APS 6 (Veterinarian VO2) - $102,965 - $134,518 per annum plus superannuation
Exports & Veterinary Services Division
Brisbane (QLD), Darwin (NT), Melbourne (VIC), Mickleham (VIC), Perth (WA), Sydney (NSW) and Townsville (QLD)

Ready to make a difference in the regulation of live animal imports and exports? We’re seeking proactive Regional Veterinary Officers to provide technical advice, maintain compliance, support biosecurity, and collaborate with industry stakeholders. Don’t miss this opportunity—submit your application now!

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.

The Veterinary and Export Meat Branch (VEMB) undertakes regulatory functions by providing inspection and certification for the export of meat, meat products and the import and export of live animals and reproductive material in order to meet importing country requirements and Australian legislative requirements.

We recognise the importance of mental well-being within the veterinary workforce and are committed to providing resources and support to promote good mental health.

This is where you play an important role.
As a Veterinary Officer the duties of the role include, but are not limited to:

assessing and processing applications and supporting documents for the export and import of live animals and animal reproductive materials
proactive communication (verbal and written) with internal and external stakeholders
maintaining accurate records
auditing and approving properties for pre-export and post-import quarantine of animals as well as artificial breeding centres
managing illegal or accidentally imported animals
working independently yet collaboratively, while demonstrating a proactive approach to problem solving.

In addition to the above duties, Melbourne Veterinary Officers will be required to assist at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility (PEQ) as required. This includes performing veterinary health checks of companion animals, supervising the sampling of imported horses and taking samples from imported pigeons and poultry.

Applicants should note that as a Veterinary Officer in VEMB you may be required to undertake activities across export meat and live animal veterinary officer roles. VEMB undertakes regulatory functions by providing inspection and certification for the export of meat, meat products and the import and export of live animals and reproductive material in order to meet importing country requirements and Australian legislative requirements.

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, will be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the branch. These vacancies may occur in any of the locations listed on the job description. Non-ongoing (specified-term) contracts may be offered to new employees for an initial period of up to twelve months with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of two years in total. Non ongoing (casual) contracts will be offered for periods of up to two years. Some of these non-ongoing positions may become ongoing in the next eighteen months. Should a position become ongoing then the merit pool may be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis.

Flexible working arrangements
We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements however applicants should note that Veterinary Officers are based out of a regional office, and this is an operational role. To seek further information please speak with the contact officer prior to submitting your application.

Information session
We will be holding an online information session (timing will be confirmed upon registration) where there will be a presentation on the role and an opportunity to ask questions. Staff with the relevant experience will be online to answer questions about the role. Please register your interest by emailing George Cox at george.cox@aff.gov.au.

Our ideal candidate will have:

knowledge of, or an interest in, exotic animal pests and diseases which could impact Australia’s pest and disease status and trade market access
knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of, the principles that underpin Australia’s biosecurity and export requirements for live animals
knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of, relevant legislation, Australian and International standards, quality assurance procedures and best practice models for the export and import of live animals and animal reproductive material
experience in providing technical advice to clients and staff about complex, contentious and sensitive issues
relevant veterinary experience working with livestock and/or horses and/or cats and dogs (desirable but not mandatory).

Our ideal candidate will have the following skills and capabilities:

A demonstrated ability to clearly and professionally communicate (verbally and in writing) with colleagues and external stakeholders.
Openness to change together with the ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing team priorities.
A demonstrated ability to collaborate with colleagues and external stakeholders and build positive relationships whilst demonstrating respectful, fair and inclusive work practices.
The ability to work autonomously (including taking a proactive approach to learning), meet deadlines and take ownership of own work.
Strong attention to detail (including identifying and correcting errors and assessing documents for fraud) and accuracy in completing tasks.
A demonstrated ability to interpret and confidently apply legislation, rules, policies, guidelines and codes of conduct.
Sound judgment in identifying issues that require escalation and ensuring timely communication to the appropriate stakeholders while balancing autonomy with appropriate risk management.
Strong clinical skills along with competence in sample collection are desirable but not mandatory for roles at the PEQ.

Eligibility and other requirements
The successful candidates:

must hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers licence
must meet the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work
may be required to participate in an on-call roster (with appropriate restriction allowance) and be available to perform duty outside standard hours
may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work
must wear an official uniform supplied by the department, including during field operations (as applicable), in accordance with the department’s uniform policy
must wear appropriate protective personal equipment clothing and comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures
must note that when participating in an avian consignment (PEQ and Sydney Regional Office roles only) you will be required to work in a Biocontainment Level 3 unit.

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.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Latest Jobs

Veterinary Officer