First Assistant Secretary, Biosecurity Plant and

Senior Executive Service Band 2 per annum plus superannuation
- Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
- Adelaide, SA; Sydney, NSW; Brisbane, QLD; Canberra, ACT; Melbourne, VIC

**Who we are**

The **Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry **works to enhance our agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries. We create new and maintain existing agricultural export opportunities, to provide gains for Australian agriculture. We manage biosecurity risks to Australia to protect our multi-billion-dollar agricultural industries and our way of life. We know that together we are greater than the sum of parts. We are OneDAFF: collaborating across our department to better enhance our delivery for our stakeholders, our nation and the globe.

The **Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division** safeguards Australia’s plant health status to achieve, maintain and expand overseas markets, while protecting the economy and environment against increasing biosecurity risks.

**The job**

As First Assistant Secretary, Biosecurity Plant and Science Services your duties include:

- Promoting Australia’s national biosecurity plant and science interests in the context of two-way agricultural trade.
- Leading innovation and reform across the Division and whole-of-biosecurity system.
- Leading the division in providing scientific analysis and technical advice, facilitating the safe importation of plants and plant products, improving systems, market access, capacity building and stakeholder engagement.
- Leading and delivering the work of the division, which includes conducting surveillance and responding at first points of entry and approved arrangements sites nationally, and delivering plant, animal, and aquatic health surveillance in northern Australia.
- Leading the division in working closely with communities and Indigenous rangers to regulate biosecurity risk in Northern Australia and the Torres Strait.
- Leading and implementing policy, programs, systems and services to address organisational, whole-of-government and industry priorities for the safeguard of Australia’s plant health status.
- Managing a large budget, including biosecurity infrastructure, and delivering and managing significant capital projects and procurements.
- Managing a diverse and geographically dispersed and remote workforce to be inclusive, respectful and positive.
- Managing and leading the division consistent with Work Health and Safety responsibilities and obligations, and the department’s workplace behaviours policy.
- Building a capable and strong workforce that delivers on organisational priorities, including emerging workforce needs influenced by innovation and reform.
- Promoting a high-performance culture, while focusing on continuous improvement of employee and organisational performance and continuous communication.
- Promoting integrity practices by displaying a high level of ethical behaviour in accordance with the APS Code of Conduct, APS Values and APS Employment Principles.

**What we are looking for**

To be successful for this role you will need to meet the Senior Executive Service capability for the SES band 2 level, and you will have the following:

- Ability to demonstrate your collaboration and agility with a proven record of delivering high quality and innovative financial management outcomes in a complex, politically sensitive, and operationally diverse environment.
- Ability to drive broad transformational change in a regulatory, science and/or trade context, both internal and external to the department.
- Outstanding leadership skills, a substantial record of achievement and a reputation for innovation and delivery of results.
- Excellent stakeholder relationship skills and experience in engaging with internal and external stakeholders at all levels to explore opportunities and solve complex problems.
- Demonstrating a strategic perspective and ability to manage competing demands and work to tight deadlines.
- Highly developed management and stakeholder engagement skills and ability to represent the department at a range of forums.
- Ability to communicate effectively with all audiences, be articulate and persuasive and capable of guiding negotiations to a point of resolution in a facilitative way.
- Demonstrated public service professionalism and probity.

**Security clearance**
This position requires a Negative Vetting 2 security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at the appropriate level for this position.

Job Description Opens in new window