Project Support Officer
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 23rd September 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
3x FTA/Loan/Secondment until 31/12/26
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
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 methodical approach to organising work?
Do you have a Can-Do attitude?
Are you highly organised with excellent communication skills?
If so, we would love to hear from you!
Job description
As a Project Support Officer you will provide essential leadership and support within Projects & Change. You will be with responsible for managing a team, coordinating activities, managing resources, and implementing strategies and plans to ensure effective delivery of projects within your area of responsibility, business objectives and support for the delivery of APHA’s Delivering Sustainable Futures Strategy.
The role of the Project Support Officer covers a diverse range of activities to support the delivery of a project’s objectives. You will enable the smooth running of the project by supporting the project managers through the operation of project management processes, and the co-ordination of business management actions and activities on their behalf.
For a full list of all roles and responsibilities, please refer to the supporting documents below.
We are offering 5 posts.
2x Fixed Term Appointment/Loan/secondment until 01/10/25.
3x Fixed Term Appointments/Loan/secondment until 31/12/26.
The longer posts will be offered to the highest scoring candidates in merit order.
The post holder will need to travel to meet with project team members and attend meetings as necessary.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:
- Experience of working in a project role or environment.
- Experience of working in a fast-paced and complex environment with evolving and competing requirements and priorities.
- Ability to motivate, manage and develop self and others.
- Ability to manage / monitor financial and other resources.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of people both orally and in writing.
- Sound judgement and / or analytical skills to inform decision making or when providing opinions or advice to others.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills with an ability to prioritise work to meet targets and deadlines.
- Good problem-solving skills with the ability to address and resolve issues proactively if required.
- Adaptable with ability / willingness to embrace change.
- The ability to work unsupervised and take initiative.
- Self-motivated with an eye for detail, and skilled at building and maintaining relationships across the organisation with an ability to provide efficient advice and clarity to a range of colleagues and stakeholders.
- Good understanding of the organisation together with a sound working knowledge of their own and links with wider work areas.
- Up to date knowledge of project management and experience of using this knowledge to provide advice and guidance to others when required.
- Knowledge / understanding of continuous improvement practices.
- Excellent ability with Microsoft applications, including Project, Excel, SharePoint.
- Knowledge of SharePoint Online/MS Teams/Excel and other O365 tools.
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:
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.
Our Worcester County Hall office is temporarily closed. Candidates based at this location may be asked to work from home until further notice.
Qualifications
Hold a relevant Professional in Project Management accreditation, i.e. P30, PPSO, APM or equivalent would be advantageous, or willing to work towards within 12 months.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Delivering at Pace
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 the Civil Service Verbal Online Test and the Civil Service Numerical Online Test for the HEO Grade. You will be required to complete these tests by the same deadline requested for your written application.
You will also be required to complete the following as part of your application:
- CV, outlining your full job history, previous experience, and Qualifications.
- A personal statement of 500 words.
- A behaviour statement of 250 words for the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Merit Lists
The FTA contract is until 01/10/25 or 31/12/26. The longer posts will be offered to the highest scoring candidates.
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.
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
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.
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 a Project Support Officer on the Project & Change team because the post 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 01/10/25 and 31/12/26.
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 Team - Kay Edwards
- 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.
