Must have a Baseline clearance or above.

The Department requires a skilled Data Analyst/Applied Statistician/Programmer to work in a team delivering biosecurity analytics and modelling. The successful candidate will work with fellow statisticians, data analysts, and policy/operational stakeholders to develop and implement biosecurity risk, control, and expenditure modelling approaches to contribute to evidence-based biosecurity policy and operations. The work involves extracting data from multiple sources including data warehouses, data processing, and developing probabilistic and/or simulation models (e.g., modelling conditional probabilities of the approach, entry, establishment and spread of pests and diseases in Australia).  Responsibilities will include:

• Extracting and processing data to feed the biosecurity modelling process
• Identifying and documenting data limitations, and developing methods to address these
• Collaboratively applying, maintaining, and developing models in R or Python, in accordance with the team’s version control and documentation approaches and in line with business requirements
• Proactively providing uplift where required to existing models via programmatic improvements
• Contributing to ongoing model development efforts, including collaborative modelling projects being led by the section and with the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis at the University of Melbourne
• Engaging with policy areas during the development and implementation of models, including the communication of model results
• Providing written and verbal descriptions of modelling analyses, including appropriate interpretation of the results.
• Documenting modelling approaches and assumptions.

Essential criteria

1. Extracting and analysing data programmatically, including using applied statistical knowledge; writing and maintaining code (e.g., using SQL, R, Python) following scientific software development good practice
2. Demonstrated capability for strategic and systems thinking • Good verbal and written communication, including the ability to communicate technical detail to non-technical audiences and scope project needs with stakeholders
3. Ability to work collaboratively in a team on analytics-related projects

Desirable criteria

1. Experience dealing with incomplete and uncertain datasets
2. An interest in working at the interface of modelling and policy
3. An understanding of Australia’s biosecurity system