to maintaining a resilient and healthy environment for all Australians.

The Wildlife, Waste and Environment Permits Branch is responsible for the assessment and regulation of wildlife trade, sea dumping, waste exports, hazardous waste, the national television and computer recycling scheme, air quality emissions standards and environmental contamination. The Branch was established in May this year and has a significant reform agenda as we consolidate and strengthen regulatory functions in preparation for establishment of Environment Protection Australia.

The Branch delivers priorities across eight sections:

- ** Hazardous Waste and NCTRS** administers the National Television and Recycling scheme (NTCRS) which regulates importers who are obliged to contribute to the recycling of e-products at the end of their useful life. The section also regulates the import, transit, and export of hazardous, household, and mixed plastic wastes.
- **Environmental Contamination Advice and Standards** provides scientific, technical and regulatory advice on the investigation and management of contaminated sites within the Department, to other commonwealth entities, and external stakeholders. The Section is also responsible for the development of Commonwealth and national contamination standards for contaminated site investigation and remediation such as the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan 3.0.
- **Air Quality Emissions Standards** administers regulation of emission-controlled products under the Product Emission Standards, and Ozone Protection and Synthetic Green House Gas Management Regulations. The section manages co-regulators for refrigeration and air conditioning, and fire protection permit scheme, and issues importation permits and manages HFC quota.
- ** Strategy and Regulatory Practice** provides support and an enabling function, to share good practice and strengthen regulatory maturity including in relation to governance, compliance and assurance, IT systems, capability / communities of practice, stakeholder engagement and regulatory posture.

**The Job**
We are seeking to fill several EL1 vacancies in the Waste Exports and Hazardous Waste and NTCRS sections. As an Assistant Director, you would lead a small team delivering business support and continuous improvement initiatives and administering environmental and waste legislation. We have also anticipated vacancies across other roles and sections in the branch.
- supporting and developing staff to improve their skills and capabilities in environmental regulation and related support functions
- identifying, prioritising and delivering business improvement initiatives to improve regulatory practice and effectiveness
- balancing competing timelines and managing distribution of workloads across the team to ensure deadlines are met
- supporting a culture of collaboration and integrity.

**Please note** that this recruitment process is advertised as both ongoing and non-ongoing. If an offer of non-ongoing employment is made, the successful applicant may be employed for a period of up to 18 months. Should a non-ongoing position become ongoing, then 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 be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**
Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas will be highly regarded:

- Environmental assessment or natural resource management.
- Regulation.
- Program or project management.
- Evaluation or impact analysis.
- Stakeholder engagement.
- Govern