The Decade of Biosecurity – 2021-2030

The Decade of Biosecurity is a partnership between industry, business, community and government to elevate the importance of biosecurity and improve the biosecurity system’s effectiveness during the 2020s. The partnership seeks to engage all Australians with building a stronger biosecurity system.

The Decade of Biosecurity coordinator is a role formed in April 2022 to drive and implement joint activities for the Decade of Biosecurity initiative. The coordinator is hosted by the Invasive Species Council on behalf of Decade of Biosecurity partners and takes strategic direction from the Decade of Biosecurity steering group.

Following the ‘soft’ launch at the Australian Biosecurity Symposium in May 2022, the focus for the period July-October is to conduct a series of state and territory workshops and broader consultation to develop a three-year implementation plan proposed to be launched in October 2022. This will include a strategy, engagement plan and an itemised and costed work program. The next step is to work with partners to secure funding and commence implementation to grow the initiative over the subsequent three years.

Job description

The Decade of Biosecurity coordinator leads the collaborative efforts of the Decade of Biosecurity on behalf of its partners.

Key responsibilities:

• convenes and implements decisions of the Decade of Biosecurity steering group.
• develops and implements a 3-year Decade of Biosecurity implementation plan, business plan and engagement strategy.
• works closely with Decade of Biosecurity partners to encourage collaborative efforts in support of the Decade of Biosecurity initiative.
• coordinates public events, workshops and other public and partner engagement, including the launch of the Decade of Biosecurity initiative.
• supports and leverages off existing initiatives aligned with the Decade of Biosecurity initiative.
• develops and delivers communication material to the Decade of Biosecurity partners.
• works with partners to secure funding to implement the 3-year Decade of Biosecurity implementation plan.
• encourages a spirit of collaboration, shared responsibility and broad engagement.

Selection Criteria

Essential:

• High level project management skills and experience.
• Demonstrated expertise and ability to achieve results by coordinating activities that rely on a diverse set of partners.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to collaborate and build effective and trusted relationships with a diverse range of people.
• Experience working with and supporting senior leaders in industry, government and the community.
• Proven ability to collaborate with NGO’s, industry groups, government agencies, Indigenous Australians, expert advisers and/or technical specialists to foster a sense of common purpose.
• Appropriate tertiary qualifications or demonstrated equivalent, relevant industry, government or community experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to a collaborative style of working to achieve shared outcomes.
• Willingness to work from a home office and to travel interstate, often for days at a time.

Desirable:

• Sound understanding of the Australian biosecurity system including all the relevant regulatory arrangements and frameworks, institutional arrangements and agreements.
• Demonstrated interest in strengthening Australia’s biosecurity system to ensure it remains fit to meet the challenges of the next decade.

For any questions regarding the role or working for the Invasive Species Council and the Decade of Biosecurity partners, please contact [email protected] using the subject line: Decade of Biosecurity Coordinator enquiry via EthicalJobs.

The application process is currently ongoing. Should the right candidate apply for this role, a decision will be made ASAP.