Assistant Director

EL 1 - $120,290 - $129,379 per annum plus superannuation
- Plant and Live Animal Exports, Animal Welfare and Regulation Division
- Adelaide, SA,Brisbane, QLD,Canberra, ACT,Melbourne, VIC,Sydney, NSW
- Lead a high performing team that supports Australia's plant export industries.
- Contribute to digital and policy reform initiatives that promote business improvement and market access opportunities.
- City based locations with flexible work options.

**Who we are**
The **Plant Export Operations Branch** (PEOB) facilitates trade and market access through the development of operational phytosanitary export inspection and certification policies. The branch does this by developing and implementing policies and guidance materials that ensure Australian horticulture, grain and other plant-based exports meet Australia's export legislation, international obligations and importing country conditions. The branch has a key role in advancing Australia's market access priorities by actively engaging in overseas market access negotiations. The branch works with all participants in the export pathway to continuously improve the export framework and ensure expert advice and support is available to the horticulture and grain export industries.

The **Business Systems Program** contributes to the export of pest and disease-free plant and plant products by providing support, assistance, and monitoring services to the branch. Responsibilities include:

- Developing and implementing certification and audit policies.
- Providing advice and technical expertise on certification and audit policies.
- Supporting the executive with internal business assurance and risk management activities.
- Maintaining plant export systems including EXDOC, Micor and PEMS.
- Managing the branch’s finances and resources and liaising with relevant stakeholders for budgets and forecasting.
- Completing billing activities for appropriate charging activities for plant exports.

**The Job**
- Leading, mentoring and managing a team, and influencing positive behaviours and team culture.
- Proactively engaging and collaborating with a range of internal and external stakeholders including departmental staff, industry, trading partners, and other government agencies to facilitate cooperation and achieve outcomes.
- Managing the implementation of process improvement initiatives and projects for the development and maintenance of plant export IT systems and export certification processes.
- Preparing and reviewing high level written communication products for distribution to internal and external stakeholders.
- Representing the program at relevant forums with stakeholders.
- Providing advice and technical expertise regarding export certification policy and procedures to guide program and project activities within the division and department.
- Establishing solutions to complex problems for internal and external stakeholders including assistance with certification issues with importing countries and detained consignments.
- Strategic planning and policy design to bring together diverse views and deliver on short and long-term objectives.
- Contributing to the development of trade policy reform initiatives.

**Please note** that 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.

**Knowledge and experience**
- Demonstrated policy and/or operational program experience.
- Experience with or a sound understanding of Australia's agricultural export systems is desirable.