Role Description - PN 13453

Role Description - PN 13453

Role Description

Chief Regulatory Officer and Head of Regulatory Services Branch

Position number: / 13352 /
Classification: / SES Band 1 /
Date of approval: / 14 December 2017
Location: / Miranda, NSW
Branch: / Regulatory Services Branch /
Section: / NA /
Immediate supervisor: / CEO of ARPANSA– PN 13000
Supervisory responsibilities: / Yes /
Restrictions: / Negative Vetting – Level 2 /
Agency website /

Agency overview:

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is the Australian Government's primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety. Our purpose is to protect the Australian people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation, through understanding risks, best practice regulation, research, policy, services, partnerships and engaging with the community.

Branch overview:

The Regulatory Services Branch is the driver for maintaining and enhancing a radiation protection, and nuclear safety and security, regulatory framework for Commonwealth entities using or producing radiation, guided by national policies and international best practice. It is also a key driver for establishing a national regulatory framework across all jurisdictions, in collaboration with state and territory regulators. Its activities include regulatory assessment and review, licensing, compliance, inspection, enforcement, advice and information. It also issues import and export permits for radioactive material, and supports the role of ARPANSA during nuclear and radiological incidents and emergencies. The Branch maintains the Australian Radiation Incident Register, and enhances its outreach through establishing whole of Australian Government relationships and through the facilitation of the Nuclear Safety and the Radiation Health Committees.

Primary purpose of the role:

The Chief Regulatory Officerand Branch Head, Regulatory Services is responsible for setting and maintaining professional standards for the branch and for aligning the branch business plan with ARPANSA’s Policy for ARPANSA’s Regulatory Activitiesand Corporate Plan. The occupant of the role will be directly responsible for ARPANSA’s actions in the areas of facility safety (including nuclear installations), source safety and security, safety systems, and the national uniformity program. The occupant will establish and sustain strong collaborative arrangements with other branches and offices within ARPANSA. The occupant will also establishproductive relationships with licensees and other stakeholders, including the public and relevant bodies in relation to licensing of major facilities.

Key accountabilities:

  • As Branch Head and member of the Executive Group support the CEO and ARPANSA in fulfilling their statutory responsibilities under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998, and contributing to the effective management of the Agency;
  • Provide strategic and operational leadership for the effective and efficient management of the Regulatory Services Branch bysetting and maintaining professional standards, promoting and modelling the APS values, establishing effective teams and nurturing a high performing culture and collaboration within the Branch and the Agency;
  • Seekopportunities to improve regulatory efficiency and effectiveness and to enhance licensee experience, while maintaining regulatory integrity and upholding high standards of protection of people and of the environment from harmful effects of radiation;
  • Maintain a culture of safety and security within the Branch, the Agency and among licensees by promoting a holistic approach to the people/technology/organisation interface;
  • Take responsibility for ARPANSA’s actions in the areas of facility safety, source safety and security, safety systems and national codes and standards.

Job specific capabilities:

The successful candidate for this role is likely to have held a senior position in an Australian Government, State/Territory or overseas regulatory bodywith responsibilities for development and implementation of safety systems,including the people/technology/organisation interface,inthe areas of radiation protection and nuclear safety. They will have an excellent understanding of key elements of safety performance, and a demonstrated ability to understand and apply the scientific, engineering and people aspects of safety regulation.

They will have outstanding personal attributes including personal drive and integrity, political astuteness, highly developed communication and consultation skills, collaborative approach as well as a sound knowledge of the Commonwealth legislative and policy frameworks.

They will possess highly developed managerial skills with a demonstrated record of successfully driving change while establishing and maintaining functional relationships with all stakeholders, and being able to respond flexibly and promptly to organisational requirements. You will have the capacity for managing, developing and motivating branch staff members to achieve business outcomes and creating a shared sense of purpose within and across the Branch and Agency.

The successful candidate must be prepared to travel internationally and interstate from time to time as required. The position is a designated security assessed position that will require you to successfully undertake and maintain a security clearance.

Selection criteria:

There are five selection criteria for this role.

Using the information provided about the role, tell us, in 1,000 words or less, how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role and what you would bring to the role.

  1. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of national and international safety, security and emergency management frameworks within the nuclear safety and radiation protection regulatory environment;
  2. Demonstrated ability to incorporate scientific, engineering and behavioural reasoning into safety regulation and compliance monitoring;
  3. Demonstrated ability to promote continuous improvement, support development of management systems, identify opportunities for improvement and manage change, encourage training and competence development, and promote staff well-being;
  4. Demonstrated commitment and ability to implement and maintain collaborative, innovative and joint initiatives with a strong bias to building partnerships within the Agency and networks with Government and stakeholders; and
  5. Demonstrated commitment to promote diversity, model the APS Values, APS Employment Principlesand promote compliance with the APS Code of Conduct.

Approved by CEO ARPANSA on 14 December 2017