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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
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!
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.
As an agency we want to provide secure, resilient, and flexible support for national disease incidents. IT infrastructure, services and strategy underpin this aim.
Within the Science Directorate of APHA, we have established a team to produce and implement an IT and Data strategy. This strategy will set out the vision of how IT and Data services will underpin the delivery of statutory testing and reporting of pathogens, and support research and development of emerging technologies in the animal and plant.
The role will ideally be based at Weybridge where most of the team is located. However, other office locations will be considered subject of office availability with the expectation the role holder will travel to the Weybridge site on a periodic basis, typically up to six times per year.
Job description
General Responsibilities
- Communicating with established networks of colleagues to share updates about IT/Digital initiatives or changes or gather feedback on proposed changes and amendments
- Managing and reporting on the resolution of backlogged data, software and other IT issues and requests between Science staff, the IT department, and other third-party suppliers
- Gathering requirements and collating of information with respect to data or cloud computing environment projects which affect the agency
- Assisting with raising and driving forward commercial contract renewals, non-standard requests, and minor works projects with the IT department
- Updating and managing lists of data-related assets, such as datasets, systems/applications, coding repositories, and/or devices
- Managing stock and distribution of IT peripherals required by Science staff and investigating new items to be added to the corporate catalogue
- Organising meetings, capturing minutes and/or maintaining logs of actions/risks/issues at relevant IT & Data forums, working groups or governance meetings
- Providing other ad-hoc support to the remit of the broader IT & Data team to help deal with peaks in demand
You will be offered further training and development, potentially including a level 4 (HND/foundation degree) apprenticeship, for which you would require a Level 2 in English and Maths (GCSE). A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL. This will be offered shortly after joining and approximately 20% of your time will be spent in this formal learning.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Experience of:
- Solving technical problems
- Analysing data or information
Flexibility in working hours / out of hours work may be required if called upon to finish a particularly urgent task or in the event of a disease outbreak.
Travel may be required to visit other sites or attend training courses/meetings.
The successful candidate will need to comply with a basic Health Check.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Changing and Improving
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a 500 word personal statement. You should also include any relevant skills, qualifications, achievements, and career history in your CV which may further support your application.
Please write up to 500 word demonstrating how you meet the experience and skills detailed in the job description including any experience/ qualifications.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours and essential skills/experience. A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process, 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
If based at Weybridge the site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Government’s response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason all postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have between 3 to 10 years continuous UK residency depending on the level of Security.
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
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
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.
