About the job

Job summary

This role is a unique development opportunity. It is an ideal position for able and ambitious candidates who are looking to expand and refine their skill set in a demanding environment.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is a government agency that sits within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.  Our headquarters are in Weybridge, Surrey and we employ over 2,500 staff based at various sites around the UK.

We have one mission, which is to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of everyone in society, the environment, and the economy – every one of our employees is passionate about the part they play in achieving this mission.

Key functions of the role are:

Act as an end user operational interface and engagement manager for APHA science estate at Weybridge and Regional Laboratories. Deputise for Senior End User, where required, for routine operational maintenance and logistics, translating, understanding, and communicating business requirements for our complex and geographically dispersed sites, contributing to APHA business continuity and estate investment plans.

Deputise for APHA Science estate lead for FM services and relevant defined projects delivered by Defra Group Property (DGP). Liaison with DGP on priorities and for facilitation of delivery in the science environment. Line/functional management of estates project support or transformation officers where required and contribution to wider priorities of the NSCAH Department.

Job description

• As Science Estates Manager act as an end user operational interface and engagement manager for APHA science estate at Weybridge and Regional Laboratories.
• Support and act as Deputy Senior End User for routine operational maintenance and logistics, translating, understanding and communicating business requirements for our complex and geographically dispersed sites, facilitating delivery and contributing to APHA business continuity and estate investment plans.
• Deputise for APHA Science Estate lead or others, for FM services and defined projects delivered by Defra Group Property. Liaise with DGP on priorities and facilitation of delivery, deputise at meetings and attend at workshops and working groups in support of SCAH programme.
• Line or functional management of project support and transformation officers in NSCAH Department, according to business needs.
• Collaborate and contribute to wider objectives of the NSCAH department as required.
• Engaging with APHA Science Departments, managers and Building Officers, documenting and communicating requirements for effective science accommodation and specialist facilities to meet APHA business needs, in normal day to day operations and during emergencies.
• Provide advice and guidance to science departments and building officers re interfaces and governance routes for problem or issue resolution.
• Act as escalation point for departments on FM service and estates matters, helping resolve day to day and residual issues and drafting documents and business case proposals to articulate science user needs. Work closely with APHA and DGP colleagues to help ensure business needs are met and the service continuously improves.
• Act as a project sponsor/senior end user for operational estate projects and science transformation activities as required. Planning and management of projects in accordance with business and Science transformation needs. Co-ordinate and communicate requirements and business needs, contribute to strategic planning and decision making.
• Develop deep knowledge of the APHA science business needs, the science facilities and the estates services and manage the relationship between science users and DgP & the FM provider for APHA science sites. Support APHA in ensuring requirements are understood and engagement is effective, enabling and assuring a fit for purpose delivery by DgP of estates services.
• Assist in managing communications with senior APHA stakeholders and delivery partners, drafting papers for submission to Campus Strategy Management & Design Assurance Board as appropriate.
• Work with stakeholders to draw out estate demand and prioritise it in line with operational needs and budgetary restrictions. Support DgP demand and investment planning across science estate.
• Manage risk and issue management and provide an escalation route through appropriate governance channels.
• Assist in managing relationship with DgP through service managers and act as an escalation point where the processes have failed – eg BCP tracking and delivery, RAG status of buildings, estate transition activities.
• Contribute to science transformation activities including liaison with DgS and DDTS, SHAW as well as DgP and SCAH sub programmes. To include specialist practical decontamination and clearance of facilities and developing plans for operational readiness.
• Contribute to NSCAH department objectives, priorities and continuous improvement through collaborative working and sharing lessons.
• Comply and promote adherence to all APHA policies and procedures, developing productive relationships with colleagues. Maintain awareness of relevant regulations and the operating environment.  

Person specification

Essential experience

• Experience of working within a complex science estate environment both in business as usual and at times of special operations, projects, VIP visitors and in support of incidents
• Proven communication skills using a range of platforms, with a broad range of colleagues or stakeholders
• Ability to work on own initiative and prioritise workload to meet conflicting objectives, being flexible to adapt to reactive situations
• Experience of managing and delivering projects using project management methodology
• IT literacy
• Demonstrated ability to influence
• Project management qualification (or preparedness to work towards this) and relevant experience of working with development/maintenance works programmes and estates services to meet user needs

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,857, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £9,681 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 provide a CV, a 500-word Personal Statement on how you match the skills and experience detailed and behaviour statements on the Behaviours; Making Effective Decisions and Communicating and Influencing. 

For the personal statement, please write up to 500 words demonstrating how you meet the required skills for this role including any experience. 

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. 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. At interview Behaviours will be assessed. Please use the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) format for your Behaviours.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Location

The role is based at Weybridge, and travel will be required to visit various locations around the country for example for inspections at Regional Laboratories, training courses, site visits and meetings.

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.

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 may 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.

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.

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.

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. Part-time hours will only be considered as part of a job share.

Higher Security 

The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Governments response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason, all post holders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid security clearance.  SC Clearance will be required for this role. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. UK residency is required from 3 to 10 years depending on the level of Security. However, residency qualification may be reduced for certain roles and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. This process will be initiated if you are successful in your application for this post.

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

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 security 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.