About the job

Job summary

We are seeking two motivated individuals to support coordination of Defra’s animal health and welfare science programme. One position will primarily focus on international science initiatives, such as the STAR-IDAZ international research consortium, while the other will concentrate on domestic science priorities, including coordinating Defra’s research to achieve strategic science goals.

Although each role has a specific focus, both positions will be part of a globally active team that collaborates with a range of partners to address challenges and opportunities in animal health. As such, there will be opportunities for collaboration and support across projects. Each role will offer the opportunity for international travel.

These roles will support delivery of various domestic and international science initiatives aiming to advance Defra’s objectives in animal health & welfare, biosecurity, and science capability. You will be working in a nationwide and international landscape to maximise the global impact of the UK’s animal health science programme, delivering benefits to the UK research community, policy makers and the animal health and livestock industries.

Job description

Defra plays a critical role in Britain’s current and future prosperity and the wellbeing of everyone in the country. Our purpose is to unleash the economic potential of food and farming, nature and the countryside, champion the environment and provide security against floods, animal and plant diseases and other hazards.

About Animal and Plant Health and Welfare (APHW).

Our objective is to protect the nation from animal and plant diseases and pests, and to uphold our high animal welfare standards. These are major priorities for Defra. They underpin much of the work of the department – ie creating a healthy environment that everyone can enjoy, a successful, productive food and farming sector, and a thriving rural economy.

Animal Health Science team

The team works with key internal and external partners to develop and implement animal health and welfare (AH&W) science strategy, leverage research investment, fund high-quality science to address global challenges in a coordinated way, identify opportunities for collaboration and provide domestic and international leadership. This includes leading the national and international coordination of AHW science strategy, research and investment, underpinning the UK’s expertise, evidence-based policy-making and future strategic direction.

Ways of working will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate prior to a formal job offer.

Who are we looking for?

Animal Health Science Coordinator

We are looking for two motivated individuals to join our team to support coordination of Defra’s animal health science programme and delivery of various domestic and international science initiatives. You will be responsible for:

• Supporting the development and execution of research initiatives that identify gaps and address shared priorities between the science funding community
• Supporting the delivery and sustainability of our research funding networks, in collaboration with partner organisations
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, including international partners such as governments and global science organisations, and influencing their decisions and actions
• Maximising the impact of the UK’s animal health science building on the existing networks to deliver benefits to UK research community, policy makers and the animal health and livestock industries

Person specification

To be successful in these roles, you will need:

• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills, and the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences and stakeholders will be required for coordination of networks and partnerships
• Ability to build strong professional relationships, including engaging with and driving coordination with significant domestic and international partners, e.g. governments, NGOs, industry members and scientific research institutes
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to handle complex and uncertain situations
• A proactive, flexible and collaborative approach, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Knowledge and understanding of animal health, or life sciences more broadly, would be highly advantageous

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,136, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £8,676 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 complete:

• An online CV
• Personal Statement of 500 words (where you should tell us how your skills and experience match the description of the job role stated above) 
• Statements on the specified Behaviours (250 words each)

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

Sift

Candidates will be sifted on Personal Statement and Behaviours.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour (Working Together).

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to an interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours.

Successful candidates will also be asked to provide a short presentation, the subject of which will be confirmed prior to the interview.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office with the occasional requirement to travel in the UK. 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.

Candidates applying for these roles will be based at one of the Defra hubs as advertised.  

For information, our core Defra hub locations are:

• York – Kings Pool
• Newcastle – Lancaster House
• Bristol – Horizon House (Please note that space at this office is limited and it may not be possible for all Policy roles to be recruited to this location)
• London – 2 Marsham Street

Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.

All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.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 to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

This post offers a non-pensionable, non-consolidated Specialist Skills Supplement of £3000 per annum (pro rata as appropriate).

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.

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.

Defra’s APHW directorate is a friendly and collaborative group, working on some of Defra’s highest priority objectives. The group benefits from an inclusive culture and we are looking for candidates who can contribute to making this a welcoming and positive place to work. We want our recruitment to be inclusive too, so if you have any reasonable adjustments to request at interview, please read the guidance further down the advert about how to notify us of these. This can include asking for the questions to be written down to accommodate neurodiverse candidates, extra time within the interview, making the panel aware of the need to schedule breaks for candidates with epilepsy, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. Everyone’s needs are different, and any requests will be reviewed discreetly and treated on a case by case basis, taking into consideration your own unique personal circumstances and the facts provided. Anything you tell us will not affect how your application proceeds.

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

Higher Security Clearance

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to 2 Marsham Street will be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

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.