Job Title

Why YOU are important to us and what impact will you have on the Plant Protection & Environmental Biosecurity Division and the departments goal. Our team ensures Australia''s plants stay healthy by tackling pests and diseases that threaten crops, trade and the environment. We lead policy and support national strategies that protect our natural ecosystems, agricultural production, and way of lifewhile keeping up with international expectations. We lead the Australian Governments work to protect plant health and the environment. From designing practical policies to delivering programs across the country, our goal is to stop biosecurity threats before they spreadso Australia stays safe, productive and globally competitive. The Director will lead a team responsible for ensuring the Australian Plague Locust Commission works with Member States in a cost shared arrangement to implement a preventative control strategy to minimise economic loss to agricultural industries caused by three species of plague locust. This is where you play an important role. As the Director, you will: The position leads the Australian Plague Locust Commission''s role in delivering a monitoring and forecasting system and implementing targeted research to improve locust management practices. Specific responsibilities of the role are: Planning, organising and allocating staff resources to achieve work goals including managing budgets, contracts, field bases, Narromine, Broken Hill NSW, Longreach QLD and Canberra, fleet vehicles, procurement, and workforce planning. Developing and maintaining productive working relationships with the APLC Commissioners from the member states of NSW, Victoria, SA, QLD and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). Leading and co-ordinating the scientific effort of significant research projects and programs including setting objectives, developing research strategies interdisciplinary research collaborations and sourcing funding and in-kind research support from external collaborators. Preparing high quality written material including briefings, papers, and reports to support decision making and to inform stakeholders and senior leaders. Leading and participating in, and providing strategic advice and direction to, internal and external groups and committees and representing the Department at national and international meetings. Establishing and maintaining relationships with key biosecurity, environmental and agriculture preparedness and response stakeholders, and other organisations involved in preparedness and response, to progress key APLC priority activities. Leading the development, improvement and implementation of new and innovative national and departmental locust management, preparedness, and response initiatives. Financial management: budget management of a cost shared nature, and also include leading and managing service delivery contracts, grants and procurements as necessary to deliver outcomes and work with member states as required. Note: As the position has an operational element, location must be Canberra. Themerit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a periodof 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. Our ideal candidate will have: Knowledge and experience The following knowledge and experience are required: Experience developing, implementing, and managing biosecurity policy and programs or other science-based programs. Experience in managing a diverse team conducting operational, policy and research work. Australian Plague Locust Commission staff are based in four locations (Canberra ACT, Longreach - QLD, Narromine - NSW and Broken Hill - NSW). Knowledge of the management of biosecurity emergency responses and ability to apply this to locust management. Demonstrated experience providing high quality written material including Ministerial Briefs, information papers, and reports to support decision making and to inform stakeholders and senior leaders. Project management experience including financial management and contract management. Experience working with legislative frameworks and within government decision-making processes and agency guidelines. An excellent understanding and application of WHS management to support a team of staff undertaking surveillance and control, offroad in remote, isolated areas of inland eastern Australia that can be subject to extreme conditions. The successful candidate: May be required, from time to time, to work in difficult, remote and harsh environments (possibly for extended periods) under limited supervision or in teams. #J-18808-Ljbffr