Food Incident Response & Complaints Officer

• Ongoing Full Time 35hours per week
• Location: Newington NSW
• Food Safety Officer Grades 1-3 - Salary from $76841 to $125720 per annum(FTE)plus super and leave loading commensuratewith qualificationsskillsand experience.

About the Role

The Strategy Regulatory & Policy Food Incident Response & Complaints (FIRC) team plays a critical role in responding to and addressing food safety risk and compliance in this role you will be directly involved in investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks. You will also be undertaking compliance inspections and investigations of a variety of NSW based food businesses to address food safety risks and maximise compliance with food safety legislation. This involves writing inspection reports and initiating enforcement action where appropriate. You will also assist in NSW DPI emergency management operations as required.

As our ideal candidate you will bring:

Demonstrated experience undertaking a range of compliance and enforcement action in a food regulatory environment. Responding promptly and effectively often at short notice to rapidly evolving issues and emerging noncompliance you will need to be able to work independently and as part of a team.

Experience as the first point of contact for many food businesses you will need excellent communication skills both verbal and written to provide information and recommendations to business owners and engage with industry stakeholders to facilitate compliance in the food industry.

A high degree of judgment conflict management and client engagement skills to deliver required outcomes in a dynamic and high-volume environment with strict deadlines.

Ability to utilise delegated powers in accordance with established policies procedures and protocols to create consistency and transparency across compliance activities and be required to interpret and keep up to date with current and new legislation policies and procedures.

Experience working across a wide range of food processing environments from retail operations to largescale manufacturing facilities encompassing a variety of food types. You will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of the differing food safety quality and operational risks associated with these environments.

Essential requirements

• Tertiary qualifications in Science or Food Technology or a related discipline
• Current Class C NSW Driver Licence as well as the ability and willingness to travel throughout NSW and interstate as required; and work outside normal working hours to achieve outcomes at short notice across a wide range of issues.

Desirable attributes

• Demonstrated practical experience in food production manufacturing and processing and foodborne illness investigations.
• Excellent knowledge of Food legislation including the Food Standards Code and Food Act 2003 (NSW)
• Excellent demonstrated knowledge of food safety food technology and food microbiology including food pathogens.
• Previous demonstrated experience in high level enforcement action for breaches against food legislation.

For further information about the role please contact hiring manager Anne McIntosh Manager Food Incident Response and Complaints onor .

Please click here to view the role description.

Applications close: 28 April 2026 at 11:55pm AEDT

Applying is easy!

Please apply via our online portal and submit:

A CV (approx. 4 pages)

A cover letter (approx. 1 page) Tell us how your experience and skills make you a great fit for this role.

After applying:

• Youll receive a confirmation email
• Well review all applications once the ad closes
• If shortlisted you may be invited to interview (in person or Microsoft Teams video)
• Further assessments will follow (e.g. writing task skills test psychometric test)
• Reference checks will be completed for final candidates
• The preferred candidate for this role may be required to undergo reference checks a national police check bankruptcy check health assessment and/or other assessments as required.

Additional Information

• The salary offered to the successful candidate will becommensuratewith qualificationsskillsand experience as outlined in the Crown Employees (Department of Regional NSW) Food Safety Officers Award and Progression Criteria.
• Atalentpool may be created for ongoing and temporary roles of the same type that may arise within the next18 months.

About us together we are DPIRD

The New South WalesDepartment of Primary Industries and Regional Development(DPIRD) protectssupportsand develops primary industries and regional economies.

Collectively we support strong and sustainable agriculture forestry fishing and mining industries and regional economies. We actively manage our natural assets: our lands and soils minerals waterways and oceansvegetationand forests.

The department brings together:

• Local Land Services
• NSW Resources
• Agriculture and Biosecurity
• Fisheries and Forestry
• Regional Development and Delivery.

We have skilled and dedicated teams working in 200 locations across regional NSW. Withnearly 5000employees and 75 per cent of the DPIRD team living and working in regional NSW we are embedded in the regions we serve.Learn more about the benefitsof joining our diverse and talented DPIRD team.

At DPIRD we are committed to fostering a diverseequitableand inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds including but not limited to gender age ethnicity cultural heritage disabilityreligionand sexual orientation.

DPIRD is a proudDisability Confident RecruiterFamily Inclusive EmployerandCarer Friendly Employer

We are committed to ensuring every stage of the recruitment process is accessible and free from barriers. If you require adjustments or information in an alternative format toparticipate please contact or the hiring manager listed for a confidential discussion.

We also understand that work is just one part of life. Our Family Inclusive Employer and Carers Employers Accreditations reflect our commitment to supporting employees to balance work and family responsibilities.