Director, Biosecurity Emergency Preparedness and Response 

• Senior executive Band 1 role TRP $246,428 to $272,122 (Including Superannuation) 
• Located in Sydney or Regional NSW - Hybrid Working 
• Ongoing Full-time role  

Lead the state's biosecurity emergency preparedness and response and represent DPIRD on senior state and interdepartmental committees

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) protects, supports and develops New South Wales' primary industries, mining sector and regional economies. With nearly 5,000 employees, almost 80 per cent of whom live and work in regional NSW, DPIRD is genuinely embedded in the communities it serves. Its Agriculture and Biosecurity Group safeguards the state's agricultural and biosecurity sectors, bringing together science, policy and on-ground delivery to keep NSW's primary industries future-ready.

About the Role

 
Sitting within the Biosecurity and Food Safety Division, the Director, Biosecurity Emergency Preparedness and Response leads the state's capability to prepare for, respond to and recover from biosecurity emergencies. Reporting to the Executive Director, Biosecurity and Food Safety, the role sets the policies, plans and training that underpin DPIRD's response under the NSW State Emergency Management Plan, and represents the Agriculture and Biosecurity Group on senior state and interdepartmental committees. It is a role where strategic thinking meets operational impact, with genuine scope to shape how NSW protects its primary industries when it matters most.

About You 

We are looking for a senior leader currently operating at, or with demonstrated readiness to step up to, executive or director level in government, with broad leadership and coordination capability built through emergency management or another high-pressure, multi-agency environment. Biosecurity subject knowledge is favourable but not essential; what matters most is the ability to listen, learn quickly, and work confidently within an established Incident Management Team structure.

Cross-agency experience, whether in state or Commonwealth government, service delivery, or a centre-of-government setting, is highly valued. The successful candidate will bring proven people leadership, with the capability to scale from a core team of around 45 to coordinating hundreds, or during a major event, thousands of people drawn from across the department and beyond.
This is a coordination, reporting and communication role rather than a command and control one. Candidates should be comfortable acting as the buffer and interface between on-ground incident management and the demands of senior executives and ministers' offices, confident directing the use of systems and technology without needing to be a specialist, and resilient and clear-headed under sustained pressure.

Further Information about the role   

For further information about the role, download a copy of the candidate information pack, please visit https://www.derwentsearch.com.au/job-results#OurOpportunities and select the role title. For specific enquiries, please contact Emma Alberici at-e-mail ealberici@derwentsearch.com.au  referencing 34869.

Alternatively call Felicity Gillard on mobile 0410 318 002 or e-mail felicity.j.gillard@dpird.nsw.gov.au

Applications Closing date: Sunday, 27 September 2026 at 11:55pm.

If you require adjustments in completing your application, interviewing, completing any pre- employment testing, or otherwise participating in the recruitment process, please let us know so we can assist. Send an email to capability.talent@regional.nsw.gov.au and a member of the team will contact you for a confidential discussion.  

Additional information 

A talent pool may be created from this recruitment action for ongoing and temporary roles of the same standard that may become available for filling over the next eighteen months. The successful applicant in this role may be required to undergo police checks, health assessments and other assessments as required. 

Diversity and inclusion are core values of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is a workplace where everyone is able to contribute and participate to their full potential, and we are proud to have a team that reflects the richness and complexity of the regional NSW communities we serve