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Location
About the job
Job summary
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and core Defra are involved in the Cabinet Office’s National Biosurveillance Network (NBN), which is a major initiative to pilot and improve cross-government surveillance for biological threats.
The NBN is a key component of the UK’s newly refreshed Biological Security Strategy (BSS), which outlines the UK’s cross government mission to achieve resilience to a spectrum of biological threats. The NBN aims to improve the UK’s ability to characterise and report biological risks across the One Health spectrum, reliably and rapidly. This includes improving ways of working to better record, share and utilise surveillance outputs, and bringing data together to generate a holistic picture of risks including AMR.
A key focus of the NBN is facilitating the sharing of privately-held data with government, which we are piloting for data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals. AMR is a truly One Health issue, with resistant organisms able to transfer between animals and people, and resistance genes being transmissible between commensal and pathogenic bacteria. In the UK, we have well-established programmes of AMR surveillance in healthy food-producing animals at slaughter. We also have extensive surveillance of AMR in bacteria causing disease in people. However, the majority of testing for AMR in veterinary diagnostic submissions is performed by private veterinary laboratories and does not feed into governmental surveillance. This means our understanding of AMR in animals is limited, which affects our wider ability to assess AMR risks, and detect and respond to emerging threats.
In this pilot, we will be exploring the sharing of veterinary AMR data held by private veterinary laboratories with government. This work will build on an existing VMD/APHA proof-of-concept with a limited number of labs. This critical role will support the project lead for Private Laboratory Engagement, who will be leading on engagement with private laboratories and the wider veterinary sector, in ensuring successful delivery of this pilot. You will interface with the AMR team at APHA, and the Surveillance Intelligence Unit (SIU), as they manage collation, verification, and analysis of external AMR data. You will also liaise with external partners to manage timely reporting and delivery in their areas of responsibility.
Job description
Reporting to the Grade 7 Project lead, this role will be responsible for managing governance, ensuring deliverables are met and preparing project updates to keep others informed of progress. This role fits within the AMR Surveillance & Evidence Team at the VMD. You will report to the Project Lead for Private Laboratory Engagement but work closely with the wider AMR Surveillance & Evidence Team, as well as colleagues at APHA and externally. You will be able to draw on administrative support from the central project teams at Defra and UKHSA.
This role is needed from April 2024 until April 2025 , but earlier commencement would be welcomed. There may be opportunities to extend in the future.
The Private Laboratory engagement Project Manager will coordinate many different moving parts in this project. Responsibilities include to:
- Work to create project plans, mandates, project schedules and resourcing plans
- Work closely with project lead to develop emerging project outcomes and benefits, and ensure benefits are identified, understood, measured, tracked and owned
- Work closely with the project lead, project partners and other stakeholders to identify and analyse risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies (RAID) inherent within the project and articulate these within a project RAID register
- Develop treatment and mitigation actions and plans for risks and opportunities
- Support with stakeholder engagement and communications management
- Ensure appropriate project and change communications are delivered as appropriate
- Provide key reports and lead effective project governance to support decision making
- Manage impact analysis and development of delivery options
- Be responsible for managing the development of the preferred option(s) to full implementation
- Acting corporately – meeting, role-modelling and embedding the corporate objectives set by the VMD and challenging others if they are not
Person specification
You must have:
- Demonstrable experience in successfully managing and delivering projects and the use of project management tools and techniques
- Experience effectively managing a complex workload, and working with multiple stakeholders
- Sound record of embracing innovative approaches to respond quickly and decisively to variable and challenging priorities
- You must be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office 365 packages, particularly Word, Excel and Outlook, can navigate the internet and can learn to use the VMD’s bespoke IT systems
Qualifications
A scientific background (degree-level qualification in a relevant scientific discipline, or equivalent experience).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- Free onsite parking
- Free eyesight
- Onsite gym
- Access to a prayer room
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 Personal Statement. The CV will ask for your job history, qualifications and past skills and experience.
Your Personal Statement should be no more than 500 words and should demonstrate how your qualifications / knowledge / skills / experience match the requirements set out in the job advert.
When giving examples of Behaviours please use the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) format. Behaviours , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk).
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift,or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The sift will be conducted on the 7th March 2024.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Presentation, Experience, and Strengths.
At Interview candidates should prepare a 5-minute verbal presentation against the Delivering at Pace behaviour. No slides or handouts will be necessary. The topic will be: ‘Delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive: my experience, what it has taught me and how I would apply it to this programme’.
Interviews are currently scheduled to take place by MS Teams week commencing 18th March 2024.
Please note that this timeline is indicative at this stage and could be subject to change.
Location
Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based at the VMD headquarters in Addlestone, Surrey.
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.
Near miss
Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.
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 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 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 is a full-time post due to the tight time constraints of the work commitments. Many of the existing team working on this project are doing so alongside other existing work, therefore it is essential to recruit full time resource on this project. Hiring a full time Project Manager provides the necessary continuity, commitment and availability that is currently lacking in the team, to ensure sufficient time to anticipate and address challenges promptly to contribute to project success. This is very pertinent for the National Biosurveillance Network due to the very tight timeline for this large cross governmental project with many moving parts which is to be run over only 12-months at a very fast pace.
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 an SSO Project Manager for Private Veterinary Laboratory engagement in the VMD's AMR team working on the National Biosurveillance Network (NBN). The appointment runs from April 2024 until 31st March 2025, but can be extended to commence earlier if the successful candidate is available.
This is not a permanent post. It is fixed term because of the time-limited funding for the NBN programme, although there may be opportunities for this programme to be extended in future.
Your responsibilities in this post will be to support the project lead in the delivery of this work. This will involve co-ordinating many moving parts in this project through the use of project plans, schedules and risk registers as well as developing mitigation plans and supporting with stakeholder engagement and relationship management. This post will therefore begin from your agreed start date and end on 31st March 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.
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
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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.
