Assistant Director

EL 1 - $120,290 - $129,379 per annum plus superannuation
- Biosecurity Operations Division
- Brisbane, QLD,Canberra, ACT,Melbourne, VIC,Sydney, NSW
- _Contribute on innovative, future state projects to enhance the departments x-ray technology. _
- _Work in a diverse team that is driven to improve technology and capability delivery. _
- _Flexible working locations across multiple major cities._

**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.

**Cargo & Conveyance Policy & Detection Capability** is responsible for determining, developing and enabling the strategies, regulatory frameworks, tactics and interventions that manage biosecurity and other risks within the transport and trade pathways into Australia. This pathway brings together how the department detects and responds to biosecurity risk and non-compliance, including through deploying surveillance and verification tools and capabilities such as detector dog teams and x-rays. The branch sets operational policy for the biosecurity clearance of all air and sea cargo, conveyances and ports, seasonal pests, and policy assessment related matters.

**The Detection Capability Section** works closely with internal and external stakeholders to improve the effectiveness of border screening by providing detection systems and policy capability. The section is responsible for the development and management of biosecurity detector dog capability and detection technology. The section trials new and innovative detection systems and policy capability to improve the effectiveness of border screening. The team is responsible for the development and management of the 2D and 3D x-ray capability, and for the delivery of innovative detection capability projects.

**Please note **that this recruitment process will initially be used to fill the vacancy in the section and that the role may be performed from any of the locations listed above. The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen 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.

**The Job**
- managing and developing policy that aligns with the agency’s strategic objectives.
- building regulatory capability and promoting regulatory uplift within the department
- undertaking strategic planning to meet business objectives and deliver departmental outcomes.
- contributing to and developing business area improvement initiatives and projects
- effectively communicating, liaising, negotiating with and responding to internal and external stakeholders and participating in committees and forums
- maintaining a well-developed understanding of relevant policy and regulatory frameworks
- supporting change management activities including staff and client participation, consultation, and cultural change
- developing and managing complex projects/priorities, including leading communication, monitoring, evaluating and status reporting
- facilitating the escalation of project risks/issues and contributing to quality resolution outcomes
- Responsibility for the department’s Radiation Safety Management function including regulatory guidance and oversight.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
- Experience in leading, managing and supporting staff to work collaboratively in a challenging, complex, and fast paced operational environment.
- An understanding of the critical role biosecurity plays in protecting Australia’s agriculture and of the department’s role in delivering national biosecurity operations.
- Experience working in a policy, project, program, or advisory positions including undertaking research and preparing policy advice, briefing material and analytical reporting.
- Experience implementing change and managing ambiguity in the workplace.
- Experience with strategic policy development and the reform process, including the ability to investigate and source key information.
- Demonstrated experience delivering a range of written products including briefings, minutes, ministerial responses, policy documents and technical documents.
- Demonstrated experience in Radiation Safety Management and associated development and re