Assessment Officer

APS 4 - $74,882 - $81,521 per annum plus superannuation
- Plant and Live Animal Exports, Animal Welfare and Regulation Division
- Melbourne, VIC,Perth, WA
- Conduct thorough assessments and issue export certifications, ensuring full compliance with the Export Control Act 2020. This includes handling certifications for a diverse range of food and plant commodities, adhering to strict regulatory standards.
- Collaborate effectively within a nationally dispersed team, focusing on building and sustaining strong working relationships to enhance communication, coordination, and overall team success.
- Maintain a high level of attention to detail, demonstrating the ability to adapt to shifting priorities while utilising advanced IT skills, particularly in export-specific systems, to streamline processes and ensure accuracy in certification issuance.

**Who we are**
The **Plant and Live Animal Exports, Animal Welfare and Regulation Division** supports Australian agriculture industries and the government through development of animal welfare policy for export and domestic issues; management of policy, operations and certification for the export of live animals, animal reproductive material, plants, and plant products; management of the government priority to phase out live sheep exports; and we foster regulatory stewardship across export related functions.

The **Plant Export Operations Branch** (PEOB) facilitates trade and market access through the development of technical operational phytosanitary export inspection and certification policies. The branch does this by developing and implementing policies and guidance materials that ensure Australian horticulture, grain and other plant-based exports meet Australia's export legislation, international obligations and importing country conditions. The branch has a key role in advancing Australia's market access priorities by actively engaging in overseas market access negotiations. The branch works with all participants in the export pathway to continuously improve the export framework and ensure expert advice and support is available to the horticulture and grain export industries. In addition, the branch administers the development and training of authorised officers to conduct inspections.

Assessment Services Exports manages the assessment and issuance of export permits and associated certification under the Export Control Act 2020 for a range of Food and Plant related commodities. Assessment Services Exports staff are office based and have daily interactions with external clients such as brokers, agents or exporters either in person, by telephone and/or online. Assessment Services Exports staff utilise a number of departmental systems and databases in order to carry out their duties.

**The Job**
Undertake a range of operational, technical and administrative tasks relating to the assessment and issuance of export certification. Key duties could include:

- Assessing/reviewing requests for permit for a range of agricultural products ready for export using departmental systems and in line with legislative requirements.
- Provide outstanding client service face-to-face, delivering service, assistance and support directly in the office to meet client needs effectively.
- Working within the team by developing and maintaining effective working relationships to achieve business objectives.
- Seeking assistance from supervisors with complex or more technical issues as required.
- Undertaking a range of administrative tasks as required. Contributing feedback and looking for opportunities to improve processes

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.

**Knowledge and experience**
- Understand and knowledge of the Australian agricultural export supply chain including relevant legislation, regulation and systems.
- Demonstrated experience in client or customer service. Demonstrated experience in reviewing and/or analysing complex data sets

**Skills and capabilities**
- Ability to achieve quality outcomes that adhere to documented procedures and where required, raising more complex issues with team leaders and/or managers.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a range of clients including acting professionally as a regulator.
- High level of attention to detail.
- Ability to develop productive working relationships both in person and virtually.
- Strong IT skills across a range of IT products including Microsoft Office and virtual collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams (skills in export specific systems such as EXDOC, MiCOR and/or PEMS would be an advantage).
- Ability to respond in a positive and flexible manner to shifting priorities and changing work processes.