Director Environment, Science Assessments (EL2)

Shaping national regulatory science and protecting the environment Ongoing, permanent position. Permanent residents are welcome to apply. Relocation support & sponsorship available for the right candidate $154,097.00 to $178,313.00 (plus 15.4% superannuation), depending on qualifications and experience Applications close on Sunday, 21 June 2026 at 12:00 am. ABOUT THE ORGANISATION The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) regulates agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals to protect human, animal and environmental health while supporting Australian agriculture and trade. Within the APVMA, the Science & Assurance Branch leads post-market regulatory science, including chemical reviews, environmental and health risk assessments, adverse experience reporting, and manufacturing quality oversight. The Branch works collaboratively across the APVMA to support regulatory decision-making and maintain contemporary scientific and regulatory approaches. THE ROLE Reporting to the Executive Director, Science & Assurance, the Director Environment, Science Assessments leads environmental science assessment functions for chemical reconsiderations of agvet products. The role provides technical leadership, oversight and delivery of environmental risk assessments and supports regulatory decision-making relating to agvet chemical products. The position leads a team of approximately four regulatory scientists and has two direct EL1 reports. The position is based in Armidale NSW or Canberra ACT, with consideration given to flexible remote working arrangements within Australia. It is offered on an ongoing full-time basis, with non-ongoing and part-time arrangements potentially available. The role is open to all applicants, with sponsorship and generous relocation support available for the right candidate. The successful applicant will be required to undergo an assessment by AGSVA to obtain Baseline security clearance and to maintain the required level of clearance while in this role. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead technical evaluations of chemicals under reconsideration, producing risk assessment reports and risk management recommendations that inform regulatory decisions. Contribute to regulatory processes, including preparing and clearing briefing materials, supporting public consultations, and providing technical input. Support product registration assessments, including applications for new products, permits and variations to existing registrations when needed for both agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines. Develop and enhance guidance materials for technical risk assessments and engage with domestic and international stakeholders on their interpretation and application. Manage relationships with external service providers, internal and external clients, and stakeholders, including Commonwealth and state agencies, industry bodies, and NGOs. Provide leadership and mentoring to build capability within the team and ensure delivery of high-quality scientific outputs. SELECTION CRITERIA Essential Appropriate tertiary qualifications in environmental toxicology, agricultural or animal sciences, or a relevant science discipline. Extensive experience in assessment of environmental fate and behaviour of pesticides, veterinary medicines or other chemicals, and their risks to non-target species. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proven ability to evaluate and provide pragmatic advice on complex information in a regulatory setting in both data-rich and data-poor environments. Highly developed leadership and management skills that demonstrate a commitment to coaching and developing staff, an ability to plan strategically, and experience managing project activities in a dynamic environment including dealing with periods of peak demands. Demonstrated capacity to work at a senior level in a team setting, apply high-level interpersonal skills, communicate clearly and confidently via oral and written communication, and represent the agency in a variety of contexts. Demonstrated experience in building and sustaining relationships with internal and external collaborators, stakeholders and service providers. Willingness to abide by the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles, and a demonstrated commitment to applying the principles and practices of WHS, equity and diversity in the workplace. Desirable Postgraduate qualifications in environmental toxicology, agricultural or animal sciences, or a relevant science discipline. APPLICATIONS To have a confidential discussion about this role, please call Renee on +61 403 727 598 or Helen on +61 438 620 434 or send a text to organise a suitable time. Alternatively, please email [email protected] or [email protected]. Application requirements You must submit an up-to-date resume, including your current location and residential status. A document addressing the essential selection criteria (maximum 1,000 words). You must address each criterion separately in your written response, clearly indicate the criterion number, use clear headings, and provide specific examples aligned to each criterion. You may also include a half-page cover letter outlining your interest in the role. Applications close on Sunday, 21 June 2026 at 12:00 am. Thank You Given we appreciate the effort it requires to express an interest in response to a job advert, we would like to thank you in advance for taking the time to apply for this role. Unfortunately, due to the large volume of applications we receive daily, we typically only make contact with individuals whom we consider as having suitable qualifications and experience to be assessed further for shortlisting. Nevertheless, all resumes submitted to CS Executive Group are retained on our database—you might therefore be contacted by us for suitable roles arising in the future. Please follow our LinkedIn page to be notified when we have new job opportunities: www.linkedin.com/company/cs-executive-group/