Executive Level 1 - Senior Examiner - Plant Breeders Rights
Vacancy information
Position title: Executive Level 1 - Senior Examiner - Plant Breeders Rights
Job Requisition ID: 1407
Location: Flexible location
Tenure: Non-Ongoing for a period of up to 12 months
Our Opportunity
We have a 12-month temporary opportunity. We will also create a merit pool that may be used to fill similar non-ongoing roles.
The Senior Examiner supports the Chief of Plant Breeder's Rights (PBR) in the effective leadership and management of the PBR team, examination processes and the realisation of the corporate objectives of the PBR and Oppositions Group (POG).
The Senior Examiner leads by example, sets clear expectations, and inspires workplace performance and innovation through personal drive and strong alignment to APS values. The successful occupant will monitor and manage examiner performance and ensure the PBR Section delivers high quality products and services to customers. The Senior Examiner will also provide coaching and training to new examiners and directly manage examiners under limited direction.
A Senior Examiner in PBR will contribute to the leadership and management of an examination section under limited direction, to deliver on strategic and operational priorities at all levels. Duties include:
• Working collaboratively with the section management team to effectively lead and manage the operation and direction of the section and deliver the section's commitments
• Leading a team of PBR examiners to cultivate a high-performance, inclusive, and safe culture through mentoring, performance management, and goal alignment.
• Supporting the facilitation of collaborative learning via a range of media and learning approaches including designing and implementing training activities.
• Providing on-the-job PBR examination training, guidance and coaching to trainee examiners and contributing to their competency-based assessment process.
• Assessing trainee examiner performance, providing feedback, and encouraging trainee examiners to reach personal, section and corporate goals in a hybrid environment.
• Undertaking field examinations and assessments of new plant variety applications, and contributing to PBR team responsibilities, including the preparation of the Plant Varieties Journal.
• Reviewing and supervising examination work as well as routine support within the Section.
• Contributing towards Group and Corporate projects and deliverables and representing the section in various fora.
• Providing advice on technical and complex IP matters to stakeholders in the context of plant breeding, intellectual property protection and international IP conventions.
The Senior Examiner must understand the legislative environment, analyse/interpret relevant legislation, ensure operational practices are aligned, and liaise with stakeholders on these matters. They must also deliver operational and strategic outcomes within a complex environment.
Knowledge of plant breeding, the agricultural sector and/or a related area, and the ability to travel regularly to undertake field examinations for plant varieties is a mandatory requirement for this position.
Job specific capabilities
The successful candidate will possess the following:
• Strong technical capabilities in the examination of plant varieties
• Strong communication skills, ability to proactively communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including facilitation and negotiation skills
• Ability to provide constructive and objective feedback and motivate staff
• Ability to communicate complex legal and procedural concepts in the field of PBR examination
• A good understanding of competency-based training and experience coaching and training new or inexperienced examiners
• Demonstrated analytical and judgement capabilities, particularly the ability to recognise key facts related to an issue and understand their connections with other relevant information or matters
• Demonstrated ability to provide advice and direction on complex technical matters in the field of plant breeding
• Demonstrated resilience and judgement when dealing with risk, uncertainty, and change
• Demonstrated ability to develop and/or provide input to relevant legislation and
• Ability to exercise the appropriate powers, authority, delegations and discretions under the Plant Breeder’s Rights Act 1994.
It is expected that all IP Australia employees:
• demonstrate attitudes and behaviours responsive to workplace change (including participate in and encourage others to participate in change and contribute to successful outcomes)
• improve organisational performance through effective engagement with and management of risk within relevant sphere of influence
• establish clear expectations and create an environment to achieve stated goals and objectives, take ownership and honour commitments
• uphold and maintain the APS Values and Code of Conduct
• maintain an understanding of their/worker responsibilities under the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and a commitment to promoting a healthy and safe workplace.
Applicants are encouraged to refer to the attached Capability Framework documentation which outlines agency wide behavioural descriptors for the five core capabilities at this classification.
Looking for more information?
Our candidate kit contains details including the capabilities required, the contact officer, and how to apply.
Please use the link below to access the candidate kit:
Applications Close
Applications close at 11:59pm on 22/07/2025