Who we are Biosecurity Operations Division delivers nationally integrated biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities to ensure goods, conveyances and travellers meet Australia's import requirements. Division operations include policy and regulatory control setting across imported food and biosecurity risk pathways, as well as the delivery of assessment, inspection, community engagement and contact centre services. The division also partners with industry to improve the delivery of regulatory functions. The division spans a range of regulatory activities that plays a critical role in reducing risk and shaping our nation to become one of the few countries in the world to remain free from the world's most severe pests and diseases. Cargo Operations Inspections are responsible for the inspection of imported food, goods, vessels, aircraft, animals and animal genetic material and the assessment of documentation to confirm compliance with Australia's biosecurity and export market requirements. The team are also responsible for managing goods that do not comply with import/export requirements and capturing information to support evidence-based decisions. Cargo Inspections mainly operate within core business hours between 06:30 and 18:30, with overtime available outside of these hours where required. Additional wage allowances are provided for working outdoors and at wharf environments. Cargo Operations Inspections are combination office and field based roles. Maritime and Regional Ports delivers regulatory assessment and inspections of arriving international vessels to ensure compliance with Australia's biosecurity requirements. This pathway works with policy teams within the department to influence and inform operational policy and deliver regulatory functions in accordance with legislative requirements. The pathway has a national footprint with a presence in all capital cities and major regional ports. Maritime Operations are combination office and field based roles. Military Operations are responsible for conducting inspections and assessments related to the movement of military cargo, conveyances, and personnel across both onshore and offshore environments. A significant portion of this work is carried out under the framework of Combined Military Activities, which often leads to increased operational demands at specific ports. The team is agile and responsive, with staff expected to deploy to locations beyond their home port as needed to support surges in activity. Military Operations work typically occur during core business hours, from 06:30 to 18:30, with overtime available outside these hours when required. Staff receive additional wage allowances for working in outdoor and wharf environments. Roles within Military Operations involve a combination of office-based and field-based duties, requiring flexibility and adaptability from team members. Travellers Operations delivers regulatory screening and inspections of travellers and their goods, at the border to verify compliance with Australia's biosecurity requirements. Travellers Operations works with policy and risk owners within the department to influence and inform operational policy and deliver regulatory functions in accordance with legislative requirements, national standards, and a risk-based operating model. The operations group has a national footprint with a presence at international airports and seaports in all capital cities. Please note that for Travellers Operations, these are shift based roles and the ability to perform shift work is a requirement when applying for this position(s). For Darwin Travellers positions, these roles are part-time. Military Operations are responsible for conducting inspections and assessments related to the movement of military cargo, conveyances, and personnel across both onshore and offshore environments. A significant portion of this work is carried out under the framework of Combined Military Activities, which often leads to increased operational demands at specific ports. The team is agile and responsive, with staff expected to deploy to locations beyond their home port as needed to support surges in activity. Military Operations work typically occur during core business hours, from 06:30 to 18:30, with overtime available outside these hours when required. Staff receive additional wage allowances for working in outdoor and wharf environments. Roles within Military Operations involve a combination of office-based and field-based duties, requiring flexibility and adaptability from team members. For more information on the day in the life of a Biosecurity Officer, please click here . Please note that this selection process will be used initially to fill 1 ongoing vacancy. 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 Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing and non ongoing vacancies in the division where the duties are of a similar nature. If a non ongoing contract were offered this would be for an initial period of 12 months with the possibility of extension up to a maximum of two years in total. Some of these non-ongoing position(s) may become ongoing. Should a position become ongoing then the merit pool established through this selection process may be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis. Positions may be full-time or part-time depending on business needs and requirements. You will be required to attend full time for an initial training period if you are offered a part time position. The key duties of the position include The Job The duties of a Biosecurity Officer may include, but are not limited to: Performing a range of screening, inspection and assurance related activities associated with cargo, conveyances and people entering Australia. Assessing documentation to confirm compliance with Australia's biosecurity requirements. Managing goods that do not comply with import/export requirements and capturing information to support evidence-based decisions. Providing timely and accurate advice on biosecurity matters to stakeholders/clients, employees and senior managers via telephone and email. Identifying trends in biosecurity risks and escalating these to assist in targeting intelligence and risk-based activities. Managing, modelling and monitoring compliance with appropriate standards of behaviour in line with departmental expectations and including the APS Code of Conduct and Values. Promoting and complying with departmental WHS and Rehabilitation policies and guidelines and being alert for and reporting risks to local management and WHS. Providing on-the-job coaching and assisting and supporting other employees on biosecurity issues.
