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. The key duties of the position include The Job The position is responsible for supporting the First Assistant Secretary for oversight of activities within the division and provide support and advice to the executive. The Executive Officer will do this by coordinating reporting, monitoring briefing and communications material, and by liaising directly with divisional staff. The Executive Officer will have an impact by streamlining the coordination of strategic initiatives for the division, providing timely advice and monitoring areas of risk and strategic priorities to the First Assistant Secretary, and communicating with the branch heads, line areas, across the Biosecurity, Operations and Compliance group as well as internal and external stakeholders. Duties will include but not be limited to: Prepare, manage and review high-level communications and correspondence including briefings, reports, submissions and notes to a high standard that includes timely and considered advice. Work with the Executive Assistant and leadership team and key stakeholders to ensure emerging issues are identified, and requests are actioned in a proactive and coordinated way, to deadlines and quality standards, liaise with key stakeholders and action requests to coordinate communication and proactively ensure responses meet deadlines. Provide issues management and support, responding to emerging issues to ensure effective resolution with minimal risk to the Division. Lead and contribute to projects to support the achievement of strategic and operational objectives. Support the team members in the FAS office team, including providing back up for divisional coordination and the executive assistant during periods of leave. 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.
