Botanist

APS 5 - $76,260 - $83,658 per annum plus superannuation
- Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
- Brisbane, QLD,Perth, WA
- _Formulate the ideas and advice that will help Australia meet the biosecurity challenges of the future Work in a motivated and professional team with a wide range of skill sets and backgrounds _
- _City based location with flexible work options_

**Who we are**
The Surveillance Section is one of the four national sections that deliver diagnostic or surveillance activities within the Operational Science & Surveillance (OSS) team of the Science & Surveillance Group (SSG). The section is comprised of the National Border Surveillance (NBS), Vector, Khapra and Hitchhiker surveillance teams, and is led by a management team consisting of a Director, two Assistant Directors and two APS 6 Senior Surveillance Officers. The NBS program began operations in late 2017. The NBS program is one of the department’s largest surveillance programs, with more than 20 surveillance staff and significant supervisory and diagnostic support within SSG.

**The Jobs**
Contribute to the operation of the Operational Science and Surveillance (OSS) by assisting in technical and administrative duties of the OSS plant scientists including:

- undertaking botanical surveys at Biosecurity Entry Points (i.e. Approved Arrangements (AA’s) and First Points of Entry (FPoE)), primarily in Southeast Queensland but also at regional port locations within Australia as required
- the identification (morphological and molecular as required) of intercepted plant specimens (especially seed) collected by departmental officers during their duties and the provision of risk management advice including treatment recommendations to maintain biosecurity integrity
- the development and maintenance of a seed reference collection/herbarium and contribution to a National OSS seed image library under direction of the Senior Surveillance Officer
- the maintenance of accurate computer-based and manual records and the preparation of reports as required
- assisting in the identification and processing of plant disease interceptions under the direction of the Senior Surveillance Officer and Senior Plant Pathologist
- the development and delivery of training and extension material for internal and external stakeholders including NBS Surveillance Officers
- liaising, negotiating and communicating with government agencies, industry bodies and other clients as necessary
- within the OSS operational environment, undertake general administrative, planning and logístical functions associated with management of resources including laboratories, travel and other activities as directed, and display interpersonal astuteness, honesty and integrity when dealing with others.

These positions may require the occupants to work in harsh environmental conditions and in culturally sensitive areas in regional and/or remote areas. The successful applicant must have the ability to work and contribute within a team dispersed throughout Australia.

**Please note** that this recruitment process will be used to fill one vacancy in each of the two locations listed above. 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 also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**
The successful applicants will have:

- experience with conducting field-based botanical surveys including the preparation of reports pertaining to field surveys
- a high degree of familiarity with local plant species (especially weeds) and the ability to train other field staff to recognise common plant species
- experience with working in a laboratory, including preparing and curating botanical specimens (plants and seeds)
- experience using taxonomic keys to aid accurate and timely identification of plants and seeds
- a background in plant molecular diagnostics would be highly desirable.

**Eligibility**

**Mandatory qualifications**
A relevant tertiary qualification in botany or a related biological science discipline and a minimum of 3 years’ experience working as a field botanist.