Forecasting and Modelling Manager
Animal and Plant Health Agency
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 have experience and knowledge of using various IT systems?
Are you someone who has the ability to format data in a simple and easy to understand way, demonstrating trends and forecasting?
Do you enjoy variety and making a difference through your work within a positive team environment?
If so, then we have the role for you!
Workplace requirements:
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.
Job description
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team as a Forecasting and Modelling manager within our Customer Contact Centres. The successful candidate will be working in a friendly and supportive team in a fast paced, reactive, and varied role.
As the Forecasting and Modelling manager you will be responsible for using data to organise resource scheduling to minimise customer wait times and give our customers access to the most experienced member of the team for their query. You will support the teams by ensuring they have adequate time to deal with responses effectively and professionally whilst also maximising productivity.
Your role will be to produce management information for the team, collating the data and displaying it in an easy to view and understandable format e.g., charts and graphs.
You will be required to analyse trends, look for peaks, highs and lows in demand and performance. You will use this information to suggest ideas and solutions as to how we can successfully meet the requirements, turn around performance and drive productivity.
Continuous improvements will be a large part of this role and your ability to seek and offer solutions to problems will be crucial.
You will be engaging, building and, maintaining relationships with a broad range of partners and colleagues across all the different Customer Service Centres (CSC’s) alongside reporting and communicating information to senior business leaders. In addition, part of your role will involve presenting findings to the management team and colleagues, so confident presentation skills are a key element of this role.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:
- Excellent IT skills and confidence in using Microsoft packages, Outlook, Word, Excel, MS Teams, PowerPoint, SharePoint Online (SPOL), Power BI.
- Excel trained to advanced level.
- Excellent organisation skills and the flexibility to turn your hand to different tasks as the situation demands and the ability to work at pace and under pressure.
- Ability to format data in a simple and easy to understand way, demonstrating trends and forecasting any future peaks and troughs for successful planning.
- A high degree of numeracy is required for this role.
- Confidence in presenting information to others.
- Previous experience of producing management information from raw data, formatting it, and communicating findings.
- Previous experience of scheduling resources to ensure right the person, right place, right time.
- Ability to manage multiple projects.
- Experience with STORM telephony system and Calabrio would be advantageous. Please state in your application if you have experience of these systems and to what extent.
- The position is within a customer facing team and will suit those who have an ability to communicate well to a diverse group of customers ensuring all decisions are based on improving the customer experience.
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, Experience and Technical skills.Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal statement of 750 words.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
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, technical skills, and strengths
For the purposes of the selection process, the Lead Behaviour will be Managing a Quality Service.
Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Near Miss
Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.
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.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, 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.
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.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
For most candidates your hours of work will be a blend of working from an APHA workplace (specific to the team location) with working at home.
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 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
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.