Biosecurity Officers

APS 4 - $74,882 - $81,521 per annum plus superannuation
- Biosecurity Operations Division
- Adelaide, SA,Brisbane, QLD,Cairns, QLD,Melbourne, VIC,Perth, WA,Sydney, NSW,Other
- _Want to work in government to support & protect our agricultural industry? _
- _Interested/experienced in biosecurity? _

**Who we are**
**Biosecurity Operations Division** deliver nationally integrated biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities to ensure goods, conveyances and travellers meet Australia's import requirements. Division operations include policy and regulatory control setting across imported food and biosecurity risk pathways, as well as the delivery of assessment, inspection, community engagement and contact centre services. The division also partners with industry to improve the delivery of regulatory functions. The division spans a range of regulatory activities that plays a critical role in reducing risk and shaping our nation to become one of the few countries in the world to remain free from the world’s most severe pests and diseases.

**The Cargo Operations Pathway** delivers regulatory assessment and inspection of goods, across the biosecurity continuum (offshore, at the border and onshore) to verify compliance with Australia's biosecurity and imported food requirements. Cargo Operations Pathway works with policy and risk owners within the department to influence and inform operational policy and deliver regulatory functions in accordance with legislative requirements, national standards and within an integrated, risk-based operating model. The group has a national footprint with a presence in all capital cities and major regional ports.

**The Job**
The main duties of a Biosecurity Officer in Assessments involve working in an office-based environment, and may include, but are not limited to:

- assessing import documentation in line with appropriate legislation and policy settings,
- managing goods that do not comply with import requirements and capturing information to support evidence-based decisions,
- providing timely and accurate advice on complex biosecurity matters to employees, stakeholders/clients, and senior managers,
- resolving complex operational and technical matters,
- identifying trends in biosecurity risks and escalating these to assist in targeting intelligence and risk-based activities,
- managing, modelling and monitoring compliance with appropriate standards of behaviour in line with departmental expectations including the APS Code of Conduct and Values,
- promoting and complying with departmental Work Health and Safety (WHS) and rehabilitation policies and guidelines and being alert for and reporting risks,
- providing on-the-job coaching and assisting and supporting other employees on biosecurity issues.

**Please note**: that this selection process will be used to fill multiple vacancies, both ongoing and non-ongoing. Non-ongoing contracts will be offered for an initial period of twelve months with the possibility of extension. Some of these non-ongoing position(s) may become ongoing in the next twelve months. Should a position become ongoing then the merit pool established through this selection process may be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis. 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 Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the division where the duties are of a similar nature.

**Skills and capabilities**
Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate the following skills and abilities:

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to form views, provide advice and make effective evidence-based regulatory decisions in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.
- The ability to use initiative and work independently to meet operational demands while navigating through changing priorities.
- The ability to work effectively and safely to achieve sound outcomes in a fast paced and challenging environment.
- The ability to problem-solve and appropriately escalate sensitive matters in a timely manner.
- The ability to use risk management tools and techniques.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively liaise with peers, management, and stakeholders.
- Digital literacy skills to confidently learn and utilise the department’s systems and devices.
- The ability to contribute to, promote and implement business change.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
Successful applicants will contribute to the division meeting its regulatory goals of managing biosecurity threats by demonstrating the following attributes:
Integrity:

- Demonstrate sound moral and ethical principles across all areas of work.
- Undertake duties in line with the _Biosecurity Act 2015_ and decision support materials.
- Maintain biosecurity and personal integrity at all times.

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