Description:
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 also 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. We work closely with communities and Indigenous rangers and regulate biosecurity risk in the Torres Strait.
Science 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 is an operational section within SSG that conducts surveillance and diagnostic activities in Australia’s remote north. The NAQS domestic operation extends from Broome in Western Australia to Cairns in Queensland, including the Torres Strait. As the successful candidate, you will carry out molecular diagnostics on a range of samples looking for plant pathogens and pests, contributing to the biosecurity of Australia. You will work in a motivated and professional team in a busy diagnostic laboratory, and you may be expected to travel between the NAQS laboratories in Darwin and Cairns as required.
The Job
The role provides molecular diagnostics in the department’s Cairns laboratory. Under the general direction of the Principal Molecular Biologist the Molecular Biologist will undertake duties that include, but are not limited to:
- Working effectively with other staff in the laboratory to ensure timely delivery of diagnostic activities, quality controls and technical advice.
- Under conditions of biosecurity containment and the laboratory’s quality management system, undertake routine molecular based assays (including high-throughput sequencing), involving specimens and samples of biosecurity interest.
- Recording, analysing and reporting diagnostic results.
- Preparing formal reports and providing technical input to work instructions, guidelines, technical training, strategic initiatives and requests for operational policy advice.
- Contributing to engagement with internal stakeholders to resolve complex molecular diagnostic issues in support of biosecurity.
- Complying with WHS requirements in the laboratory including contributing to a positive WHS culture, the identification and assessment of hazards and the development of safety controls.
- Promoting and adhering to the Australian Public Sector (APS) Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct.
- Maintaining reference collections.
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.
What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience
The successful applicants will have:
- Demonstrated experience in molecular data analysis and bioinformatics.
- Demonstrated experience in the delivery of molecular diagnostics utilising conventional and emerging technologies as well as experience in troubleshooting molecular assays.
- Demonstrated experience in the accurate reporting of diagnostic data.
- Ability to independently manage time to deliver business priorities in accordance with endorsed business processes and standards.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and respectfully.
- Demonstrated ability to build productive working relationships.
Desirable:
- Experience with the use of command line tools for bioinformatics analysis.
- Experience operating under conditions of biosecurity containment.
- Experience operating in a quality assured laboratory.
- Experience in handling microorganisms under aseptic conditions.