Job Team Leader - Post-biosecurity Response, Blacktown

Who we are
The Cargo Operations North, Mail and Response (CONMR) Branch delivers regulatory assessment and inspections of goods, across the biosecurity continuum offshore, at the border and onshore to verify compliance with Australia's biosecurity and imported food requirements, predominantly maintaining a presence in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland. The branch is also responsible for managing biosecurity risk associated with incoming international mail by screening and inspecting items at Australia's three international mail centres. At a national level CONMR leads responses to post-biosecurity detections of pests, disease, and non-compliance in all states and territories, and shares responsibility for national delivery of client contact services.

The Post Biosecurity Response (PBR) team is responsible for undertaking departmental responses to post biosecurity detections (PBD) of exotic pests, diseases and non-compliance. This includes critical and diverse biosecurity response functions such as investigations of referrals, field work across a variety of locations and heavy involvement in High Priority Pest responses. There is occasional involvement in Targeted Operations, as well as Biosecurity assistance with Compliance and Enforcement responses. The teams receive biosecurity referrals from a diverse range of stakeholders including, but not limited to:

• Other Government departments (e.g. ABF, State departments)
• Industry participants
• General public
• Compliance and Enforcement Division (CED)
• The PBR team also collaborates very closely with a range of internal and external stakeholders including, but not limited to, Government departments and Operational Science & Surveillance (OSS).

The key duties of the position include
The Job
Work in this role will be undertaken both in the office, and out in the field. The successful applicant will work flexibly in-office and in-field depending on workloads and response priorities and will undertake a broad variety of functions. This exciting role will provide opportunities to develop your regulatory mindset and expand greatly on your knowledge of biosecurity management and ability to communicate high priority biosecurity matters with clients. Attention to detail, good analytical and reporting skills, excellent communication skills, the ability to problem solve and work in a fast-paced environment are essential. Duties may include some or all the following:

• Providing leadership and management to the regional PBR teams.
• Managing resources, including staff, equipment and vehicles required to complete PBD activities effectively and safely.
• Coordinating and providing advice to PBR officers during a response.
• Undertaking PBD inspections and investigations, undertaking analysis during inspections and drawing accurate, evidence-based conclusions.
• Supporting the PBR teams to complete pre and post response activities.
• Liaising between the PBR teams and senior management and providing regular updates on operational activities during a response.
• Management of the shared PBD inbox to appropriately triage cases.
• Responding to internal/external enquiries.
• Ensuring that the PBR team is up to date on training and safety requirements
• Completing a variety of administrative work such as actioning emails, answering phones, updating case notes, electronic filing of records, non-compliance reporting, issuing directions in AIMS and updating ICS.
• Managing competing priorities and organising workflow for self and others while maintaining strong attention to detail and delivering within timeframes.
• Maintain knowledge of and compliance with legislative, financial, and administrative department principles.
• Actively contributing to the development of the team's standard operating procedures by implementing and/or suggesting improved work practices.
• Effectively communicating, liaising, negotiating with and responding to internal and external clients, including senior management, policy, government agencies and industry parties.
• Staying up to date on training and safety requirements.
• Promoting and ensuring effective implementation of Australian Public Sector (APS) Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct, Work, Health & Safety (WH&S) and Rehabilitation policies.

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.