As the Manager of Biosecurity and Emergency Services you will lead a team of invasive species, travelling stock reserves, animal biosecurity and emergency response experts in the North West Local Land Services region. Your team is passionate and highly experienced in working with landholders and communities to provide expert services and advice.

This role offers:

• Ongoing full time employment
• An attractive salary starting from $149,739pa plus annual leave loading and super
• Negotiable work location available within the North West region, with options to be based at any of our offices in Moree, Walgett, Narrabri, Warialda, Gunnedah, or Tamworth.
• Flexible work arrangements, including work from home options
• An opportunity to accelerate your career in the beautiful North West
• A professional workplace in one of NSW Government’s most effective agencies

What your responsibilities will be:

• Build and Mentor a Vibrant Team: As a senior leader in the North West, you will provide people leadership that supports growth, workplace satisfaction and a healthy culture in your team and as part of the regional Leadership Team.
• Lead Program Delivery: Oversee and deliver on core objectives of the NSW Biosecurity Strategy and the North West Local Strategic Plan across Animal Biosecurity and Welfare, Invasive Species, Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR) Management, and Emergency Response with a budget responsibility of circa $5 million pa.
• Support Service Delivery and Design: Work with your Team Leaders and project management staff to effectively build and manage service delivery initiatives, including performance against financial and delivery KPIs, that deliver outcomes for land managers and the community.
• Drive Innovation and Change: Create opportunities for improvement and innovation in program delivery and lead the team in emergency preparedness and response, empowering them to make decisions and collaborate effectively.
• Regional Representation and Stakeholder Engagement: Represent North West Local Land Services and our interests when engaging with stakeholders, community and Industry.
• Audit and Risk Management: Ensure adherence to statutory obligations and organisational policy, oversee audit programs and manage risk planning aligned with LLS’s broader risk management framework.
• Balanced Leadership: Skilfully combine people management with the delivery of high-quality results, ensuring the team is well-supported while achieving impactful outcomes.

What your day to day will look like:

• Each day will be different, and you will get the opportunity to be innovative, and drive change. You will lead a strong team and guide them in ways that ensure staff are empowered to make decisions whilst also being collaborative with colleagues and stakeholders. Your leadership will be a key to the development of these teams.
• You will work with your Team Leader of Animal Biosecurity and Welfare, Team Leader of Invasive Species and Team Leader of TSRs to guide the day-to-day operations of staff, supporting accountability, safety and effective delivery.
• Work with the General Manager and other senior leaders as part of the regional Management and Leadership Teams, addressing strategic issues and improving operational processes.
• You will provide oversight and guidance to high-risk initiatives that require excellent governance and accountability. These include aerial invasive animal control programs and programs that use restricted chemical products as part of their delivery.

Some more detail:

• Our approach to biosecurity: Biosecurity - Local Land Services
• LLS and emergency animal disease: Emergency Animal Disease - Local Land Services
• Our role in emergencies: Our role in emergencies - Local Land Services
• Managing TSRs: Travelling Stock Reserves - TSRs - Local Land Services
• Reducing the impacts of invasive animals: Pest animal management - Local Land Services

What you need to do this role

• Tertiary qualifications in a discipline relevant to the management of biosecurity and/or equivalent experience in leadership and management of services in a primary industries or emergency management sector
• Well-developed understanding of the impact of biosecurity threats on communities, agriculture and environment including current approaches to building community capacity, biosecurity management and animal welfare and the ability to deliver outcomes through strategic and operational planning
• Knowledge of the agricultural industries and land management
• Ideally, you’ll bring experience in the coordination of emergency management (biosecurity and general) across prevention, preparedness, response and recovery at a management level with a clear understanding of emergency management arrangements in NSW and nationally
• Demonstrated high level project and planning skills
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to drive change along with solid problem-solving skills with the capacity to be innovative
• Accomplished communication skills to engage stakeholders and guide staff
• Have a current NSW Driver License and the ability and willingness to travel throughout the region.

Have you got what it takes? Our ideal candidate will be motivated, energetic and customer focused whilst delivering results and looking for efficiencies. Your strong leadership skills and high personal drive to collaborate with staff.

Questions about the role?
Please contact James Hutchinson-Smith, General Manager North West LLS at james.hutchinson-smith@lls.nsw.gov.au or 0428 485 985. You can also download the  role description.

Applying is Easy! 

To apply, please submit a copy of your resume (approx. 4 pages) and a cover letter (approx. 2 pages) that tells us about your relevant skills and experience and how these make you an ideal candidate for this role. 

What is the Process?  

The process starts with you submitting your application. Once your application has been received, you will receive an email confirmation and further correspondence when the role advertisement closes. 

You might be asked to attend an interview (either via video, over the phone or face to face) or complete a written or other assessment task.

Application Closing Date:  Sunday 9th November 2025 at 11.55pm 

Recruitment Adjustments 

If you require adjustments in completing your application, interviewing, completing any pre- employment testing, require information in an alternative format, or otherwise participating in the recruitment process, please let us know so we can assist. Send an email to talent.advisory@dpird.nsw.gov.au or contact the hiring manager listed above for a confidential discussion. 

About Us: Together, we are DPIRD

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) protects, supports and develops primary industries and regional economies.

Collectively we support strong and sustainable agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining industries, and regional economies. We actively manage our natural assets: our lands and soils, minerals, waterways and oceans, vegetation and forests.

  The department brings together:

• Local Land Services
• NSW Resources
• Agriculture and Biosecurity
• Fisheries and Forestry
• Regional Development and Delivery.

With nearly 5,000 employees, and 75 per cent of the DPIRD team living and working in regional NSW, we are embedded in the regions we serve.

Diversity and inclusion are core DPIRD values. Everyone has the right to contribute and participate to their full potential. We are committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive culture that is respectful, welcoming and flexible – a workplace where our people feel supported, valued, and part of our collective success.

Learn more about the benefits of joining our diverse and talented DPIRD team.

Additional Information

A recruitment pool may be created for ongoing and temporary roles of the same role or role type that may become available for filling over the next eighteen months. 

The successful applicant in this role may be required to undergo a police check, health assessment and/or other assessments as required.