Biosecurity Officer

APS 4 - $69,905 - $76,103 per annum plus superannuation
- Biosecurity Operations Division
- Mickleham, VIC
- _Enhance Australia’s agriculture & environment through regulation and partnership._
- _Work in state-of-the-art facilities used to manage biosecurity risks._
- _Be part of a dynamic team who collaborate and work to achieve strong outcomes._

**Who we are**
The Post-Entry Quarantine Group (PEQ) within BOD is responsible for the post arrival quarantine of plants and animals at the Mickleham Post-entry Quarantine Facility located on the outskirts of Melbourne. The Mickleham PEQ Facility is purpose built for accommodating high risk plants, horses, cats, dogs, ruminants, birds, and bees while undergoing post-entry quarantine. Working in partnership with plant scientists and veterinarians, we ensure that all plants and animals passing through the facility meet all necessary requirements to demonstrate compliance with the regulatory requirements for their safe import and that the health and welfare of the plants and animals is maintained throughout the period of their stay in PEQ.

The Animal Team facilitates the import of cats, dogs and horses for industry stakeholders and clients. The management of cats, dogs and horses within quarantine is undertaken in low to medium biosecurity containment facilities with all activities being performed to manage risk associated with biosecurity and animal welfare. This is a seven day a week, 24 hours a day operation.

**The Jobs**
The role of a Biosecurity Officer at PEQ consists of working across commodities such as dogs, cats and horses as well as specialised roles in plants, avian and enabling services. These roles can be physically demanding and involve working with animals and lifting, pushing, carrying and cleaning animal crates and pens.

The duties of these roles will include some or all of the following:

- Undertaking inspections of animals for biosecurity risks as well as general monitoring and husbandry duties in the cat, dog and horse compounds which are as follows:

- Tasks in the cat and dog compounds include feeding, cleaning, administering medications, driving to the airport and collecting animals, daily monitoring and recording of animal information as well as pen and crate cleaning
- Tasks in the horse compound include supervising industry personnel, completing compliance reports, record keeping and inspecting horse gear
- Leading a small team where you will be required to delegate tasks, using effective communication skills and liaise with internal and external clients

**Please note** that this recruitment process will be used to fill multiple vacancies in the PEQ. If an offer of non-ongoing employment is made, the successful applicant would be employed for an initial period of 18 months with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of 3 years in total. Some of these non-ongoing positions may become ongoing in the next 18 months. Should a position become ongoing then 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 be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis. The merit pool may also be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the PEQ where the duties are of a similar nature.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**
The successful applicants will have:

- experience in animal handling and husbandry, preferably with a variety of both canine and feline breeds
- a sound knowledge of animal husbandry principles, including animal first aid and the identifying signs of sickness, including infectious and contagious diseases
- knowledge of biosecurity and quarantine requirements.

**Eligibility and other requirements**
The successful applicants must:

- note the requirement to perform work duties in a PC2 environment under challenging conditions at times, including undertaking personal decontamination measures which includes showering in and out and the removal of jewellery and piercings
- note that the physical requirements of the role involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work
- hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers licence
- note that they may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work
- wear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures
- note that the position may require them to participate in an on-call roster (for which an appropriate restriction allowance will be paid) and be available to perform duty outside standard hours
- note that there may be a requirement for travel to regional areas
- note that they must complete the department’s Biosecurity Foundation Program and meet the minimum requirements in order to be appointed as a Biosecurity Officer under the _Biosecurity Act 2015_
- note that the Biosecurity Foundation Program includes a