• Lead an operational national team of experienced surveillance staff.
• Team plays a vital role in preventing the entry of exotic mosquitoes into Australia by early detection and response.• Role may be able to be performed from multiple locations.
Who we are
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 Surveillance Section is one of the four national Sections delivering diagnostic or surveillance activities within the Operational Science & Surveillance (OSS) component of the Science & Surveillance Group (SSG). The section is comprised of the National Border Surveillance (NBS) program, Vector Monitoring Program (VMP) and Hitchhiker Surveillance Program (HSP) teams and is led by a management team consisting of a Director, Assistant Directors and APS 6 Senior Surveillance Officers.
The Job
In consultation with the Director - OSS Surveillance Section, the Assistant Director - Surveillance will be responsible for:
- Providing leadership to a national set of teams of Vector Monitoring Program staff within OSS, including managing staff and their performance, financial management, corporate governance and leading change and the implementation of policy frameworks and changes to work processes in line with national work instructions.
- Managing and deploying a significant resource base (including laboratory and field facilities and equipment) with a high degree of discretion for their day-to-day management.
- Liaising, negotiating, engaging and effectively communicating with key internal stakeholders, in particular policy staff related to the Vector Monitoring Program.
- Developing, implementing and monitoring against plans, including setting work area priorities and evaluating activities and working methods.
- Developing, preparing and reviewing high-quality written material including reports, briefing papers, business cases and other documents related to the OSS Surveillance Section and SSG more broadly.
- Contributing to strategic planning for programs and projects, with a particular emphasis on addressing continuous improvement and the delivery of practical outcomes.
- Applying creativity and originality in developing new approaches or techniques, in consultation with policy colleagues.
- Collaborating with national coordinators and policy area for Vector Monitoring to contribute to strategic planning for national policies and projects.
- Providing timely and science-based risk mitigation advice including providing direction (in consultation with policy colleagues) to Vector Monitoring Program staff responding to known or potential detections of exotic species.
- Identifying and responding to biosecurity and business risks and developing and implementing innovative solutions to conducting border surveillance in consultation with Regional Vector Coordinators within the VMP.
- Contributing to building Surveillance Section staff capability by coaching and motivating team members, building cooperation and succession planning.
- Leading, promoting and ensuring effective implementation of the Australian Public Service (APS) Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct and WHS and rehabilitation policies.
Please note that this recruitment process will initially be used to fill one ongoing vacancy and that the role may be able to be performed from any of the locations listed on the Job Description. 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:
- Extensive experience in conducting and coordinating surveillance activities for mosquitoes.
- Significant knowledge and experience in entomology, particularly relating to biology, ecology, management and diagnostics.
- Demonstrated project management experience.
- Demonstrated experience in achieving operational results within national policy frameworks.
Mandatory qualifications
Post-graduate qualifications in agriculture or biological science (entomology), ideally involving field studies.
Eligibility and other requirements
The successful applicant must:
- Hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle driver's licence.
- Note that relocation assistance is subject to negotiation.
- Note that the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work.
- Note that you may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work.
- Note that you will be required, from time to time, to work in difficult, remote and harsh environments (possibly for extended periods) under limited supervision or in teams.
- Wear an official uniform supplied by the department, including during field operations (as applicable), in accordance with the department's uniform policy.
- Wear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures.
For additional information, please read the Job Description below.- Start your application by clicking the "begin" button.
