Program Director, Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative The Company

Hort Innovation Australia (HIA) is an organisation that strives for better results for horticultural growers and those across the horticulture supply chain. It is the grower owned, not for profit Research and Development Corporation (RDC) for Australia’s horticultural sector.

HIA invest substantially into research and development, marketing, adoption, data and international trade initiatives to improve the profitability, productivity and global competitiveness of the 37-levy paying Australian horticultural industries. Investment decisions are prioritised by current needs in each horticulture industry in consultation with growers.

The Opportunity

Under the values of and coordinated by HIA, the

Program Director, Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative

is a pivotal and influential role working with and representing seven RDC’s coordinating plant biosecurity research. The RDC’s are AgriFutures Australia, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited, Grains Research and Development Corporation, Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited, Sugar Research Australia (SRA) Limited, Wine Australia.

You will take responsibility for delivering the Plant Biosecurity Research Institute program (PBRI) and will champion the research collaboration of PBRI members, with a specific focus is plant biosecurity research. The PBRI was established in 2017 following the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity Review, which identified poor coordination of biosecurity research and innovation, particularly across sectors. Since then, it has recognised biosecurity gaps (and continues to do so) resulting in $132m in funding dedicated to cross-RDC research projects.

The programs overall success hinges on the Project Director,



while specific programs are run and executed within the RDC’s.

The role involves:

Leading and responsibility for collaboration, stakeholder management, influencing outcomes and program deliverables

Identify and address R&D; gaps in plant biosecurity

Lead the PBRI Strategy

Foster cross sectoral priorities and collaboration

Maintain governance and success of the programs that are operated by the seven RDC’s

Convene and facilitate PBRI meetings to ensure program is aligning with outcome expectations and report accordingly

About You

To be successful in this role you will have:

Exceptional stakeholder management skills, including the ability to influence without authority, and an ability to build and manage strategic collaborations

Have dealt with science-based stakeholders across agriculture and many levels of government including DAFF who also partner the program

Understand Australia’s plant biosecurity system and the national frameworks that support it.

Experience to distil and decipher complex data and programs into high level briefings and reports, with an ability to communicate and present complex scientific issues clearly

Lead stakeholder engagement and communications including media contentHave a project or program management background

Ability and experience to maintain a helicopter view of the program, but monitor and report on various projects against expectations

Relevant Tertiary qualifications

Why This Role

This is an exceptional chance to leverage your collaboration and influencing skills across a broad range of stakeholders and delivering meaningful outcomes in the biosecurity of plants.

Additional information

Senior level role in plant biosecurity

Multiple RDC research collaboration

Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne preferred

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📌 Program Director, Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (Brisbane)
🏢 Perm Recruitment RF/BDT
📍 Brisbane