Principal Botanist

EL 1 - $120,290 - $129,379 per annum plus superannuationBiosecurity Plant and Science Services DivisionDarwin, NTProvide scientific leadership, management and strategic oversight of the NAQS Botany team in Darwin.Support operational planning and surveillance activities.Work closely with the NAQS leadership group, plant health scientists and Indigenous Biosecurity Ranger teams.Who we areScience 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).NAQS (within SSG) is a program which operates across coastal northern Australia from Broome in Western Australia to Cairns in Queensland and includes the Torres Strait.
NAQS contributes to the delivery of national biosecurity objectives through:identifying and evaluating the unique quarantine risks facing northern Australiadeveloping and implementing measures for the early detection of targeted pests, diseases and weedscontributing to national and international initiatives relating to pest and disease surveillancemanaging the biosecurity aspects of border movements through the Torres Straitcommunity engagement and liaison.The JobKey duties of the role will include:providing expert field surveillance and botanical diagnostics for weeds in northern Australia (and neighbouring countries) with a particular focus on early detection of new weeds of biosecurity concern with potential agricultural and/or environmental impactsproviding expert field surveillance and botanical diagnostics of host or alternative host plants for threatening or new invertebrate pests and plant diseases of biosecurity concern in northern Australia (and neighbouring countries), including provision of advice re targeted surveillance of host plants for specific pests and diseasescontributing to operational planning and NAQS plant health survey deliveryproviding botany leadershipmanaging data acquired through field survey activities and contributing to the timely preparation of reportscontributing to the development of NAQS plant health surveillance policy including the revision of target listsliaising and collaborating with key stakeholders across government and industryliaising and collaborating with key Traditional Owners and NT/WA Ranger groups about NAQS plant health surveillancecontributing to capacity building activities with indigenous rangers or overseas counterpartseffectively communicating complex technical information to a range of audiences.Please notethat this position is available for an initial period of eighteen months with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of two years in total.
This non-ongoing position may become ongoing in the next eighteen months which may result in the successful applicant being offered ongoing employment.What we are looking forKnowledge and experienceThe successful applicant will have:strong field and laboratory plant identification skills and experience, including the identification of native and introduced species, specimen collection and herbarium specimen managementa detailed knowledge of the impacts and management of tropical and environmental weeds and a working knowledge of the role of introduced and native plant species as alternative hosts for pests and diseases of plantsa demonstrated understanding of the scientific, technical and policy aspects of weed and plant pest and disease surveillance, including planning, delivery, reporting and data management componentsan understanding of plant biosecurity threats in northern Australia and the policy framework that supports implementation of measures to mitigate the risk of new incursionsexperience leading multi-disciplinary teams and supervising staffa detailed understanding of the application of Work Health and Safety principles in office and field-based contexts, particularly in regional and remote areas.Mandatory qualificationsA tertiary qualification in the area of biological science, environmental science or agriculture with a demonstrated minimum of five years relevant experience.Eligibility and other requirementsThe successful applicant must:hold a current Apply First Aid Certificate or have the ability to obtain this qualificationhold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers licencenote that relocation assistance is subject to negotiationnote that the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based worknote that you may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend worknote that you will be required to complete specific training (including refresher training) related to the role including remote area training, defensive driving, first aid and CPR coursesnote that you will be required to travel in remote/isolated locations in northern Australia or its near northern neighbours, using a variety of transport including vessels, light/commercial aircraft, helicopters and manual four wheel drive vehiclesnote that you will be required, from time to time, to work in difficult, remote and harsh environments (possibly for extended periods) under limited supervision or in teamswear an official uniform supplied by the department, including during field operations (as applicable), in accordance with the department's uniform policywear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures.
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