EL 1 - $120,290 - $129,379 per annum plus superannuation Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division Darwin, NT Provide scientific leadership, management and strategic oversight of the NAQS Botany team in Darwin.
Support operational planning and surveillance activities.
Work closely with the NAQS leadership group, plant health scientists and Indigenous Biosecurity Ranger teams.
Who we areScience 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 (NAQS).
NAQS (within SSG) is a program which operates across coastal northern Australia from Broome in Western Australia to Cairns in Queensland and includes the Torres Strait. NAQS contributes to the delivery of national biosecurity objectives through:
identifying and evaluating the unique quarantine risks facing northern Australia developing and implementing measures for the early detection of targeted pests, diseases and weeds contributing to national and international initiatives relating to pest and disease surveillance managing the biosecurity aspects of border movements through the Torres Strait community engagement and liaison.
The JobKey duties of the role will include:
providing expert field surveillance and botanical diagnostics for weeds in northern Australia (and neighbouring countries) with a particular focus on early detection of new weeds of biosecurity concern with potential agricultural and/or environmental impacts providing expert field surveillance and botanical diagnostics of host or alternative host plants for threatening or new invertebrate pests and plant diseases of biosecurity concern in northern Australia (and neighbouring countries), including provision of advice re targeted surveillance of host plants for specific pests and diseases contributing to operational planning and NAQS plant health survey delivery providing botany leadership managing data acquired through field survey activities and contributing to the timely preparation of reports contributing to the development of NAQS plant health surveillance policy including the revision of target lists liaising and collaborating with key stakeholders across government and industry liaising and collaborating with key Traditional Owners and NT/WA Ranger groups about NAQS plant health surveillance contributing to capacity building activities with indigenous rangers or overseas counterparts effectively communicating complex technical information to a range of audiences.
Please notethat this position is available for an initial period of eighteen months with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of two years in total. This non-ongoing position may become ongoing in the next eighteen months which may result in the successful applicant being offered ongoing employment.
What we are looking for
Knowledge and experienceThe successful applicant will have:
strong field and laboratory plant identification skills and experience, including the identification of native and introduced species, specimen collection and herbarium specimen management a detailed knowledge of the impacts and management of tropical and environmental weeds and a working knowledge of the role of introduced and native plant species as alternative hosts for pests and diseases of plants a demonstrated understanding of the scientific, technical and policy aspects of weed and plant pest and disease surveillance, including planning, delivery, reporting and data management components an understanding of plant biosecurity threats in northern Australia and the policy framework that supports implementation of measures to mitigate the risk of new incursions experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and supervising staff a detailed understanding of the application of Work Health and Safety principles in office and field-based contexts, particularly in regional and remote areas.
Mandatory qualificationsA tertiary qualification in the area of biological science, environmental science or agriculture with a demonstrated minimum of five years relevant experience.
Eligibility and other requirementsThe successful applicant must:
hold a current Apply First Aid Certificate or have the ability to obtain this qualification hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers 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 to complete specific training (including refresher training) related to the role including remote area training, defensive driving, first aid and CPR courses note that you will be required to travel in remote/isolated locations in northern Australia or its near northern neighbours, using a variety of transport including vessels, light/commercial aircraft, helicopters and manual four wheel drive vehicles 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr