Assistant Director

EL 1 - $129,106 - $138,861 per annum plus superannuation
Exports & Veterinary Services Division
Canberra- ACT
Protecting Australia’s market access, every day.
The National Residue Survey partners with animal and plant industries to deliver robust residue monitoring, testing services, and trusted scientific and policy advice, supporting trade issue resolution and maintaining global confidence in the safety and quality of Australian products across domestic and international markets.

Why YOU are important to us and what impact will you have on the Exports & Veterinary Services Division and the departments’ goal.
We make sure Australian exports meet international standards through inspections, audits and certifications. Our work helps expand trade by negotiating technical access for food and other products. We also manage quotas under trade agreements and represent Australia in setting global food standards.

We oversee the export regulation of dairy, fish, eggs, organic goods and other specialty products. Working closely with industry, governments and international partners, we ensure Australia’s exports meet high standards. We also manage the National Residue Survey and drive reforms to keep our export systems strong, trusted and future-ready.

As an Assistant Director you will liaise with contract laboratories on technical matters, deliver proficiency testing programs and ensure the NRS maintains NATA accreditation as a proficiency test provider. You will also play a role in procurement and performance evaluation as well as supervising and mentoring staff. The successful candidate must be meticulous, with an eye for identifying anomalies in data and laboratory practices and have a cooperative and constructive attitude to working with contract laboratories and internal team members.

This is where you play an important role.
As the Assistant Director, you will:

Consult with contract laboratories on residue chemistry and laboratory performance matters.
Conduct audits of contract laboratories.
Assist in the monitoring and procurement of contract laboratories.
Conduct technical assessments of residue results for NRS Animal and Plant programs and provide of advice on residue testing.
Contribute to the oversight of residue chemistry proficiency testing programs and the preparation of PT samples.
Provide technical and professional input into preparation of PT reports and other publications.
Assist the NRS Quality Manager to maintain NATA accreditation as a PT provider.
Supervise and mentor staff in the RC-LPE team.
Provide technical support to the Director, other members of the RC-LPE team and other members of DAFF.
Note: 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.

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.

Our ideal candidate will have:
Extensive experience in analytical chemistry, preferably with recent experience in a laboratory which tests for residues of pesticides, veterinary medicines and/or environmental contaminants in food.
Experience in working in a NATA (or international equivalent) accredited laboratory and/or sound understanding of ISO accreditation requirements in relation to quality systems.
Ability to recognise and troubleshoot anomalies and possible technical issues in relation to all aspects of a laboratory process (e.g. the preparation, storage, packaging and delivery of proficiency test samples).
Demonstrated ability to exercise judgement and initiative in the delivery of high-quality outputs within defined deadlines and under minimal supervision.
Experience with writing a range of documents including scientific reports and standard operating procedures, and with the use of databases.
Knowledge of Australian agriculture systems and understanding of the regulation of pesticides and veterinary medicines and residue matters relating to the use of those chemicals.
Sound communication and inter-personal skills and the ability to supervise and mentor scientists.

VetPaths
The Australian Public Service (APS) values the unique skills, perspectives, and experiences that veterans gain during their Australian Defence Force (ADF) employment and encourage veterans to apply. Support may be available to veterans transitioning to meaningful APS careers through participation in VetPaths, which offers veterans an opportunity to participate in a six-month program offering formal learning and development, career mentoring and activities for wellness and peer support.