Horticultural Senior Biosecurity Officer

Description:

-Collaborate with a dynamic team of like-minded individuals who share a passion for plants.
-Gain expertise and hands-on experience with a diverse range of plant species
- Play a vital role in safeguarding Australia's native flora and commercial plant industry.
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 Post-Entry Quarantine Group (PEQ) is responsible for the post arrival quarantine of plants and animals at the Mickleham Post-entry Quarantine Facility located on the outskirts of Melbourne. The Mickleham PEQ Facility is purpose built for accommodating high risk plants, horses, cats, dogs, ruminants, birds and bees while undergoing post-entry quarantine. Working in partnership with plant scientists and veterinarians, we ensure that all plants and animals passing through the facility meet all necessary requirements to demonstrate compliance with the regulatory requirements for their safe import and that the health and welfare of the plants and animals is maintained throughout the period of their stay in PEQ.
The Plant Team is responsible for managing high-risk imported plants. They provide expert plant husbandry while monitoring for biosecurity pests and diseases in a BC2 environment. Additionally, the team works closely with operational scientists to support diagnostic services.
The key duties of the position include
The Job
Under limited direction following successful training, the successful candidate will perform a range of technical duties relating to the management of high-risk plant imports within the plant compound. The successful applicant will need to possess skills in horticultural practices including budding, grafting and general plant husbandry and maintenance. They must also have an eye for detail and be able to maintain accurate records both computer and paper based. We are seeking applicants who are energetic, resilient, capable and driven, to enable the department to achieve its service delivery goals. A flexible approach to problem solving and ability to use initiative is equally important, as is a genuine interest in horticulture.
The role may be required to work in other commodity areas of PEQ on a as needs basis key duties include:

• Perform a range of biosecurity activities within a post entry quarantine facility in accordance with established quarantine inspection policies and procedure
• Implement and maintain a high degree of biosecurity control and adherence to procedures to maintain biosecurity integrity
• Undertake a range of plant husbandry duties to care for, treat and monitor plants subject to post entry quarantine including watering, sowing, potting, pruning, insect scouting, chemical spraying and conducting biological indexing.
• Monitor climatic conditions in the glasshouse according to plant varieties requirement
• Participate in daily cleaning and general maintenance of a BC2 plants facility according to approved quality standards.
• Ensure strict plant hygiene standards and pest and disease control is maintained at all times to limit the spread of exotic plant pests from and within the nursery
• Ensure all records are correctly maintained including maintaining computer based and manual records as appropriate for operational and audit purposes
• Liaise with pathology team, policy team, as well as clients and industry stakeholders as required
• Work weekend and holiday shifts as per operational requirements
• Participate in meetings
• Train other staff in horticultural processes, safety procedures, methods, and equipment, as required or appropriate.
• Make decisions relating to biosecurity requirements under the Biosecurity Act 2015
• Ensure compliance with department WHS policies and guidelines
• Ensure adherence to APS Values and Code of Conduct

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.