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 want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare?

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

Do you want to apply your communication and problem-solving skills in a role that provides variety and flexibility?  

If so, we have an opportunity for you!

Job description

We currently have two opportunities for Resilience Managers to join the Contingency Planning Division.
 
The Contingency Planning Division is responsible for developing our Agency’s capability and readiness to manage and respond to:

• Outbreaks of exotic disease in animals
• Pests or disease affecting plants, vegetables, trees, or bees
• Disruptive events, emergencies, and other incidents which impact on the business or its stakeholders

As a team we are responsible for areas such as contingency/continuity planning, training, development of instructions and reporting against assurance schemes, providing strategic support to all areas of the APHA Service Delivery Directorate and enabling response to the various incidents that impact the business or during commission of day-to-day APHA activities. We also provide strategic oversight for any teams Outbreak Emergency Response.  

The Resilience Manager supports activities required to achieve overall team objectives. A flexible approach to delivery is key to the role. Your day-to-day work will be project and program based; however, the role requires a significant level of flexibility due to response requirements in emerging situations. You must be able to work in an environment where there is limited clarity during emergent situations and be capable of influencing managers and colleagues to achieve a resolution or effective response.  You will be expected to work closely with other team members to ensure relevant support is provided to the wider business.  

The role will consist of some of the elements below dependant on the areas to which you are allocated and can change quickly according to priorities: 

• Development of procedures and guidance for response to plant and bee health related interceptions or infestations
• Providing guidance and training to ensure that all teams involved in emergency response have the skills and competence to deliver the work required in an outbreak
• Giving advice and guidance to teams within APHA on best practice in relation to resilience planning, training, and business continuity processes
• Build relationships and networks with Agency colleagues, Stakeholders and Operational Partners to ensure we can respond when we need to and support others to do the same
• Provide both support and a service to all UK Policy teams
• Contribute to the development of agency readiness and capability to deal with outbreaks of exotic notifiable diseases of animals, plants and bees, and with other incidents and emergencies affecting the agency
• Designing measures to assess readiness, as well as contributing to development of response plans and exercising those plans at a local and national level
• Participate in an on-call out of hours rota
• During an emergency, you may be required to undertake tasks within the incident response teams, involving working additional hours at other GB locations
• Maintain an expertise and knowledge of plans, procedures, and risks to assist and facilitate the transition from Business as Usual into an effective national disease response structure
• Draft briefs making recommendations or briefings to senior leaders, or the APHA Executive Board
• To use effective leadership to translate APHA strategy into clear and meaningful objectives
• To act as a role model, providing visible and effective leadership to the Resilience and Business Continuity Team
• To create a team environment in which everyone can and does contribute effectively, and where different perspectives are heard and channelled
• To ensure those in the Contingency Planning Team understand and identify with the reasons for change and be able to champion the application of Lean/Continuous Improvement approach to outbreak response activities and the use of Programme/Project Management principles
• Ensuring that Resilience Leads work with management teams within business units to ensure that readiness and resilience to respond to outbreaks/emergencies is fully embedded in business process and procedures at every level
• Supporting staff to fulfil their health and safety responsibilities
• Work closely with Safety, Health and Wellbeing colleagues to develop and manage the delivery of occupational health protection for staff during outbreaks of disease
• During an outbreak or interception, the post holder may be part of the Outbreak Coordination Group (OCG) and become part of the National Disease Control Centre (NDCC) or Central Disease Control Centre (CDCC), ensuring the delivery of an effective secretariat function, or be responsible collection and circulation of management information as required by Chief Veterinary Officers, UK Policy teams, Cabinet Office and other Government departments
• Potentially undertake stakeholder and operational partner liaison and where necessary deputise for the Head and deputy Head of Resilience and Business Continuity (G6 & 7)
• To act as incident manager and/or coordinate admin and logistical support to the incident manager when required, as outlined in APHA’s incident response procedures

Please note:
On some occasions, this role may require working unsocial hours (utilising overtime provisions).
Travel will be required to attend training courses and meetings, and may be required to support outbreak response.  

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience: 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to develop rapport, influence, negotiate and network effectively
• Be able to communicate clearly complex issues internally & externally
• Work collaboratively in a high-pressure, time sensitive environment with policy and operational delivery partners
• Be fully IT literate, able to use Excel, Word, Outlook, MS Teams, SharePoint, and shared mailboxes
• Have good planning and organisational skills
• Able to meet targets and re-prioritise work
• Have proven project management skills
• Have experience of working in APHA or Defra, Scottish Government or Welsh Government, or knowledge of the role we do and the functions of APHA in the field
• Perform well in pressured environments
• Application of sound judgement and analytical abilities
• Able to adapt well to consistently changing environments and respond positively to change
• Have collaborative yet decisive leadership, including leading teams through change
• Hold meaningful conversations about performance, supporting and coaching others
• Able to work with minimal supervision

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 £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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process 

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete: 

• A CV 
• A 500-word Personal Statement. Considering the Job Description and Person Specification, please demonstrate how you are most suited to this role.
• A 250-word behaviour statement for the lead behaviour, Working Together. 

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 Personal Statement and the Lead Behaviour, Working Together. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

The sift will take place shortly after closing date of the advert.

Interview 

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your Behaviours, Technical skills and Strengths. 

A 10 minute presentation will be required and the topic for which will be provided in advance.

Interview date to be confirmed. Interviews will be held via video link.

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. 

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.  

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. 

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 maybe carried out. 

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

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

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. 

Loan and Fixed Term Appointments 

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return. 

These roles are Fixed-term Appointments as Resilience Managers in the Contingency Planning Division because the posts are permanent and require temporary cover, whilst permanent recruitment activity has commenced and needs time to complete.

Your responsibilities will include those shown on the Responsibilities section of the advert. This post will therefore begin from the agreed start date and end on 31/03/25. 

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 London may 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.