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

• Do you have excellent communication skills?  
• Do you thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment?  
• Do you enjoy working to tight deadlines?  

 If so, we would love to hear from you!  

Opportunities available:

We currently have the following two exciting opportunities to work as Team Leaders within our Business Management Group: 

1 x Permanent Communications Team Leader - This role will require the successful candidate to provide support to the Support Services Team. This includes ensuring that Business As Usual (BAU) administrative activities are delivered effectively to support the Service Delivery and Strategy, Planning and Innovation directorates. This role will also involve management of the Disease Outbreak Communications team within the Business Management Group.

1 x Fixed Term Appointment until 31/03/2025 as a Team Leader working within our Movement Assistance (MAS2) Team - The effective management of a team of Administrative Officers (AO), delivering accurate and prompt payments whilst adhering to the policy and procedures. The successful candidate will be engaging with a broad range of partners and forming relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.

Roles will be offered in merit order, with the top scoring candidate being offered the permanent role.

Job description

Successful candidates will be working in a friendly and supportive team in a fast paced, reactive and varied role. You will need to have excellent IT and organisation skills and the flexibility to turn your hand to different tasks as the situation demands.

These  roles will provide significant opportunities to develop your own skills and future career.

The key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

 Leadership 

• Act as part of the Management structure, leading a team and taking ownership and responsibility for actions and initiatives within that structure.

People Management 

• Be familiar with and implement APHA People Policies and action as appropriate. Proactively manage the performance, conduct and attendance of the team, reviewing performance on a regular basis and establishing performance improvement plans where these are necessary.

Target Delivery 

• Manage own team’s workload and prioritise and communicate expected targets. Demonstrate an awareness of resource constraints and potential issues or difficulties and take a proactive approach to dealing with these, identifying issues and offering solutions, making senior managers aware as appropriate.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Manage and monitor engagement and relationships. Provide updates to senior management on current issues. Including management information gained from reports and systems.

Person specification

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

• Management skills (performance management).
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Ability to meet targets.
• Good communication skills.
• Positively responds to change.
• Effective team working.
• Familiar with the use of Microsoft packages Outlook, Word, Excel.

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 £27,470, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £7,416 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 500-word Personal Statement and a 250-word Behaviour Statement for the lead behaviour, Leadership.   

Considering the Job Description and Person Specification, please demonstrate how you are most suited to this role in the Personal statement.

Please complete a statement on the specified Behaviour (250 word max).

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 only.

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

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. 

Interview 

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your experience, behaviours and strengths. 

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed. 

Interviews will be held via video link.

Reserve List 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. 

Location 

Please be aware that these roles 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.  

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 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. 

This is a Fixed-term Appointment as a Team Leader on the MAS2 team because the post is not permanent. It is time limited due to a fixed funding period or as part of a specific project. The fixed term will end when the funding or the project expires.     

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. 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.