Senior Communications Officer Animal Biosecurity: Application Checklist

The Senior Communications Officer – Animal Biosecurity at Agriculture and Biosecurity turns technical risk information into practical communications for regional communities and industry stakeholders. The role has a particular focus on the cattle tick program and northern rivers stakeholders, with incident and emergency communication also part of the work.

This guide explains how to apply for Senior Communications Officer – Animal Biosecurity and how to use the one-page cover letter. The panel needs evidence that you can write across channels, work confidently with technical specialists and communicate clearly when the subject is complex or time sensitive.

View the official job ad before drafting. Candidates across NSW are considered, with regional locations preferred and particular interest in Queanbeyan, Armidale, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour.

The requested documents are brief, so choose your examples before writing. One strong campaign or incident example can show strategy, technical translation, stakeholder work and evaluation when you explain each part carefully.

Senior Communications Officer – Animal Biosecurity role snapshot

Role title

Role title Senior Communications Officer – Animal Biosecurity

Organisation

Organisation Agriculture and Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Location

Location NSW-wide, with a preference for regional candidates

Job reference

Job reference 509847

Work type

Work type Temporary full-time for up to 4 years

Grade and salary

Grade and salary Clerk Grade 9/10, $133,348 to $146,945 plus superannuation

Application requirements for Senior Communications Officer – Animal Biosecurity

The employer gives approximate lengths for both documents. Treat those lengths as a clear drafting target and make the one-page letter specific to animal biosecurity rather than submitting a general communications pitch.

- CV, approximately 4 pages
- Cover letter explaining how your experience and skills fit the role,



approximately 1 page

The one-page cover letter needs a clear lead example. Use the CV to provide the wider campaign, channel and stakeholder history that supports it.

The role requires tertiary qualifications in communications or public relations and/or equivalent professional experience. The preferred candidate may also undergo reference, national police, bankruptcy, health or other assessments relevant to appointment.

Evidence to include in your Senior Communications Officer – Animal Biosecurity application

Use the About You section to choose your examples. Your evidence should show strategic judgement, strong content skills and confidence working with technical subject matter and regional stakeholders during routine and high-pressure periods.

What the role needs

How to show it

Strategic communications in complex environments Use a campaign or issue where you clarified the communication objective, selected audiences and channels, and adjusted the approach as conditions changed.

Writing and digital communication across channels Show how you produced explicit content for different formats and maintained accuracy, tone and approvals.

Turning technical information into accessible content Explain how you worked with a subject-matter expert, checked meaning and translated the information for a non-technical audience.

Campaign and project management Describe how you coordinated milestones, contributors, approvals and several priorities through delivery.

Stakeholder work under pressure Give an example involving regional, industry or community stakeholders where timely communication and sound judgement mattered.





Relevant sector experience Connect any government, biosecurity, agriculture, regulatory or emergency experience with the cattle tick and incident-response focus of the role.

How to structure the one-page cover letter and CV

The application requires an approximately four-page CV and one-page cover letter. The cover letter’s tight length means each paragraph needs to carry evidence as well as context. The table below keeps the role fit and strongest example visible.

What to include

Opening paragraph Introduce your strategic communications experience and your interest in regional animal-biosecurity communication.

Technical communication example Show how you turned specialist or regulatory information into accurate, accessible content across relevant channels.

Campaign and stakeholder example Describe a campaign, event or incident where you managed contributors, competing priorities and high-pressure communication.

Evaluation and improvement Explain how data, feedback or audience insight changed the communication approach or demonstrated its effect.

Essential requirement and closing Confirm the relevant qualification or equivalent experience and connect your background with DPIRD’s regional purpose.

What strong biosecurity-communications evidence looks like

- Technical information translated accurately for a defined audience
- Your role in shaping strategy, content and delivery decisions
- Stakeholder judgement during a sensitive or time-critical issue
- Evidence of reliable approvals and message consistency across channels
- A result shown through reach, understanding, response or improved communication practice

Help with your Senior Communications Officer – Animal Biosecurity application

Read the cover letter as though the panel knows communications but has limited knowledge of your previous industry. Explain the complexity of the subject and the audience response clearly enough for them to judge the quality of your work.

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📌 Senior Communications Officer Animal Biosecurity: Application Checklist NSWGovernment application checklist Checklist published 31 Aug 2026 → (Armidale)
🏢 Team 3Thirty
📍 Armidale