Biosecurity Officers

APS 4 - $69,905 - $76,103 per annum plus superannuation
- Biosecurity Operations Division
- Brisbane, QLD,Cairns, QLD,Perth, WA
- Work with us right around Australia to protect this beautiful country from biosecurity risks, building more sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and contributing to a prosperous future. We focus on engaging in authentic consultation with First Nations Australians and seek to embrace and learn from their traditional knowledge. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) operates all over Australia. We connect with industries and communities in a large number of cities and regions. Our footprint enables our staff to work with us and stay connected with their local communities. Diversity is one of our department’s core values, and we work hard to maintain an environment where people feel safe to bring their authentic selves to work. We are committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce where staff are well supported. DAFF’s inclusion networks play a critical role to achieving this. Our First Nations Staff Network provides support and guidance to our Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander staff in a culturally safe environment. This contributes towards opportunities for effective consultation, collaboration and engagement with our staff and leaders._

**Who we are**
Biosecurity Operations Division delivers 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 requirements. Cargo Operations 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 Cargo Operation Assessments 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 and including the APS Code of Conduct and Values
- promoting and complying with departmental WHS and Rehabilitation policies and guidelines and being alert for and reporting hazards
- providing on-the-job coaching, assisting and supporting other employees on biosecurity issues.

**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
- always maintain biosecurity and personal integrity.
- Independence
- ensure activities are performed without interference or undue influence from those being regulated or those who have a vested interest
- the ability to make decisions within the scope of your authority through sound judgement and decision making whilst working independently with mínimal supervision.
- A clear purpose and level of curiosity
- articulate a clear purpose by understanding your role and the role of the department as a regulator
- attention to detail whilst remaining open and inquisitive to consider elements outside the task at hand.
- Appropriate use of authority
- a good understanding of legislative powers (or the ability to acquire) and use them in a professional manner
- the ability to make evidence-based decisions using sound judgement in line with legislation
- the confidence and willingness t