About our opportunity We have an exciting opportunity for a candidate who is technically qualified to apply their maritime experience in a role vital for securing Australia's maritime borders. An Individual Flexibility Arrangement, in line with the Home Affairs Enterprise Agreement 2024-27 , on top of the salary package may be available and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account qualifications, skills and experience of the candidate. About our team The Australian Border Force (ABF) is an operational agency within the Home Affairs Portfolio. The ABF is responsible for operational activity that supports the Australian Government's border protection, investigations, compliance, detention and enforcement functions. Within the ABF, the Civil Maritime Capability (CMC) Division ensures the current and future management and sustainability of our civil maritime security capability. We plan, identify, evaluate, acquire and sustain the capability and operational infrastructure that enable Australia to fully protect sovereign jurisdiction and uphold our international obligations and treaty arrangements offshore. The Civil Maritime Sustainment Branch (CMSB) provides, sustains and maintains air and marine surveillance capability in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This includes operating a fleet of vessels crewed by ABF officers performing operational patrols, tactical surveillance and on water law enforcement activities within the EEZ, and managing contracted surveillance aircraft and satellite, sensor systems as well as provision of logistics support. The CMSB operates in a complex, challenging and changing environment that is characterised by a continual high tempo of operations. The section that will be led by the successful applicant ensures that engineering services and the fleet regulatory model establish sound engineering practices interfacing with the marine regulator, Class Societies and In Service Support providers. It also ensures that technical integrity is maintained and regulatory compliance is achieved in support of ABF operational priorities. Please visit our website for more information about the Department of Home Affairs or Australian Border Force Our ideal candidate Our ideal candidate will have extensive experience providing technical and functional expertise and support in marine engineering services for the ongoing support of vessels. You will contribute to marine reliability and quality of services for the section, as well as lead and contribute to ensure the operational reliability of all ABF vessels. The Chief Marine Engineer will have maritime experience. Ideal maritime experience will be as a sea going marine engineer (either Naval or Merchant Marine) or engineering management position at shipyard, ship repair yard, classification society surveyor, marine design. Your extensive marine engineering knowledge and capability will enable you to support all ABF fleet vessels by contributing to forecasting, planning and scheduling, engineering policy and procedural requirements, projects, resolving engineering and design issues, updating corporate documents, implementing and relaying statutory regulations, marine protocols and marine notices to the fleet. It is essential you have highly developed communication and interpersonal skills to cooperatively liaise with internal and external stakeholders. You must also contribute and be committed to a robust safety culture. The key duties of the position include As the Chief Marine Engineer, you will; Oversee the ABF technical regulatory endorsement process and assess and issue technical regulatory authority to the relevant ABF vessel marine engineering teams Provide engineering support and advice to the Marine Safety & Capability team to ensure operational availability of the ABF fleet of vessels Provide subject matter expertise and contribute to the development of completion of marine incident safety investigations or reviews Provide critical subject matter expertise to ABF Executive as required for broader ABF projects including future capability procurement projects Chair the Engineering Safety Board and contribute and lead to ensure the ABF safety culture is maintained Assist in establishing engineering policies and procedures in line with business and strategic objectives of the Branch and contribute to fleet engineering in the compilation and assessment of Engineering Change Proposals, Requests for Deviation, Repair Plans and Engineering Reviews, ISM Code compliance audits, and represent the department at various forums when required. The Chief Marine Engineer is responsible for managing the activities associated with the ABF's Chief Marine Engineer position, by providing high-quality engineering and technical services for all vessels in the ABF fleet. You will lead a team based across Australia to deliver a range of key outcomes including; Manage regulatory models that govern engineering services and standards for the ABF fleet, to ensure alignment with Australian and international protocols where required Perform the function of the Technical Regulatory Authority for ABF's marine capability Contribute to the management of the Marine Safety Management System Undertake strategic planning to best position ABF's current and future maritime operational maintenance support requirements Provide technical advice on maritime assets, engineering qualifications, personnel, training and standards Represent CMSB on matters related to maritime engineering matters at appropriate interagency, intergovernmental and industry meetings, committees and forums, negotiations and other activities with internal and external clients, stakeholders and contractors Provide detailed, accurate and timely advice to management relating to marine engineering and policy and procedural matters, and deliver other reporting requirements as required. Assist other areas of the Division in ensuring maritime activities are conducted consistent with: The ABF's Vessel Management Plans The Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 and State Act (as they pertain to maritime and shore side operations) Australian Public Service Equity and Diversity provisions Chief Executive Instructions and other Divisional guidelines. Additional information Role Requirements The Chief Marine Engineer oversees the Deputy Chief Marine Engineer and the Assistant Marine Engineer (as well as leading a large team spread across Australia) in maintaining the regulatory models for ABF, in monitoring and assessing sea-going engineer support, and in providing detailed advice to senior managers regarding marine engineering matters in the ABF. The Chief Engineer will be required to understand engineering and associated technical processes for the ABF fleet vessels, quality assurance methodologies, commercial management and have experience with risk management in a complex and changing environment. Qualifications Mandatory The Chief Marine Engineer will be required to possess a degree in mechanical /or marine engineering or naval architecture that is recognised by the Institution of Engineers Australia and eligible for Chartered status, with a minimum of 10 years' experience at a senior level Knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply relevant Australian legislation and standards particularly the Navigation Act 2012, Marine Orders, STCW, MARPOL, and SOLAS Possess or be able to obtain and maintain an NV1 security clearance and an Employment Suitability Clearance (ESC). Desirable A high level of knowledge of Public Sector administrative processes and procedures, particularly those related to national statutory maritime and policy guidelines and ABF personnel management, would be well regarded. Experience leading teams, including geographically dispersed and remote teams, is also desirable.
