- Parramatta and Sydney CBD
- Temporary Full-Time – with possibility of conversion to ongoing
- Chief Inspector - $124,293 - $128,246 base salary, plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role The Manager – Firearms and Explosives Detection Dog Unit (FEDD) role within the NSW Sheriff’s Office (NSWSO) will play a critical role in supporting the justice system through court security, enforcement services, intelligence-led operations and specialist operational capabilities.

The FEDD Unit will enhance the NSWSO ability to respond to operational risks and support statewide operations.

What you’ll do

As part of the FEDD team you will lead and manage the procurement of dog/s and the ongoing accreditation standards.

You will lead the training and development of all FEDD unit staff, including providing oversight of annual fitness and psychometric standards for handlers. You will maintain and monitor the welfare and safety of staff and their animals to ensure provisions of relevant legislation and requirements, policies and procedures are met, including Animal Husbandry requirements, RSPCA and Australian Standards.

What we’re looking for

- Demonstrated experience managing the procurement and development of working dogs in a specialist operational environment.
- Experience in handling, training and managing operational working dog teams, ideally within Police, ADF, Corrective Services NSW or a comparable agency.
- Experience implementing operational strategies, policies, standard operating procedures and training to support the operations of the NSWSO and handlers undertaking the work.
- Knowledge of contemporary detection dog practices and operational standards along with the successful completion of an accredited agency working-dog course preferably with explosive detection dog experience.

- Experience leading and participating in the training and development of staff, including providing oversight of annual fitness and psychometric standards for handlers and ongoing accreditation standards for working dog/s.

- Ability to drive continuous capability improvement,



maintain contemporary knowledge of relevant legislation, policy and best practice relating to working dog capabilities.
- Reside, or be prepared to reside, within a 90-minute travel radius by road of the Sydney CBD.
- Have the capacity to securely house one dog, and, at various times throughout the year, up to two operational dogs in a NSW Sheriff’s Office-issued kennel located within a secure backyard of at least 40 square metres.

For the Key Accountabilities, Essential Requirements and further information about the role, download the role description.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of perks, including:

- A challenging and rewarding career

- Flexible, autonomous work environment

- Competitive pay and conditions

- Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities

- Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 3 pages) addressing the 2 targeted questions (maximum 200 words per question)



below with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role:

- Describe a time when you identified a need to vary or adapt the training methodology being used with a detection dog. What did you identify, what changes did you make to the training approach, and what was the outcome?
- Describe a time when you identified that an operational detection dog and/or handler team was not performing to the required standard. How did you assess the issue, what action did you take to address it, and how did you determine whether the dog and handler were operationally ready?

Applications close Monday 28 September 2026,11:59pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Matthew Warwick at [email protected]

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please contact Maren Heldt | Talent Acquisition Officer, via 0447 682 014 or [email protected]

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

📌 NSWSO - Chief Inspector - FEDD Manager (Parramatta)
🏢 Nsw Department Of Communities And Justice
📍 Parramatta