Principal Investigator

About this role

Why YOU are important to us and what impact will you have on the Compliance & Enforcement Division and the departments’ goal . Our division protects Australia’s biosecurity and trade systems by putting effective regulations, policies, controls and actions into place. Working with internal and external stakeholders, we monitor potential and actual biosecurity risks, enforce rules and ensure industries comply with laws that help safeguard Australia's agriculture, economy, trade and way of life. The Investigations and Approved Arrangements Branch supports the department’s regulatory responsibilities through an integrated approach that combines investigations into serious non-compliance with the administration of approved arrangements that underpin Australia’s biosecurity system. We apply the full suite of regulatory responses including criminal prosecution, civil penalties and administrative actions to address, disrupt and deter non-compliance and protect the integrity of Australia’s biosecurity system and export trade. As a Principal Investigator, you will conduct intelligence informed investigations into serious non-compliance of portfolio legislation, utilising the full suite of regulatory sanctions available to the department, including criminal prosecution, civil sanctions and administrative actions. Your work will ensure Australia continues to thrive in global markets. This is where you play an important role . Under limited direction, the Principal Investigator is responsible for: • managing and conducting investigations into alleged breaches of portfolio and other relevant Commonwealth legislation, including significant, complex and protracted matters • preparing, checking and presenting briefs of evidence for criminal and/or civil proceedings • driving innovation and contributing to the continuous improvement of enforcement and business outcomes, including the development and implementation of enforcement and investigative strategies and policies • establishing and maintaining effective and productive relationships with departmental staff, counterparts in other agencies and industry groups • representing the branch, division and department at a range of internal and external forums • taking part in various proactive strategies to promote and encourage voluntary compliance in a regulatory environment • managing, mentoring and developing junior staff within a professional investigation and enforcement team • identifying risks and vulnerabilities to the department’s operating environment and drafting reports to senior management and departmental risk owners. Please note that this recruitment process will initially be used to fill two ongoing vacancies in Victoria . 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 be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.