About the job

Job summary

To provide support to the APHA NSCAH Department, and Science teams in the SCAH and DgP TS programmes, to deliver a range of critical enabling, transition and masterplan development projects in specialist science estate at APHA Weybridge.

Job description

This post will provide a range of project support tasks to the APHA NSCAH science, and project engineering teams, for the delivery of a range of critical infrastructure enabling and transition moves of science facilities. This includes: 

NSCAH Team

• Facilitating engineers, scientists and project leads/consultants for transition moves across site of any scientific equipment which will need servicing and testing after a move. This involves liaising with Building Officers, procurement team for PO, external company (i.e. CAS for safety cabinets), Permit Officer, and facilities Management, with a focus on Animal Sciences and Pathology, but not limited to it
• Keeping facilities management and associated team informed of key expert personnel eg Building Officers/Nominated persons and biocontainment leads  
• Physically assisting teams with development of transition moves, logistics and building plans, equipment and staff relocations across site, rationalising surplus equipment, enabling transitions and staff moves, with a focus on Animal Sciences and Pathology, but not limited to it
• Taking photos to provide images for communication of project progress, activities and also evidence of any unsatisfactory work to be escalated. Preparation of briefing information and conducting staff engagement meetings
• Help to close actions which are needed to move projects forward i.e. by arranging and facilitating meetings on the ground between contractors or IFM, BOs, Nominated persons
• Information/fact finding/problem solving to help in removing any blockers to work starting, or to resolve issues 

Capital/DgP TS/site operation Projects  

• Project management and admin support to various projects across the science facilities capital estates project portfolio, with a focus on Animal Sciences and Pathology, but not limited to it
• Organisation of project meetings and assisting with collation of reports and briefings
• Take ownership of and maintain the Animal Science Estates SharePoint site and appropriate links with the NSCAH site 
• Initial point of escalation of issues from building officers. Work with building officers to follow up on work requests and ensure they are carried out in a timely manner
• Animal Science Estates representation at selected working groups (e.g. land management) and other meetings (to be identified)  
• To provide support to managers and stand-in for them at meetings as necessary

General business support duties: 

• Provide secretariat support for meetings – organise meetings, draft agenda, draft minutes and progress actions, facilitate workshops and provide data analysis outputs etc
• Management of contact lists, organograms etc
• Arranging for visitors (give pre-visit site information packs), book-in with reception and security, meeting at gatehouse and escorting where required (not just to meetings rooms, could be anywhere across site), assist with recruitments and facilitate workshops
• Stand in for managers as appropriate
• Potential to support Animal Sciences BAU for up to 20% of working time

Person specification

• Highly organised and ability to multi task 
• Good interpersonal skills 
• Experience and proven written communication skills  
• Experience of working within an animal environment 
• IT literate, particularly with the use of Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and SharePoint 
• Experience of working on organisation and delivery of small projects 
• Working towards, or be expected to undertake study for, a project management qualification e.g. Agile, Prince etc
• Experience in working with animals – husbandry and handling

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,827, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £8,323 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

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

For the personal statement, please write up to 500 words demonstrating how you match the required skills and experience for this post.

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 (delivering at pace). 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 Behaviours & Technical skills. 

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.

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 range.

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. 

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.  

Higher Security Clearance

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to Weybridge 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.

In accordance with guidelines governing security, you will be expected to have the necessary security clearance to work at the Weybridge site (SC clearance). This process will be initiated if you are successful in your application for this post.

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 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.