Who we are

The Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division (BPSSD) safeguards Australia’s plant health status to achieve, maintain and expand overseas markets while protecting the economy and environment. The division includes four branches which together focus on providing scientific analysis and technical advice, facilitating the safe importation of plants and plant products, improving systems, market access, capacity building and stakeholder engagement. The division provides diagnostics, with advice on biosecurity risk and measures, and biosecurity training. The division conducts surveillance and response at first points of entry and approved arrangements sites nationally and delivers plant, animal and aquatic health surveillance in northern Australia. The division works closely with communities and Indigenous rangers and regulates biosecurity risk in the Torres Strait.

Science and Surveillance Group (SSG) is comprised of scientists, operations and support staff responsible for regulatory advice and training, technical input to biosecurity policy, regulation activity in the Torres Strait and diverse surveillance and diagnostic services around Australia, including animal and plant health surveillance measures under the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy.

The Indigenous Rangers and Business Management Section helps deliver biosecurity surveillance by engaging Indigenous rangers on a fee for service basis to undertake biosecurity surveillance activities. The section maintains this effort and builds further biosecurity capability and provides economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across northern Australia. The section also includes the Business Management Unit which helps coordinate budget measures and projects, oversights the implementation of the SSG Strategic Roadmap and undertakes secretariat for the Northern Australia Biosecurity Framework Reference Group.

The Job

The role of the Biosecurity Engagement Coordinator is to oversee the work undertaken by a network of Biosecurity Engagement Officers in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. The successful applicant will work as part of a team, and independently and under general direction, as necessary. The work includes a range of functions supporting the delivery of biosecurity monitoring and public awareness services across northern Australia including:

• Providing mentoring and management support for the Biosecurity Engagement Network in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia,
• Assisting in maintaining the established working relationships with Indigenous Communities in northern Australia,
• Maintaining effective community relationships and service delivery in challenging operating environments,
• Maintaining team cohesion, ensuring quality outputs, contributing to the development of team objectives and effectively managing change within the Biosecurity Engagement Officer network,
• Assisting with the delivery of program initiatives and operations including project management, planning, budgeting, analysing and reporting,
• Supporting the delivery of biosecurity surveillance activities through a fee for service model.

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 we are looking for

Knowledge and experience

The successful applicant will have:

• Experience in service or project delivery in remote communities would be an advantage.
• Strong cultural awareness, particularly in working with First Nations people in remote areas in northern Australia.
• Understanding of the functions of NAQS and biosecurity in northern Australia.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team, as well as individually, to meet key deliverables with minimal supervision.