Principal Veterinary Officer

Executive Level 2 (Veterinarian VO5) EL 2.09 - EL 2.10 - $148,483 - $150,264 per annum plus superannuation
- Plant & Live Animal Exports Division
- Canberra, ACT
- _Support the regulation of Australia’s plant and live animal exports. _
- _Work on specialised projects, delivering sensitive and complex written material, including ministerial briefs, reports and policies. _
- _Make a difference and contribute to the stewardship of Australian agriculture._

**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 division is comprised of the Animal Welfare, Live Animal Export and Plant Export Operations branches.

The
**Animal Welfare Branch (AWB)** continues Australia's leadership in standard setting for exported livestock, focussing on improving animal welfare outcomes in livestock export supply chains. The branch analyses available science and data to inform the development and review of export conditions. The branch also considers international standards, validates the effectiveness of Australian standards and engages with industry, regulators, researchers and the community to promote evidence and science based regulatory practises, where animal welfare is integral to the regulatory system.

The
**Live Animal Export Branch (LAEB**) regulates the export of prescribed livestock, live animals and animal reproductive material in accordance with the
- Export Control Act 2020_ and the
- Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021_. The LAEB works closely with the Animal Welfare Branch and the Principal Regulatory Office to develop legislation and standards, operational policy and guidelines, instructional material, technical training and reporting.

**The Jobs**

The main duties of the roles may include, but are not limited to:

- leading and managing a diverse team of policy/program officers, veterinary officers, technical officers, scientists, auditors and/or administrative officers
- managing regulatory issues that are identified through the team’s regulatory activities
- developing accurate reporting on exports and the department’s performance as a regulator
- maintaining an in-depth understanding of relevant legislative, policy and procedural frameworks and ensuring that team members are aware of and operate within these frameworks
- setting strategic priorities for the team to achieve departmental outcomes
- leading assurance activities, including validation and verification activities and systems auditing
- building the capability of team members and ensuring that, where required, they maintain professional qualifications and expertise
- providing expert advice to team members, clients and the department about animal welfare with a focus on livestock exports
- engaging, liaising and negotiating with stakeholders about highly complex, contentious and sensitive issues, often developing and implementing innovative solutions to achieve departmental outcomes
- implementing departmental policies, practices and procedures under broad direction and contributing significantly to their continual improvement
- representing the department as required.

**Work Location**

**Please note** that this recruitment process will be used to fill multiple vacancies across the Animal Welfare and Live Animal Export Branches. 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 these branches where the duties are of a similar nature.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**
You will be motivated, forward-thinking and able to work efficiently and collaboratively across a broad range of export functions. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to work flexibly in a time critical environment while managing competing priorities. Previous experience in the regulation of exports is not essential, however you will possess relevant skills and capabilities to support the role. During the recruitment process, we will be looking for applicants who have:

- demonstrated policy and/or program experience
- an understanding of regulatory decision-making principles and are able to use these principles to make and communicate practical, defensible regulatory decisions under pressure
- experience in the development of legislative amendments, including liaising with stakeholders and providing briefings
- experience in project management (Agile project management experience is desirable)
- an understanding of, or experience in, regulatory environments
- a strong working knowledge of legislative frameworks and government decision-making and regulation
- knowledge of animal welfare principles
- training and experience as a lead auditor, including system audits (only required for some r