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 want to be part of a team Protecting Great Britain from exotic notifiable diseases?

More than ever before the health of our environment, plants, animals and bees matters. Do you wish to be part of an amazing, diverse team on the frontline in researching, investigating, and acting to protect the UK’s animal, plant and bee health?  You will be helping to make a difference to the UK and contributing to global efforts to control and eradicate disease in plants, animals (such as Avian Influenza) and protecting global biodiversity. 

If the above applies to you, why not join us and make a difference?

This role will involve working out of business hours, therefore an Out of hours Duty Epidemiology rota allowance will be available for work outside business hours.

Job description

The SEO Vet for Epidemiology & Risk will work closely with Veterinary Advisors and Scientists within EpiRisk and across Animal Health and Welfare Advice, the Surveillance Intelligence Unit (SIU), Field Epidemiologists, the Department of Epidemiological Sciences (DES) and policy colleagues from Defra and the Devolved Administrations (DA).

You will be accountable for working with key contacts to deliver excellence in veterinary, epidemiological and scientific advice to support the development and implementation of veterinary and public health policies and measures.

Duties for the role will include but not be limited to:

• Support the planning, delivery and review of surveillance, for e.g., the wild boar surveillance programme for African Swine Flu and Bluetongue surveillance
• Lead on the review and development of disease specific surveillance profiles in support of UK disease status and trade by working closely with APHA species expert group leads, veterinary advisors within APHA and Scottish and Welsh Governments, and the UK Surveillance Forum (UKSF)
• Providing a quality assurance/intelligent provider function for veterinary, risk and epidemiological advice to the UK Office for SPS and Trade Assurance, Defra and the DAs on animal health policy development and implementation
• Provide veterinary epidemiological expertise to the National Emergency Epidemiology Group (NEEG) during outbreaks and provide out of hours cover as part of the analytical duty epi rota
• Seek innovative solutions to inform outcome-focussed disease surveillance information and data management
• Scientific review of relevant evidence to assess quality, uncertainty and appropriateness for guiding policy and translation of complex science to policy briefings or reports
• Establishing linkages between the APHA EpiRisk team and other relevant departments/teams to facilitate knowledge exchange
• The review and development of control strategies for dealing with outbreaks of notifiable diseases in liaison with Administrative and Legal colleagues, Defra, other Government Departments (including liaison with the Devolved Administrations) and stakeholders
• Providing written and verbal evidence-based, quality assured veterinary and epidemiological advice as required to Ministers, CVOs, policy teams, administrative colleagues, APHA field and laboratory staff and external stakeholders
• Support senior managers to deliver the APHA vision by contributing to the corporate leadership of the Agency and acting as a role model to embed the necessary performance improvements and culture changes in their subject area of influence
• Providing leadership to and/or contributing to national policy initiatives and reforms, undertaking important roles in project teams and working groups as required

Person specification

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

• Comprehensive skills, knowledge and ability in the field of veterinary public health
• Communication skills able to translate complex science into simple messages
• Excellence in veterinary risk assessment
• Proven track record of experience in delivery of statutory and non-statutory animal health and welfare policies, threat characterisation, risk assessment, and disease control
• Evidence of understanding of the legislation and control of disease in animal populations
• Evidence of understanding the legislation covering the trade in live animals, animal related products and products of animal origin and the WOAH recommendations for safe trade
• Experience of working with government and with Devolved Administrations
• Experience of translating quantitative and qualitative epidemiological information into policy advice

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 £39,439, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £10,648 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 750 word personal statement, a CV and four 250 word behaviour statements.

For the personal statement, considering the Job Description and Person Specification, please demonstrate how you are most suited to this role.

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, Communicating and Influencing. 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, technical skills and strengths.

You will be required to provide a 5-10 minute presentation surrounding your technical skills, details of the presentation requirements will be sent upon offer of interview.

For the purposes of the selection process, the Lead Behaviour will be 'Communicating and Influencing'. 

Interviews to 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.

Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.

All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

Reserve List

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

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

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 /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 Vet for Epidemiology Risk in the Animal health and welfare advice team.

The post is permanent but the business area is going through change, pending permanent recruitment. The FTA will end when the permanent recruitment concludes.

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 31/03/2025.

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/ 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. 

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. 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.