Animal Health Officer - Heathrow

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?  

Are you passionate about protecting animal and plant health to benefit people, the economy, and the environment?

Are you caring, conscientious and an excellent team worker?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

As a Border Control Inspector (Animal Health Officer (AHO)) you will work as part of a technical delivery team carrying out a range of operational services to safeguard Animal Health, welfare, public health, protect the economy and enhance food security through your duties. Your duties will include physical inspections of live animal consignments, documentary inspections to contribute to the control and eradication of disease.
As a BCP AHO, your time will be spent carrying out checks on live animals imported into GB from the European Union and Third Countries. Your role will be to prevent the introduction of notifiable diseases and invasive species into the UK, and to ensure the welfare of animals during transport is not compromised.

The AHO Border Control Post role involves a wide range of work including, but not limited to, the following:

• Carrying out import controls on animals as required by UK legislation including documentary, identity, and physical checks
• Carrying out inspections of animals, records, equipment, and vehicles to audit compliance, taking appropriate regulatory action where appropriate
• Engaging with importers, transporters, and agents to facilitate import checks and clearances
• Manage follow-on actions when non-compliance is identified to safeguard animal welfare and UK biosecurity including supporting investigation of possible illegal activity
• Inspecting documentation including animal identification, animal movement, breeding, medicine and other written or electronic records for audit and disease control and surveillance purposes
• Supporting veterinary and other colleagues in disease control and surveillance activities
• Liaising closely with various regulatory bodies such as His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, UK Border Agency, Port Health, Animal Health authorities & Border Control Point operations management
• Playing an active part in contingency planning so the agency is able to respond to outbreaks of exotic notifiable disease and other emergencies
• During outbreaks of notifiable disease, participate as directed to contribute to the control and the eradication of the disease

Duty and out of hours rotas
You will be required to work shifts and respond to operational needs of the control point. Current flight times mean the majority of work is between 07:30 and 22:00, however shifts may be amended due to out of hours arrivals and there will be a requirement to work some weekends.

A shift disturbance allowance of 12.5% is paid on top of the salary.