Biosecurity & Quarantine Officer

Role Summary

The Biosecurity & Quarantine Officer holds the line against the threats that travel inside the colonies themselves — foulbrood, exotic mites, and trafficked stock of unknown provenance. The role sets and enforces quarantine protocol across every yard, screens incoming and recovered colonies, and is the single authority that can lock down a site. Where interdiction stops a threat at the fence, biosecurity stops the one that gets through the gate.

Key Responsibilities

1. Set and enforce quarantine, sterilisation, and movement-control protocol across all apiary yards and the receiving station.
2. Screen incoming, recovered, and trafficked colonies for notifiable disease and exotic pests before they join the population.
3. Hold and exercise the authority to lock down a yard, halt movement, or order destruction on a confirmed outbreak.
4. Investigate disease events with the Venom-Lab Scientist and trace the source through the COMB registry.
5. Audit husbandry and field teams' decontamination practice and certify kits and vehicles before yard entry.
6. Maintain the biosecurity incident record and report notifiable events up the chain.

Required Qualifications

• Veterinary, apiculture-health, or biosecurity background.
• Working knowledge of brood disease, exotic pests, and quarantine doctrine.
• Disciplined, audit-proof protocol enforcement.
• The spine to order lockdown or destruction under pressure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Regulatory bee-health inspection experience.
• Outbreak-investigation and contact-tracing skills.
• Familiarity with the COMB registry and movement-control records.

Certifications & Clearances

Curricula are delivered through the Training Academy; currency is tracked on the HR training matrix.

Hazard & Safety

Compensation

Mission-driven S-3 band with biohazard differential and full medical including venom-immunotherapy coverage.

Career Path

Advances to Science Director (S-5) or laterals to Apiary Husbandry Lead.