Operations Manager

APS 6 - $91,944 - $104,393 per annum plus superannuation
- Plant and Live Animal Exports, Animal Welfare and Regulation Division
- Brisbane-QLD, Melbourne-VIC
- Demonstrate exceptional leadership by managing the entire process of assessing and issuing export permits for a wide range of food and plant commodities, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
- Cultivate strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, effectively negotiating positive outcomes and fostering a cooperative environment. Lead change management efforts to support organisational growth and adaptation.
- Drive a team to maintain high standards of service delivery, ensuring consistent performance while proactively identifying and addressing emerging challenges to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.

**Who we are**

The Plant and Live Animal Exports, Animal Welfare and Regulation Division supports Australian agriculture industries and the government through development of animal welfare policy for export and domestic issues; management of policy, operations and certification for the export of live animals, animal reproductive material, plants, and plant products; management of the government priority to phase out live sheep exports; and we foster regulatory stewardship across export related functions.

The Plant Export Operations Branch (PEOB) facilitates trade and market access through the development of technical 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 Australias export legislation, international obligations and importing country conditions. The branch has a key role in advancing Australias 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. In addition, the branch administers the development and training of authorised officers to conduct inspections.

Assessment Services Exports (ASE) manages the assessment and issuance of export permits and associated certification under the Export Control Act 2020 for a range of food and plant related commodities. Assessment Services Exports staff are office based and have daily interactions with external clients such as brokers, agents or exporters either in person, by telephone and/or online. Assessment Services Exports staff utilise a number of departmental systems and databases in order to carry out their duties.

**The Job**
The main duties of the role include, but are not limited to:

- Providing leadership and management to the Assessment Services Exports Team which is a nationally dispersed team.
- Representing the department in a variety of forums.
- Liaising and effectively communicating with other government agencies, industry bodies and clients.
- Ensuring appropriate workforce planning strategies are in place to maintain continuity of service delivery.
- Contributing to the development and implementation of export related strategies and policies.
- Undertaking or participating in operational reviews and projects designed to improve corporate governance and the operational integrity of export programs.
- Identifying, leading and/or implementing business improvement, innovation and reform initiatives and activities.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
- A demonstrated understanding of the Export Control Act 2020 and other relevant legislation and policy frameworks (or the ability to quickly obtain this knowledge).
- Experience managing a team in a service delivery and regulatory environment.
- Knowledge of the export system (or the ability to quickly obtain this knowledge).
- Experience in managing a diverse team (including geographically dispersed teams), inspiring a sense of purpose in the team and managing performance.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in workforce planning and resource allocation, including the ability to effectively forecast staffing needs, allocate resources efficiently, and manage workload distribution to ensure optimal team performance and meet organisational objectives.

**Skills and capabilities**
- Lead a diverse team of employees, inspire a sense of purpose and manage performance.
- Understand and interpret relevant legislative, policy and procedural frameworks and ensure that team members are aware of and operate within these frameworks.
- Be flexible in managing competing priorities and timeframes.
- Take initiative and exercise sound judgement and expertise to provide advice and recommendations on complex operational issues.
- Build a strong rapport with a range of stakeholders and be able to develop and manage networks, including negotiating positive outcomes