Supervisor - Food Safety - Food and Health

**Job no**: 513499

**Employment type**: Ongoing

**Location**: Melbourne

**Categories**: APS Level 6, Science, Engineering, Technical

**About the department**:
The department plays a key role in the Australian Government’s agenda to create jobs and build a stronger, more resilient and competitive economy. Our work builds on Australia’s existing strengths, supports businesses to grow, and drives new opportunities for long-term productivity growth and prosperity. The success of the department helps Australia recover from the economic consequences of COVID‑19 and adapt to its ongoing effects. Through our work, we support the government’s economic recovery plan and help to deliver a better future for all Australians.

**About the team**:
The Analytical Services Branch (ASB) consists of a team of over 100 staff based in Port Melbourne, Victoria and North Ryde, New South Wales. We are responsible for conducting chemical and biological measurement for sectors including food, health and environment. We perform a diverse range of tests, including, but not limited to:

- Microbiological
- Allergen
- Elemental
- Food Nutrition and
- Food Safety

The Food and Health Chemistry Laboratory (FHCL) at NMI ASB Port Melbourne is responsible for delivering quality, efficient analytical services to a range of private sector and government clients of national strategic importance.
- Tertiary qualifications and post graduate experience in a scientific field covering Agrichemicals and Veterinary Drugs Residues analysis with a minimum of 10 years relevant experience.
- Leadership skills to manage a team of Chemists, co-ordinate the analytical testing activities, method development, validation and undertake projects.
- Establishing training plans based on gap analysis so that training deficiencies and succession planning are addressed.
- Using a higher degree of independence, conduct measurements of Agrichemical and Veterinary drugs in various complex matrices using a number of in-house and standard methods.
- Extensive expertise in a wide range of laboratory apparatus and instruments including LC-MSMS and GC-MSMS in the Food and Health Chemistry laboratory.
- Responsible for enhancing workplace culture that values respect, inclusion and diversity with a strong focus on Work Health & Safety including psychosocial wellbeing.
- Promote a culture that is focussed on safety and operate within established procedures and site protocols as well as contributing toward the strategic planning and decision making within the work areas.
- In depth understanding of ISO17025 quality process and achieving a NATA signatory status for the relevant analysis.
- Excellent engagement and collaboration skills to liaise with section managers and other sections, clients and stakeholders in order to address queries and key tasks relating to the operation of Food Safety Residues laboratory

**What you will do**:
This position is based at NMI Port Melbourne Food and Health Chemistry Section (FHC). The FHC is a high quality, high demand and complex laboratory operation delivering a variety of important services to a range of government, industry and research stakeholders.

You will report to the FHC Operations Manager and will contribute strongly to the strategies and development activities of the FHC. You will also contribute to broader NMI activities and forums, working collegiately with colleagues from across the organisation.

**Key functions and roles for this position include**:

- Organise, motivate and contribute to the overall performance of a team. In particular co-ordinate the team to meet the quality standards and turnaround times of the section.
- Undertake performance review of staff as per the Department MyPlan system and offer constructive feedback so that staff achieve assigned tasks.
- Independently analyse samples with complex matrices, using innovative initiatives for Agrichemical and Veterinary drugs.
- Identify deviations of data during analysis at reporting and authorisation stages to monitor and ensure efficient delivery of laboratory reports and effectively communicate to strategic stakeholders.
- Hold a NATA signatory status for the relevant analysis to ensure compliance to ISO17025 quality requirements.
- Priorities and monitor workflow based on the strategic needs of stakeholders.
- Troubleshoot, coordinate calibrations and maintenance associated with LC and GC instrument.
- Communicate and collaborate effectively both orally and in writing with internal and external stakeholders.
- Prepare advance technical reports, methods and procedures.
- Maintain WH&S and Quality Systems including reviewing and updating documents, calibrations and training records. Lead the Section response to audits and Corrective Actions.
- Engender and lead a culture of flexibility, adaptability and Continuous Improvement to enable agile responses to new demands and improve laboratory processes and service outcomes.
- Contribute strongly to the st