About the job

Job summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (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.

Are you passionate about maintaining high standards and ensuring compliance? 

Do you have an eye for detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving? 

Join APHA as a Quality Assurance Auditor and Advisor and play a vital role in protecting animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the economy, and the environment!

Job description

As a Quality Assurance Auditor and Advisor, you will be key in supporting APHA’s accreditations, certifications, and regulatory compliance.

Your work will underpin the Agency’s Sustainable Futures Strategy, helping to build a consistent quality framework across work in four main areas: ISO 17025 (testing laboratories), ISO 17020 (inspection work), ISO 9001 (corporate management system) and GxP (Good Practice across Manufacturing (GMP), Laboratory (GLP), Distribution (GDP) and Pharmacovigilance (GPhV).

We are specifically looking for auditors to support our field work in Animal, Plant and Bee Health and our ISO 17020 compliance.

The auditor will work with business area leads within the relevant areas and be responsible for planning and delivery quality assurance audits, reviewing non-conformances and procedural documentation, raising findings where required in line with the relevant standards, Agency Procedures and work area specific documentation.

This role also requires engagement with stakeholders across the Agency to promote positive engagement with quality management systems to support excellent performance and conformance with the required standards. It is a key requirement to provide advice and support to the business areas when required, particularly in relation to extension of accreditation scope or quality system.

The auditor will work with colleagues within Quality Services to build a consistent quality framework across the Agency that supports a ‘One APHA’ approach by assisting to promote strong quality good practice across the various accreditations, certifications and regulatory compliance held by the Agency.

Responsibilities include:

• Internal Audits: Plan and deliver quality assurance audits, review non-conformances, and procedural documentation. Assist with developing the internal audit process in the different work areas of the Animal, Plant and Bee Health delivery work in terms of the assessment of compliance with the operational procedures as described in APHA's controlled document system, Content Cloud, as well as compliance to the relevant ISO Standard/quality management requirements (ISO 17020 / Operations Assurance specific). Assist with follow-up to audit/assessment findings.
• External Audits: Assist in the management of external audits and participating in training briefings/staff forums to ensure best practice and opportunities for improvement are shared. Assist with UKAS assessment visits and follow-up to the visit findings.
• Assurance Checks: Assist in designing forms and complete independent assurance checks/internal audits across various business activities. This will involve working with the Subject Matter Experts. (ISO 17020 / Operations Assurance specific). Selecting cases for quality assurance review.
• Monitoring/Performance/Non-conformances: Monitor and compile quarterly returns on quality assurance checks/internal audits/non-conforming work completed for Quality Service reporting to the various governance meetings.
• Risk Management: Identify risks and opportunities, advising on necessary actions to support a consistent quality framework.
• Advisory Role: Provide advice and support for accreditation scope extensions and quality system improvements.
• Documentation: Review Agency documentation and produce quality-related documentation.
• Management Reviews: Lead the management review process for specific work areas.
• Training and Guidance: Offer training and guidance to staff on quality assurance matters.
• Engagement: Promote positive engagement with the implementation and use of the Agency’s electronic quality management system.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following skills and experience:

• Proven knowledge and experience with quality standards and internal quality auditing.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, across all levels of an organisation, including senior management.
• Strong knowledge and use of Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to analyse, summarise and evaluate information with excellent attention to detail, and present findings in clear, concise reports.
• Awareness of the ‘bigger’ picture and consider the wider factors and long-term implications of decisions in your area of work and for the organisation.
• Trained internal auditor or be willing to undertake specialist training and development as an internal auditor.
• Highly organised and able to work independently under your own initiate with the ability to prioritise and work at pace.
• Adaptive and proactive in their approach to work.
• Being able to challenge and suggest improvements.
• Ability to recognise key points quickly.
• ISO 17020/Operations Assurance post specific - Understanding of field activity.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,136, Animal and Plant Health Agency 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.

Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria for the role which are detailed in the advert and attached Information Pack.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement, and one behaviour.

• CV - On the CV you should include details of career history, key responsibilities, and achievements.
• Personal Statement - In a maximum of 500 words. Please provide evidence of how your personal skills, qualities and experience are most suited to this role.
• Behaviour – In a maximum of 250 words, please provide an example against the behaviour Managing a Quality Service (Lead 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, Managing a Quality Service. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The sift is expected to take place during late August 2024.

Interview

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

• Behaviours – Please provide an example against the behaviours Managing a Quality Service (Lead behaviour), Changing and Improving, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing.

Interviews are expected to take place during September 2024.

Please note that these dates could be subject to change.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed at interview.

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.

Location

Please be aware that this role will be contractually based within the specified regions on the advert at an APHA office 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.

Support, Training and Induction

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. New joiners to the organisation will attend an induction programme that will provide you with 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.

Health Checks

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 will also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment. The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We have strong staff networks covering mental health, disability and other needs. We also have a range of special leave policies and will put reasonable adjustments in place for people who need them.

The department places significant emphasis on talent programmes that help everyone to achieve their full potential. The Civil Service as a whole is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. Support available includes a bullying and harassment network and mediation services.

Encouraging Diverse Applicants

The natural environment is important for everyone, and we aim for our teams to reflect the diversity of our society. We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups. Your personal qualities will be as important as your professional experience, and we welcome applications from all ethnicities, faiths and backgrounds. 

We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age, ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.

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

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.

This role is subject to higher security requirements. Job offers to this post will be made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to APHA 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.