About the job

Job summary

Do you wish to be part of an amazing, diverse team researching, investigating, and acting to protect the UK’s animal health?

Do you have the ability to influence others and guide your team in a shared strategy?

You will have strategic responsibility for the Animal Viral Diseases and Zoonoses portfolio of science, which extends across APHA.  You will develop and grow the scientific reputation of APHA nationally and internationally and provide leadership and management of the scientific portfolio of work, ensuring high scientific standards and timely delivery consistent with APHA’s Strategy. You will be helping to make a difference to the UK and contributing to global efforts to control and eradicate disease animals and protecting global biodiversity.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice, and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact, and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.

Job description

Scope of the Job

You will have strategic responsibility for the Animal Viral Diseases and Zoonoses portfolio of science, which extends across APHA.  Develop and grow the scientific reputation of APHA nationally and internationally and provide leadership and management of the scientific portfolio of work, ensuring high scientific standards and timely delivery consistent with APHA’s Strategy. Working in a collegiate manner with the Science Strategy Group of Agency Lead Scientists and the APHA Scientific Advisory Board.

Maintain a regular dialogue with customers. Ensure the timely proposal of new work that anticipates and meets Defra and other major customers’ future requirements.

Agree scientific objectives and approaches of all new contracts submitted by project leaders and co-ordinate and approve submission of proposals and budget bids. They approve all customer reports before submission and scrutinize and clear papers for publication.

You will provide input into corporate thinking and development of high-level strategy and business planning including relationships with other institutes, government departments and industry by discussion with members of the APHA executive team, Defra colleagues and key stakeholders. Identify and nurture important strategic collaborations for APHA, such as links with other scientific and veterinary institutes internationally, sister agencies within Defra, UKHSA, National Laboratory alliance, public sector research establishments and academia to facilitate the delivery of APHA science. Will work with APHA Scientific (the Agency’s commercial brand) to deliver scientific services to the private sector, where these services are core to the work of APHA. Provide regular update reports (monthly and annually) for directorate, Executive Committee. Ensure there is a Senior Responsible Officer for key projects and consortia as appropriate.

Develop and monitor key performance indicators for scientists working on the portfolio across the Agency. To include annual publication analyses and publication plans for your work area ensuring open science principle as appropriate and lead by example through an active and on-going publication record. Prepare and review Impact case studies. You are an exemplar in science communication, communicating science to non-specialists such as Government representatives, farmers, and other stakeholders in a compelling and understandable manner.

Main Areas of Responsibility:

Working closely with Heads of Department and resource centre managers, to:

• Ensure that our major customers’ needs are met (Defra, Devolved Administrations, Food Standards Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, BBSRC, Other external funders) and that the research and surveillance that is carried out is delivered on time, within budget and is policy-relevant including spending reviews.
• Ensure that any additional research carried out on behalf of other customers is also fully aligned with the Agency’s strategy in your area of responsibility and provides added value to the Agency and Defra.
• Ensure the timely proposal of new work, that anticipates and meets Defra and other policy customers’ future requirements, current portfolio and areas of work that are in decline and may cease. Horizon scanning to anticipate and exploit scientific advances.
• Ensure that financial planning and management is carried out for your portfolio of work, working with project leaders, Heads of Department, and the appropriate project support officers.
• Ensure the scientific skills base required to deliver the science is developed and maintained across the agency, to suit changing needs, or delivered through established collaborations with others in the arena, in the most economical manner.
• Ensure that projects are effectively scheduled, prioritised and resourced. To assist in provision of sound business cases to support additional resource needs where appropriate.  To ensure growth of the portfolio is sustainable within staff and facilities resource constraints where necessary.
• To develop, influence and maintain effective collaborations with key strategic external partners in the UK and worldwide, including management of Memoranda of understanding and service level agreements.  
• To provide veterinary and scientific consultancy expertise in the programme area to APHA, including (APHA Executive Committee) and Defra, Scottish and Welsh governments, EU, FSA, VMD and others.
• Ensure that your portfolio of work complies with legislation for health and safety including dual use research of concern and loss/gain-of function studies, with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act and dangerous pathogens legislation and quality standards (ISO17025, GLP, GCP, ISO9001) as appropriate. You are proactive in ensuring a safe working environment through continual improvement to ensure performance within the Agency meets the required standards for safety and quality.

Person specification

Experience and skills:

• You must have internationally recognised experience in scientific research and surveillance in the programme area. Experience of preparing successful project proposals and have a record of peer reviewed publications.
• Experience of managing a group of projects, where functional management skills were required as well as mentoring early career scientists to produce work to high scientific standards.
• You will have experience in financial management including preparing and monitoring project and budgets and forecasting.
• Experience of working with policy customers and other research funders and a successful track record of winning funding.
• Experience of delivering scientific advice to policy teams at a national and ideally international level.
• Experience of developing strategic partnerships with other institutes/laboratories at a national and international level .
• A range of scientific skills, which allows you to assemble a credible portfolio of projects for the programme. This could include in vitro and in vivo studies, veterinary or epidemiological expertise, experience of working with pathogens, preparation of research proposals, presentations and publications, delivery of a scientific service, experience of Specified Animal Pathogens and Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act legislation or international equivalent together with requirements of ACDP (human health) classification.
• Extensive post-doctoral experience in a relevant discipline.

Security clearance

The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Government’s response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason, all post holders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement to work at the Weybridge site. Once in post you will be required to undertake higher security clearance called SC regardless. To meet the criteria for SC clearance applicants must have continuous UK residency of 5 years.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £67,640, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £18,262 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-style template and provide a Personal Statement of suitability. For the personal statement, please write up to 750 words demonstrating how you match the required skills and experience for this post. You will also be required to give two 250-word behaviour statements. 

Please use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of each behaviour.

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, Seeing the Big Picture. 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 interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Strengths, and your experience.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed, further details of this will be given at the time.

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.

This role is based at Weybridge.

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.

NSV

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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.

Full Time Only

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. We may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis if continuity can be arranged.

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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.