Assistant Director

September 17, 2024

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Canberra

EL 1 - $120,290 - $129,379 per annum plus superannuation
Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
Canberra, ACT

Do you have a strong track record in delivering high quality outcomes and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively?
Do you enjoy working in a professional and collaborative team environment?
If the answer is 'yes', and you have knowledge of, or experience in, the development and delivery of learning and training material, then this role is for you.

Who we are
The Plant Import Operations Branch contributes towards the maintenance of the favourable health status of Australia as well as the maintenance of market access by: coordinating the implementation of national technical operational plant quarantine policy which is consistent with international and national obligations; monitoring of pathways; the technical assessment of import permit applications and issuing import permits for imported plant and plant material; developing and verifying compliance with operational policy, procedures and standards; providing consistent and science based technical advice to staff, clients and stakeholders; and the facilitation of safe importation of plants and plant material. The branch is committed to monitoring, review and improvement and adopting best practice, including using risk-return principles, innovation and project management principles.

The Legislation, Systems and Training Program is responsible for providing supporting functions to the Plant Import Operations Branch operational teams including the provision of a range of inputs to support the effective management of plant biosecurity risks across the plant import pathways.

The Job
The duties of the position include:

managing a small team to achieve results
setting strategic priorities for the team to achieve departmental outcomes
supporting the development of competent staff for core regulatory activities undertaken by the branch
developing a branch training framework that covers corporate and biosecurity regulatory and operational training and learning needs
maintaining learning and instructional material used across the branch and by regional Biosecurity Officers
guiding the development and review of instructional material to address branch needs
providing support to the Director and divisional Senior Executive
supporting operational teams in the management of biosecurity risk across the plant import pathways
providing technical and business support to internal and external stakeholders
co-administering the branch’s Share Point site
coordinating the branch’s involvement in the development, management and use of training and learning systems
ensuring the development of new and existing training and learning solutions meets the branch’s business and regulatory needs
representing the views of the branch in a range of departmental forums where regulatory capability and workforce competency are being developed.

What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience

Previous experience is desirable in one or more of the following areas:
An operational or regulatory environment.
Agriculture or other plant-related disciplines.
Demonstrated knowledge of plant import biosecurity policy and the plant import pathways.
Demonstrated knowledge of the department’s regulatory framework.
Demonstrated experience in leading and managing staff.
Demonstrated experience in developing and reviewing a range of training, learning and other relevant material to support branch regulatory activities.
Demonstrated knowledge of the application of biosecurity legislation including the granting of import permits in a regulatory environment.
A knowledge of the department’s training, instructional material and learning systems used across the Biosecurity Operations and Compliance Group is highly desirable but not essential.