Biosecurity Officer

APS 4 - $72,002 - $78,386 per annum plus superannuation
- Biosecurity Operations Division
- Brisbane, QLD,Cairns, QLD,Darwin, NT,Gladstone, QLD,Newcastle, NSW,Sydney, NSW,Townsville, QLD- _Want to work in government to support and protect our agricultural industries? _
- _Work in a dynamic and changing frontline role in our maritime ports._

**Who we are**
**Maritime Operations and Regulatory Capability Branch **delivers regulatory assessments and inspections of international vessels to ensure compliance with Australia’s biosecurity requirements. The pathway holds responsibility for administering the Infringement Notice Scheme primarily for infringement notices issued in the airport environment. In addition, the pathway** **also undertakes a range of enabling services on behalf of the Biosecurity Operations Division including recruitment and workforce planning, learning and development, coaching and regulatory capability and workforce management.

**Maritime Operations** delivers regulatory assessment and inspections of arriving international vessels to ensure compliance with Australia's biosecurity requirements. This pathway works with policy teams within the department to influence and inform operational policy and deliver regulatory functions in accordance with legislative requirements. The pathway 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 Maritime Operations may include but are not limited to:

- Conducting biosecurity inspections and surveillance within the maritime working environment to determine compliance with the relevant legislation.
- Providing timely and accurate advice on complex biosecurity matters to internal and external stakeholders (including the maritime industry and other government partners).
- Prioritising tasks including adapting to changing and competing priorities.
- 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 including the APS Code of Conduct and Values.
- Promoting and complying with departmental Work Health and Safety (WHS) and rehabilitation policies and guidelines and being alert for and reporting risks.
- Providing on-the-job coaching and assisting and supporting other employees on biosecurity issues.
- Assisting, where required, operational pathways such as Cargo Operations with inspection of imported food, goods, vessels, aircraft, animals and animal genetic material and the assessment of documentation to confirm compliance with Australia's biosecurity and export market requirements.

Note:

- the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work.
- the position may require participation in an on-call roster (for which an appropriate restriction allowance will be paid) and be available to perform duty outside standard hours.
- that you may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work,
- wear an official uniform supplied by the department, including during field operations (as applicable), in accordance with the department’s uniform policy.
- wear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures.

**Please note**: 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 Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the division where the duties are of a similar nature.
**Skills and capabilities**
Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate the following skills and abilities:

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to form views, provide advice and make effective evidence-based regulatory decisions in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.
- The ability to use initiative and work independently to meet operational demands while navigating through changing priorities.
- The ability to work effectively and safely to achieve sound outcomes in a fast paced and challenging environment.
- The ability to problem-solve and appropriately escalate sensitive matters in a timely manner.
- The ability to use risk management tools and techniques.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively liaise with peers, management and stakeholders.
- Digital literacy skills to confidently learn and utilise the department’s systems and devices the ability to contribute to, promote and implement business change.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**

Successful applicants will contribute to the division meeting its regulatory goals of managing biosecurity threats by demonstrating the following attributes: