Assistant Director

EL1 - $112,294 - $120,780]per annum plus superannuation
- Plant & Live Animal Exports Division
- Adelaide SA, Brisbane QLD, Melbourne VIC, Perth WA, Sydney NSW
- Lead and support a diverse team located around Australia.
- Contribute to key projects aiming to grow the agricultural sector to be worth $100 billion by 2030.
- Work for a people focused organisation with flexible work options.

**Who we are**
The Plant and Live Animal Exports Division works in partnership to support agricultural productivity, competitiveness and market access for the export of live animals, animal reproductive material, plants and plant products.

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 (ASE) 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**
- Provide a high level of leadership and management to the Assessment Services Exports team which is a nationally dispersed team.
- Represent the department in a variety of forums.
- Liaise and effectively communicate with other government agencies, industry bodies and clients.
- Ensure appropriate workforce planning strategies are in place to maintain continuity of service delivery.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of export related strategies and policies.
- Undertake or participate in operational reviews and projects designed to improve corporate governance and the operational integrity of export programs.
- Identify, lead and/or implement business improvement, innovation and reform initiatives and activities.

**Skills and Capabilities**
- Lead a diverse team of employees, inspire a sense of purpose and manage performance.
- Understand and interpret relevant legislative, policy and procedural frameworks and ensure that team members are aware of and operate within these frameworks.
- Be flexible in managing competing priorities and timeframes.
- Take initiative and exercise sound judgement and expertise to provide advice and recommendations on complex operational issues.
- Build a strong rapport with a range of stakeholders and be able to develop and manage networks, including negotiating positive outcomes.
- Lead and manage change in a positive way and determine innovative solutions to new and emerging problems.
- Display high ethical and professional standards and practices in all aspects of work, act impartially and manage diversity.
- Ability to think strategically and provide innovative solutions to complex operational issues.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**
- a demonstrated understanding of the Export Control Act 2020 and other relevant legislation and policy frameworks (or the ability to obtain this knowledge in a reasonable period of time)
- knowledge of the export system (or ability to obtain this knowledge in a reasonable period of time)
- high level of experience in managing a diverse team, including geographically dispersed teams
- operational experience in a regulatory environment.