Team Leader
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 23rd September 2024
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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 have a can-do attitude?
Are you a passionate leader, with the ability to coach and drive your team to achieve performance and quality outputs?
Can you lead others through change and motivate them to reach their full potential?
If so, we are looking for enthusiastic and engaging Team Leaders to join our Outbreak Management Team focusing on leadership and team management to effectively deliver on our commitment to Exotic Notifiable Disease in animals within strict and tight Service Level Agreements, and we would love to hear from you!
Job description
Your responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following;
- Identifying training gaps or procedural issues and suggesting mitigations.
- To participate in performance management, business and resilience planning as part of the overall strategy.
- Working closely with your team to ensure progress meets the governing timeframes and all business activities are completed and updated accordingly.
- Chairing weekly meetings, especially in your managers absence.
- Managing the resolution of any issues, confirming progress and confirming status of each Infected Premises.
- Monitoring and ensuring daily management of your mailbox.
- Working closely with your manager to produce and publish daily, weekly reports, sitreps, etc for Central Disease Control Centre, National Disease Control Centre, Policy teams.
- Ensuring during Outbreaks, your cell is prepared with adequate cover 7 days a week (to include weekends). This requires forward planning with rotas to ensure your cell is ready to stand up at short notice over a weekend.
Person specification
We are looking for someone with the following skills and experience:
- Comfortable navigating uncertainty, adapting quickly to a changing environment Proven track record of operational delivery.
- The ability to work effectively at pace, make decisions when faced with incomplete data, and remain calm and resilient under pressure.
- Excels in an ever-changing environment where stakeholder and ministerial demands require immediate attention whilst remaining focused on the operational delivery within set deadlines.
- The ability to proactively re-assess priorities and maintain focus on the most critical deliverables.
- Self-motivated and can operate and maintain delivery momentum.
- Strives for excellence.Has a high attention to detail, catches problems/errors early, always aiming for the best quality outputs where they matter both.
- Proactive and solutions oriented, and able to identify solutions to complex problems. Comfortable breaking down difficult issues into tangible next steps.
- Works well in a team. Collaborates effectively with colleagues, builds strong relationships, and contributes to a positive team dynamic. Keeps people motivated and on-side even where incentives don’t necessarily immediately align.
- Curious, open-minded, and eager to expand their knowledge and skills. Excited and not daunted by the prospect of identifying knowledge gaps and seeking to fill them. Actively seeks out opportunities for growth and development and helps others to do the same.
- Familiar with the use of basic Microsoft packages Outlook, Teams, Word and Excel.
Please Note: This position will include weekend and possibly out of hours work during the week during times of outbreaks. You will be compensated accordingly for this additional ask.
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.
Workplace arrangements
Our Worcester County Hall office is temporarily closed. Candidates based at this location may be asked to work from home until further notice.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Working Together
Benefits
Further benefits offered also include:
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
- An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities tailored to your role.
- Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
- Staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
- Making it work for you - With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances.
These are just a few of our benefits we offer. To find out the full range of what we offer refer to the Information Pack attached for more detail.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, 500 word Personal Statement and a 250 word Behaviour Statement..
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 Personal Statement. 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 and strengths.
For the purposes of the selection process, the lead Behaviour will be Working Together.
Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
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.
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.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
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 maybe 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.
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.
A Fixed-term Appointment as a Team Leader on the Outbreak Central Services Team is not permanent. It is time limited due to a fixed funding period or as part of a specific project. The fixed-term will end when the funding or the project expires.
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.
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
Medical
Nationality requirements
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Recruitment Hub - Charlotte Harrison
- Email : recruitment.sdd@apha.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DefraRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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 https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/ to visit Civil Service Commission
