September 15, 2024

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Canberra

Assistant Secretary, Animal and Biological Imports

SES Band 1
Animal and Biological Imports Branch
Canberra, ACT

Who we are

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is the lead agency for the food, fibre, fisheries and forestry sectors in Australia. We support the entire supply chain, helping to grow Australia’s economy and meet consumer demands both at home and in overseas markets. Our 5,500 employees work in a range of environments and locations around Australia from airports and abattoirs to laboratories and foreign countries daily to improve the value, productivity and profitability of the agricultural sector.

Biosecurity Animal Division are trusted leaders in science-based regulation and policy, who proactively engage with risk and deliver our shared responsibilities across the biosecurity system.

Our outcome is to ensure effective, defensible and lawful biosecurity regulation and policy to facilitate safe trade in aquatic and terrestrial animals, reproductive materials, animal products and biological goods, and minimise marine pest risk.

We are a skilled, multidisciplinary workforce that works together with our partners in state and territory governments, Animal Health Australia, industry and international counterparts to deliver optimal animal biosecurity outcomes for Australia.

Our approach is modelled by our work culture, values and behaviours through integrity, fairness and impartiality. Working closely with stakeholders, the division maintains and enhances the health and sustainability of Australia’s animal and animal products sectors, the environment, and supports human health in Australia and overseas.

We play a key role in strengthening Australia's animal and aquatic disease prevention, preparedness, detection and response capabilities.
The division also provides leadership and strategic direction on domestic and international animal health issues and facilitates the export of live animals and animal genetic material by negotiating animal health protocols and animal health certification with overseas authorities.

The Animal and Biological Imports Branch (ABIB) implements biosecurity policies to allow for the safe movement of animals, animal products, genetic material, and microorganisms into Australia.
The activities of the branch include the provision of technical advice to staff, importers and stakeholders, development and publishing of import conditions, instructional material and other guidance material and assessing import permit applications and issuing import permits.

The job
As Assistant Secretary, your duties will include:

Leading the branch’s assessments and decisions on import permit applications to ensure they are in line with legislation and policy requirements.
Ensuring instructional material is developed and maintained for internal (ABIB staff) and external staff (PEQ and BOD staff).
Leading the branch’s development and maintenance of BICON (including BICON Maintenance and web content).
Ensuring that audits are undertaken of offshore manufacturing or pre-export quarantine facilities.
Supporting the workforce to manage variety of workplace arrangements to ensure optimal performance.
Working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure the business is fit for purpose including through the Biologicals Consultative Group and the Horse Industry Consultative Committee and with relevant agencies such as APVMA, DFAT.
Collaborating across the Biosecurity and Compliance Group to ensure better end to end biosecurity management.

What we are looking for
To be successful for this role you will need to meet the Senior Executive Service capability for the SES band 1 level, and you will have the following:

Leadership capability working with scientific and regulatory teams in a complex and fast-paced area.
Knowledge of, or experience in, Australia’s biosecurity framework including legislative responsibilities.
Demonstrated experience in managing complex risks in a dynamic operational and high tempo environment.
Demonstrated technical expertise or the capacity to develop expertise in the areas of responsibility.
Demonstrated, well-developed, critical thinking skills. Ability to analyse complex, multi-faceted issues and develop reasoned conclusions within tight timeframes.
Possess highly developed interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.
Possess strong organisational skills, including time management and dealing with competing priorities.
Ability to consider emerging trends and challenges, identifying long-term opportunities ensuring business activities continue to evolve and align with broader departmental and whole-of-government objectives.
Ability to drive broad transformational change, both internal and external to the department.
Outstanding leadership, managing and motivating a diverse operational team to deliver regulatory outcomes in a tightly resourced environment.
Excellent stakeholder relationship skills and experience in engaging with internal and external stakeholders at all levels to explore opportunities and solve complex problems.
Demonstrating a strategic perspective and ability to manage competing demands and work to tight deadlines.
Demonstrated commitment to promote diversity, model the APS Values, APS Employment Principles and promote compliance with the APS Code of Conduct and the Secretaries Charter of Leadership Behaviours (DRIVE).
Demonstrated public service professionalism and probity.

Desirable qualifications
Relevant qualifications in a scientific or regulatory discipline.

Security clearance
This position requires a Negative Vetting 1 security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at the appropriate level for this position.