Senior Policy Officer

The successful applicant will be engaged as a locally engaged staff member by the Australian Embassy, Brussels. About the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry The role of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is to work with national governments, international organisations and industry partners to grow the value of Australia’s agricultural trade and reduce risks to our agricultural sector, ensuring that Australia’s agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries remain competitive, profitable and sustainable. Our work contributes to promoting agricultural productivity, supporting sustainable, high quality natural resources for primary producers and the community, and maintaining and improving market access for Australian exporters. The Department has a network of overseas officers to manage agricultural relationships with key partners and organisations. About the Position The Senior Policy Officer supports the Minister Counsellor/Counsellor (Agriculture) to protect and expand Australia’s agricultural exports to the European Union by monitoring and analysing developments across EU institutions, agricultural and sustainability proposals, and trade related measures that may affect Australia. Working under limited direction, the officer facilitates policy discussions, coordinates stakeholder engagement, conducts high-level analysis, and provides technical advice and authoritative recommendations on agriculture and agrifood trade, including EU regulatory processes, parliamentary cycles and border implementation. The role works closely with DAFF officers in Canberra and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) officers in the Australian Embassy and serves as a key point of contact for senior management and for Australian industry seeking to understand emerging complex EU rules, anticipated risks and opportunities for engagement. The officer also collaborates and leads strategic engagement with likeminded partners in Brussels to progress Australia’s priorities in line with Mission objectives. A high degree of autonomy and good judgement in managing multi-factor workflows is essential.

Key responsibilities
of the position include but are not limited to:
- Provide high level policy advice, briefing and analysis on EU agriculture and sustainability policies, agri-food trade matters and market access issues, and take the lead in developing options and recommendations for the senior officials.
- Undertake complex research; collect, monitor, analyse and evaluate information across EU institutions and Member States to provide accurate and specialised advice to the senior decision maker, Minister Counsellor (Agriculture) and to DAFF Canberra, on developments that may affect Australia’s exports.
- Attend representational functions and liaise with counterparts with a high degree of independence and discretion, including officials from the European Commission, Member States’ Permanent Representations, the European Parliament, third country missions and industry stakeholders.
- Proactively build and manage strategic working relationships with stakeholders including EU officials, Member State competent authorities and Australian industry, to progress key priorities and independently represent the department on issues of interest to Australia.
- Respond to enquiries regarding EU import requirements, legislative and administrative frameworks; explain EU regulatory and parliamentary processes; progress market access requests; and facilitate the resolution of time-sensitive disruptions to trade in agricultural goods, including detained consignments.
- Coordinate Australia’s engagement with relevant Brussels based agricultural policy discussions, including attending meetings, liaising with DAFF Canberra and external partners, and reporting outcomes and opportunities.
- Organise and coordinate programs for visiting high-level government officials, ministers or Australian business representatives, including meetings with EU institutions and Member States, field visits, workshops and other events.
- Provide corporate and administrative support to the agriculture team including writing cables, meeting reports, records of conversation and weekly/monthly activity reports; contributing to budget planning for the agriculture section; maintaining a database of key contacts.
- Manage through task setting, mentoring, and performance evaluation junior team members, including internship participants and new staff. Required Qualifications/Experience/Knowledge
- A minimum of 5 years of experience working on EU agri-food policy issues.
- Sound understanding of Australian agriculture and relevant policy settings.
- Demonstrated liaison and representational experience in a multilateral or European institutional setting and an ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders.
- Sound understanding of sustainability policy, as it relates to agricultur