Policy and Project Officers

APS 5 - $81,690 - $89,615 per annum plus superannuation
- Plant Protection & Environmental Biosecurity Division
- Adelaide, SA,Brisbane, QLD,Cairns, QLD,Canberra, ACT,Darwin, NT,Melbourne, VIC,Perth, WA,Sydney, NSW,Townsville, QLD
- _Work as part of a vibrant team that improves national biosecurity outcomes _
- _Work in a dynamic environment to deliver results _
- _Work with strategic thinkers to broaden your knowledge and understanding of the systems that protect Australia's agriculture, environment and way of life_

**Who we are**
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
- assisting the department to meet national and international obligations and influencing plant health policies.

**The Jobs**
Several Policy Officer positions are available in the policy/project and national secretariat work streams. These roles provide the opportunity to:

- work as part of a vibrant team that improves national biosecurity outcomes
- work in a dynamic environment to deliver results
- work with strategic thinkers to broaden your knowledge and understanding of the systems that support Australia's biosecurity status.

As a Policy officer in the policy/project stream your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

- contributing to the development of plant preparedness policy advice
- contributing to the development, improvement and implementation of national action plans for priority pests, by providing technical review and assessment
- liaising with state/territory departments of agriculture, Plant Health Australia, international counterparts and other stakeholders
- providing contract administration and assisting with project managers
- assisting in progressing other branch and divisional initiatives.

As a Policy Officer in the national secretariat team your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

- supporting the provision of high-quality secretariat services to national and departmental plant biosecurity committees and working groups
- working with internal and external stakeholders to provide leadership and direction to the national plant health biosecurity system
- preparation of papers to progress national committee business
- hosting of meetings, preparation of meeting documentation including formal minutes, actions and outcomes and communiques
- maintenance of landing pages for external communication
- assisting with the progression of other branch and divisional initiatives
- contributing to the delivery of high-level secretariat support for the Plant Health Committee and its subcommittees and working groups.

**Please note** that this recruitment process will be used to fill multiple ongoing and non ongoing vacancies and that the roles may be able to be performed from any of the locations listed above. If an offer of non-ongoing employment is made, the successful applicant would be employed for an initial period of 12 months with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of 2 years in total. Some of these non-ongoing positions may become ongoing in the next 18 months. Should a position become ongoing then 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 the vacancy on an ongoing basis. The merit pool may also be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the division where the duties are of a similar nature.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
The following knowledge and experience is desirable:

- Experience in managing secretariat services and/or performing secretariat duties.
- Knowledge of national or international plant and/or environmental biosecurity issues.
- Demonstrated experience in policy development and implementation, preferably in plant biosecurity or related areas.
- Experience in project management.
- Experience reviewing relevant national policy and/or agreements.
- Knowledge and/or experience in stakeholder consultation, liaison and communication.
- Financial and contract management experience.