Who we are

The Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division (BPSSD) operates at the convergence of international trade and biosecurity management.

The division:

• Provides scientific analysis, technical and market access advice, capacity building and stakeholder engagement to facilitate and support the safe import and export of plants and plant products
• Provides diagnostic services, advice on managing biosecurity risk, and biosecurity training.
• Monitors and analyses the performance of goods as they cross into Australia.
• Conducts surveillance and response at first points of entry and approved arrangements sites nationally, as well as animal and aquatic health surveillance in northern Australia.

The Plant Import Operations Branch (PIO) within BPSSD is primarily responsible for the facilitation of the safe importation of plants and plant-based commodities as well as the ongoing monitoring of these import pathways to ensure biosecurity risks continue to be managed.

Multiple positions across the branch may be offered.

The Job

As an APS 5 Officer in Plant Import Operations, you will curate and present data to allow the department to effectively monitor trade, respond to biosecurity risks and engage with trading partners and importers. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Acquiring and transforming data from a range of sources using programming languages such as R and/or SQL.
• Developing and maintaining a range of tailored Power BI reports with limited guidance.
• Providing data analytical support to operational teams to monitor pathway compliance with the import conditions and support decision making.
• Investigating new ways of using data collected by the department to enhance biosecurity risk management.
• Assisting with the review and development of data related policies and processes.
• Supporting assurance and verification activities to ensure the biosecurity risk management system is effective.
• Assisting with project and program planning, scheduling, tracking, and reporting, as well as development and implementation of reform projects for the branch.
• Providing testing support and input into new import systems, data curation tools or reports being developed by the department.

Please note that the merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.

What are we looking for

knowledge and experience

• Experience using Power BI for data visualisation.
• Experience using R and/or SQL programming languages to interrogate complex data sets.
• Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of biosecurity related concepts and operational systems relevant to importing goods such as BICON and AIMS.