About the Department & Role

Working within Biosecurity Queensland, the successful candidate will be part of the Varroa Mite Innovation and Resilience Initiative (VMIRI) Team that provides Administration support proactive responses measures to slow the spread of varroa mite. This position will be responsible for carrying out engagements with bee industry participants to further the VMIRI goal of direct delivery efforts to upskill the beekeeping sector on Varroa management

Key Duties

• Deliver engagement across all areas of Varroa mite management to commercial and recreational beekeepers to extend best management practice guidelines.
• Use high-level written communication skills, preparing extension materials and providing timely reports to the VMIRI team on achieving project milestones.
• Improve industry monitoring capacity for bee pests, including conducting training workshops and identifying opportunities for the collection, recording and submission of monitoring Varroa mite data by the honey bee industry.
• Contribute to the establishment of the national annual COLOSS survey and actively recruit beekeepers to participate to the annual survey as part of the national program.
• Engage and work alongside Queensland's Bee Biosecurity Officer (National Bee Biosecurity Program) and Varroa Mite Innovation and Resilience Initiative, fostering and leading innovation and continuous improvement.
• Provide accurate and appropriate information, advice and recommendations to beekeepers and engage with industry stakeholders to promote beekeeper General Biosecurity Obligations

Essential requirements for this role:

• The ability to travel and perform tasks outside of regular working hours. Weekend work and travel within the state or to other states may be necessary.
• The physical capability to engage in outdoor work, including walking on uneven terrain and slopes in various weather conditions.

Highly Desirable to this role are:

• A relevant degree qualification in agricultural science or science or an equivalent qualification from a recognised tertiary institution would be favourably regarded.
• Knowledge of or the ability to gain knowledge of Integrated Pest Management in the context of Varroa management.
• Comprehensive understanding of the Queensland beekeeping and burgeoning pollination industries and their biosecurity threats.
• Ability to deliver training and awareness programs for the honeybee industry.
• Experience in managing best-practice bee biosecurity in commercial/semi-commercial apiaries, including disease surveillance.

How to Apply

Click APPLY or contact Marisa Conlon, Senior Consultant, Talent Acquisition at [email protected] for further information on the role.

Please submit applications in Word format only by 10am, 16th June 2025.

FIRST PEOPLE Recruitment Solutions is a majority Aboriginal owned agency providing contingent contracts, fixed term contracts and permanent recruitment solutions to Government and Corporate Australia.

Our Head Office is based in Canberra with a national reach to all the states and territories, regional and remote areas of Australia.

FIRST PEOPLE Recruitment Solutions acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures; and to elders past, present and emerging.