Senior Import Export Officer

Who we are

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is part of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. As primary agency for Australia's Antarctic Program (AAP), the AAD is responsible for achieving the Australian Government's Antarctic goals. These goals are to:

• Maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhance Australia's influence within it
• Protect the Antarctic environment
• Understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system
• Undertake scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.

The AAD also has responsibility for administering the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.

The Operations and Logistics Branch oversees our operations in Antarctica – supporting people in our year-round research stations and remote field bases. The branch oversees air and sea transport (and the contracts to manage Australia's icebreaker, the RSV Nuyina and Aviation capabilities) to transport expeditioners south and enable them to travel around Antarctica. We have staff with diverse skills, located primarily in Tasmania, in Antarctica and on Macquarie Island.

The Supply Chain Operations Section is a key element of the branch's three logistics arms (the others being aviation and shipping) and carries responsibility for the effective planning, coordination, management and delivery of a range of cargo and supply chain services within the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and the Southern Ocean.

The job

The Senior Import Export Officer will operate primarily from the Cargo Biosecurity Centre (CBC) at the Hobart waterfront. This operational role is pivotal to the Antarctic Supply Chain ensuring the accurate and timely reporting and conformance of AAP export/import cargo to and from the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic with relevant State and Commonwealth government customs and biosecurity legislation.

• Team Leadership – Lead the small Import Export team based at the Cargo & Biosecurity Centre at Macquarie Wharf, Hobart. Drive a positive workplace performance culture by providing effective personnel management including the daily direction of tasks and duties, driving the annual goal setting and performance management process, performing team administration activities, managing workforce planning & out-of-hours operations and elevating professional development.
• Import Export Processing – Lead the compiling and submission of relevant top level and supporting cargo manifests, form 43/44 and other relevant documentation for the import/ export of AAP cargo. Ensure all southbound/export cargo is reported accurately in a timely manner for all voyages and flights (including accurate manifesting, Dangerous Goods multi-modals etc). Lead the processing of northbound/import cargo in line with relevant permits and processes (including import permits, customs declarations, biosecurity clearances and waste processing). Coordinate with the Cargo Team Lead, ABF and DAFF to ensure the effective control and clearance of cargo.
• Stakeholder Engagement - Engage proactively with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate safe and efficient import/export and cargo operations. Work directly with the AAD's contracted customs broker, ABF, Federal and State Biosecurity Officers to execute a wide range of import export activities. Maintain positive and productive working relationships on behalf of the section with key AAP stakeholders, consignor groups and regulatory bodies.
• Provision of Technical Advice - Provide clear, specific guidance to cargo consignors on import/export and customs considerations, sensitive cargo (i.e. samples, medical or cold chain items), biosecurity requirements and other technical supply chain advice.
• Compliance - Maintain strong compliance with customs and biosecurity regulations and ensure processes & procedures maintain the AAD's Approved Arrangement Accreditation and Customs Depot Licence. Work with the Cargo Operations Team Lead to ensure all physical cargo aligns with reporting and manifest requirements, is accurate and meets required timeframes.
• Biosecurity - Interpret and action biosecurity directions IAW relevant import conditions, BICONS and permits including working closely with Biosecurity Officers, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, together with the AAD's Environmental Management Unit to champion the importance of protecting Australia's, the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic's biosecurity.
• Sensitive Cargo Management - Support the end-to-end management of the temperature sensitive supply chain. Maintain and deliver process controls to ensure the integrity of temperature sensitive cargo including perishable and live cargo. Actively manage north and southbound samples and scientific equipment ensuring strict compliance with customs, biosecurity & fumigation processes and procedures.
• Safety - Actively contribute to the safe working environment at the AAD and foster a strong safety culture within the team. Provide oversight of a safe working environment at the Cargo & Biosecurity Centre and associated wharf operating areas.

What you'll gain from the experience

• Opportunity to support the Australian Antarctic Program through facilitating cargo to and from the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic.
• Experience in managing the Australian Antarctic Programs' import and export of cargo.
• Exposure to the Australian Antarctic Program's supply chain processes including movement via sea and air.
• Appreciation of the needs and challenges with re-supplying the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic's austere operating environment.
• Professional growth: Work as part of a multi-disciplinary, highly motivated, and high performing team with access to a wide range of professional development opportunities.
• Working within a team that celebrates diversity, has a positive workplace culture, and is supportive of flexible work arrangements.

What we are looking for

We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate the following:

• Demonstrated strong industry experience in a professional imports/exports operation including in the administration of Australian customs requirements/administration, application of biosecurity measures/ requirements for the import/export of goods, and use of the Integrated Cargo System or similar software interface for the tracking of cargo under ABF control.
• Exposure to a variety of cargo types, dangerous goods, temperature sensitive items, sea and air freight, and highly regulated compliance processes is highly desirable.
• Prior experience leading and managing a small-medium sized team including task delegation, performance and workload management.
• Ability to establish and develop a performance culture within a team. Demonstrated capability to motivate individuals, and experience in defining, tracking and delivering against team performance goals.
• Strong confidence and capabilities in influencing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to tailor communication to the desired outcome and audience.
• Experience in ensuring accuracy and consistency in conformance with regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Capable of identifying root causes and suggesting effective corrective actions.
• Comfort in manipulating data (Excel), using electronic consignment, inventory, warehouse management systems, Microsoft Suite.
• Evidenced capability in managing priorities, leading teams through high-pressure periods of work, and remaining resilient in the face of challenges.
• A continuous improvement mindset. A demonstrated ability to identify opportunities, develop and implement a solution.
• Demonstrated modelling and championing of a safety culture.

Additional requirements

• Hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers' licence,
• You may be required 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,
• You may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work

Eligibility and other requirements

Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.

Pre-employment checks - your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period.

Flexible employment arrangements are available with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.