Principal Investigator

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 Branch conducts criminal and regulatory investigations to protect Australia’s people, environment, economy, and international trade. Our teams use intelligence to detect, deter, and disrupt non-compliance in import and export pathways. We collaborate with domestic and international authorities to enforce compliance through criminal prosecution, regulatory actions, civil proceedings, and administrative sanctions. Additionally, we shape policies and build partnerships with law enforcement, other government agencies, and industry.

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.

As the Principal Investigator, you will:

1. Managing and conducting investigations into alleged breaches of portfolio and other relevant Commonwealth legislation, including significant, complex and protracted matters.
2. Preparing, checking and presenting briefs of evidence for criminal and/or civil proceedings.
3. 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.
4. Establishing and maintaining effective and productive relationships with departmental staff, counterparts in other agencies and industry groups.
5. Representing the branch, division and department at a range of internal and external forums.
6. Taking part in various proactive strategies to promote and encourage voluntary compliance in a regulatory environment
7. Managing, mentoring and developing junior staff within a professional investigation and enforcement team.
8. Identifying risks and vulnerabilities to the department’s operating environment and drafting reports to senior management and departmental risk owners.
9. Under limited supervision, coordinating and preparing reports, correspondence and systems assessments regarding risks and vulnerabilities in the department's operating environment.
10. Undertaking a broad range of administrative tasks to support the section and the director.
11. Working in positions across all professional streams within Investigations branch, including Criminal Investigations, Regulatory Investigations and Investigations Standards and Assurance.
12. Other duties as required of the position.

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 be able to demonstrate:

1. Extensive experience in conducting or managing criminal and/or civil investigations, gained through work in law enforcement, regulatory agencies, or other relevant contexts.
2. Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interpret and synthesise a broad range of complex and intricate materials to prepare accurate and timely advice for senior executives.
3. A high level of integrity, confidentiality, strong interpersonal communication and analytical skills and initiative, good judgment and the ability to multi-task while achieving results in a challenging and dynamic environment.
4. The ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships with a variety of stakeholders to ensure positive outcomes.
5. The ability to think strategically to identify organisational impacts of policies, processes and procedures on the branch and division.
6. The ability to achieve results and lead teams to deliver results and meet deadlines within compressed timeframes while managing competing priorities.

Mandatory Qualifications:

This position requires you to hold a Diploma in Government (Investigations) or equivalent, or the ability and willingness to achieve this qualification within 12 months of engagement is essential.

Eligibility and other requirements

The successful candidate:

1. Must obtain and maintain an ASIC Licence and MSIC Licence.
2. Must hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers licence
3. Must undergo an Employment Medical prior to commencement and be assessed as fit to carry out inherent physical requirements of the role
4. Must meet the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work
5. Must wear appropriate protective personal equipment clothing and comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures (where required)
6. Be prepared to travel intra and interstate as required (at short notice)