Manager, Plant Biosecurity Operations

**Department of Primary Industries and Regions**

**Job reference**: 538542

**Location**: 5000 - ADELAIDE

**Job status**: Ongoing

**Eligibility**: Open to Everyone

**The Opportunity**
We have an exciting opportunity for a Manager, Plant Biosecurity Operations to be part of our Biosecurity Division within PIRSA. The role leads PIRSA’s Plant Biosecurity Operations team - a group of 28 staff working on Surveillance, Market Access, Response and maintaining Industry Partnerships projects to protect South Australia from plant pests and diseases like fruit fly, grape phylloxera and fire ants which are not established in our State. The Plant Biosecurity Operations team is an exciting, dynamic and responsive group full of dedicated, talented and passionate people, delivering better outcomes for our primary industries and regional communities. The role reports to the Director, Plant and Invasive Species Biosecurity.

**What you’ll be working on**:
You will provide leadership to the Plant Biosecurity Operations team in preventing the incursion, establishment and spread of plant pests and diseases in South Australia. The role is responsible for the determination, planning, implementation and resource and risk management associated with plant biosecurity programs, and for the delivery of high-level guidance, direction, and performance management and development, for plant biosecurity employees.

The role contributes delivering the agency’s priorities including:

- Maintaining market access by working with primary industries to respond to evolving requirements of domestic and global markets and consumers.
- Managing adverse events effectively and helping primary industries and communities improve preparedness, resilience and recover well.
- Regulatory excellence and reforms of our legislative framework and programs to drive efficiency, effectiveness and unlock potential.
- Build partnerships with industry, stakeholders, research organisations and regional communities.

**About you**:
You will be an innovative leader of operational teams, preferably with specific experience in plant biosecurity. You will be experienced in establishing and maintaining stakeholder partnerships, including stakeholders that are internal and external to government. You will be an experienced communicator who enjoys the challenge of preparing and adapting your message for different audiences. You will be excited by the opportunity to influence and deliver outcomes that protect South Australia’s primary industries and regional communities form the impact of plant pests and diseases.

**What you will need**:

- The successful applicant will be required to satisfactorily complete a National Police Check (NPC) prior to being made an offer of employment.
- Possession of a current driver’s licence and willingness to drive.
- Out of hours work and inter / intrastate travel may be required.
- Australian residency or current works permit is required (responsibility of applicant to provide evidence of a current work permit).
- The incumbent will be required to undertake emergency management training and must be willing to participate in emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities required by government agencies. You acknowledge your work, health and safety obligations and our expectations.

**About Us**
***
Primary Industries and Regions as a key economic development agency of the
South Australian Government, works across a diverse range of industry sectors
including agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing and aquaculture and regional
development. We involve and engage with others to ensure we make good
decisions, have clear policies, plan and implement effective programs, drive
relevant projects, promote efficient resource use and broker shared responsibility.
In this way we enable the State’s primary industry sectors and regions to remain
competitive, productive and sustainable.

PIRSA is a modern, flexible and responsive agency that values its partners and
people. The Biosecurity Division provides regulatory services across a range of
agricultural and primary production industries, and leads PIRSA’s Emergency
Management responsibilities.

PIRSA has shown significant resilience over the past few years in the management
of adverse events such as the River Murray floods, bushfires, hail storms and
ongoing biosecurity incursions such as Fruit Fly in the Riverland. As we continue to
work to protect and maximise primary industry resources the Manager, Plant
Biosecurity Operations will play a key role in supporting the Biosecurity Division to
minimise risks to production and export market access.

**Benefits**
At PIRSA, we offer our employees challenging and rewarding work with opportunities for career progression, learning and development and flexibility.
***
**Our Commitment to Diversity**

**Requirements**:
The successful applicant will be required to satisfactorily complete a National Police Check (NPC) prior to being mad