About the job

Job summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are seeking a Senior Scientific Officer to lead in the Discipline of Wildlife Management within the Wildlife Department. 

This role will be focused on (but not solely related to)  wildlife disease. APHA is an executive agency of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The Wildlife Department has an international reputation for managing human wildlife conflicts and are responsible for providing evidence, impartial advice and services, to prevent, mitigate or resolve human-wildlife conflicts, particularly disease issues. Playing a lead role and working with a wide range of public and private sector stakeholders mainly in the UK but also some overseas.

Job description

The post holder will be responsible for four related functions:

• To manage a small team of direct reports, as well as manage larger virtual teams where required
• To establish document portfolios (write, hold and manage) enabling APHA to catch and sample wild species as required. This would include project justifications, study plans, SOPs, licences etc
• To manage a matrix of staff skills and equipment necessary to enable rapid deployment for some species/purpose combinations, and roadmaps to permit timely deployments for most other work. This can include the post holder receiving training in field/species skills to act as field team leader for some projects
• Whilst the role will be expected to cover a wide range of scientific and operational purposes (mainly relating to wildlife disease), as these arise, there will be a specific initial focus on enabling a rapid response function for amphibians (disease and non-native species) and subsequently birds. The job will involve close working with colleagues within NWMC, including the Non-native inspectorate, across APHA, as well as with stakeholders such as Defra, the SNCBs such as Natural England, NGOs, and landowners

All necessary technical training would be provided with the proviso that the post holder will have some knowledge and expertise in Wildlife, and be an established and enthusiastic project manager to act as the point of reference for a wide variety of related issues around the capture/study of wild animals in the field.

Person specification

Experience:

• Knowledge of Wildlife research or management
• Leading research or management projects
• Project planning, implementation, data analysis and report writing
• Communicating science to stakeholders (e.g academia, government, and other national and international organisations)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £10,648 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 and Experience.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit a brief CV (education and employment history) and a 500 word personal statement outlining your skills, experience and suitability to this role, as specified in the job description.

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

Interview

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

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Interview dates, and location to be confirmed.

Further information

Depending on the areas of work involved you will be expected to have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment.

A valid full driving licence is necessary or access to an alternative means of transport.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

All applicants will be based in the advertised location.Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

Reserve List

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

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 may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service 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.

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.

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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.