About the job

Job summary

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions. 

Do you want to apply your communication and problem-solving skills in a role that provides variety and flexibility? 

• Do you have excellent communication skills?  
• Do you thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment?  
• Do you enjoy working to tight deadlines?  

If so, we would love to hear from you!

This role is a unique development opportunity. It is an ideal position for able and ambitious candidates who are looking to expand and refine their skill set in a demanding environment.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Customer Delivery Team Leader to join our Scotland Field Services Data Entry and Records Management Customer Delivery Team, where you will be based in a fast paced, reactive and varied role, providing leadership and line management to your team.

Job description

Your role will involve a wide range of tasks and responsibilities including, but not be limited to the following:

• Leading and managing the Data Entry and Records Management Customer Delivery Team, managing the performance, conduct and attendance of the team, reviewing on a regular basis and establishing performance improvement plans where necessary
• Liaising with field managers to ensure all relevant paperwork is received timely and quality assurance checks have been carried out prior to data entry on the Notifiable Disease Outbreak Management System (NDOMS)
• Ensuring data entered onto NDOMS is accurate and updated within relevant timescales
• Managing and maintaining official records providing guidance and support in accordance with records management retention and disposal procedures
• Leading and managing audit checks for Data Entry and Records Management, ensuring corrective action is completed timely
• Providing regular updates to Scotland Field Delivery (SFD) senior management, National Disease Control Centre (NDCC) and Forward Operating Base (FOB) managers through data reporting of key information as required

Performance Management:

• Taking responsibility for the team and its output
• Achieving through the team, ensuring capability for all via coaching and training
• Tackling poor performance and rewarding and recognising good performance

Target delivery:

• Ensuring work is delivered on time and at the required level
• Raising issues as and when appropriate
• When targets are in jeopardy, escalating to senior management

Leading change:

• Responsibility for embedding new admin processes and procedures keeping the team informed of the reasons for them
• Ensuring that the team are upskilled and can implement new ways of working and do so effectively
• Providing support to the senior management team and showing commitment to APHA 

Administrative support:

• Supervising the delivery of various administrative duties to the immediate team and wider team when required. Ensuring accurate records are kept and updated accordingly
• Ensuring actions are carried out in accordance with the procedures and within the necessary timescales. Providing support and guidance to others on procedures and practices

Responding to emergencies:

• Being flexible to adapt to changing situations across Scotland and responding with energy and commitment to take on additional tasks that may be outside the normal day to day duties
• Motivating those in your team to respond to changing demands, providing support and guidance

Safety, Health & Wellbeing:

• Carry out training as required to keep own knowledge and understanding up to date
• Display leadership by establishing and championing high health and safety standards, acting as a role model
• Support staff to fulfil their health and safety responsibilities

Additional information:

You may be required to attend other locations throughout Great Britain to attend meetings, training courses, workshops etc, or on detached duty, based on business needs. 

Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident.

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:  

• Experience of leading and managing a team or a desire to develop the required skills
• An understanding of the readiness and resilience requirements required for a disease outbreak
• Knowledge and experience of using NDOMS, or be willing to learn
• Experience of using Microsoft packages Outlook, Excel, Word, MS Teams, and be able to demonstrate a good level of IT literacy
• Good planning and organisational skills with the ability to meet targets
• Ability to show attention to detail
• Good communication skills both verbally and in writing
• Positively responds to change
• Proactive approach to work

Learning and Development 

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role. 

In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,470, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £7,416 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, a 500-word Personal Statement and a 250-word behaviour statement for Leadership.  

For the personal statement, considering the Job Description and Person Specification, please demonstrate how you are most suited to this role

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Leadership and the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview 

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your experience, behaviours and strengths. 

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed. 

Interviews to be held via video link.

Location

As part of the pre-employment process, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is 'National' the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Reserve List 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. 

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Salary 

New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Reasonable Adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Accessibility 

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. 

Criminal Record Check 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

Internal Fraud Database Check 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. 

Loan and Fixed Term Appointments 

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return. 

This is a Fixed-term Appointment as a Customer Delivery Team Leader on the Data Entry and Records Management Customer Delivery Team.

The post is not permanent. It is time limited due to a fixed funding period or as part of a specific project. The fixed term will end when the funding or the project expires.

Your responsibilities will include those shown on the Responsibilities section of the advert. This post will therefore begin from the agreed start date and end on 31/03/2025.

Childcare Vouchers 

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.