Secretariat and Data Support Officer

Veterinary Medicines Directorate

Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 20th September 2024

 
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Details

Reference number

356752

Salary

£30,827 - £32,074
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade

Executive Officer
Scientific Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

VMD Antimicrobial Resistance Team

Type of role

Science

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

This role will be contractually based at the VMD, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3LS. This is a fixed location; the VMD does not use hubs located elsewhere in the UK. You will be expected to spend at least 60% of your working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Organisation workplace includes the VMD office as well as time spent at other locations for meetings, conferences, and field-based activities. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations. This role is not suited to a homeworking contract. 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 will be required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location unless they have permission to do so.

Job summary

This exciting and varied role puts you at the heart of the VMD’s AMR policy team as we deliver the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) commitments in the UK’s 5 year action plan for antimicrobial resistance, which supports the UK’s 20-year vision for AMR. The post-holder will be responsible for supporting the coordination of the VMD’s AMR antibiotic sales, use and stakeholder engagement programmes by providing quality administrative, secretariat, and scientific support to the AMR team. You will support the antibiotic sales, use and stakeholder engagement Manager and lead in monitoring of sales of veterinary antimicrobials in the UK.

Job description

Your main duties and responsibilities will include:

  • Leading the collection and validation of veterinary antimicrobial sales data from pharmaceutical companies and importing these data into our AMR database.
  • Obtaining livestock population and slaughter statistics from Defra and associated agencies to aid with further data analysis.
  • Contributing to the preparation and compilation of antimicrobial sales and use data for the annual UK-Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales. Surveillance (VARSS) report, including carrying out low-level analysis  with attention to detail.
  • Providing timely and accurate secretariat services to livestock sector stakeholder groups and oversee the arranging, facilitation and smooth running of these meetings.
  • Horizon scanning, highlighting and reviewing/summarising scientific articles and reports relating to antibiotic sales, use and stewardship in animals.
  • Supporting as needed external communications and projects delivered by the team.
  • Creating and maintaining desk instructions and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relevant to the work area.
  • Providing administrative support, including maintaining registered e-files for sales data and other AMR files of relevance.
  • Comply with ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 27001 (information security) standards, and GDPR and record management requirements.
  • Act corporately – meeting, role-modelling, embedding, and championing the corporate objectives set by the VMD.

Person specification

Skills and Qualifications required

We require someone that has:

•    Experience of maintaining scientific datasets to a high standard and preparation of scientific data for written and verbal reports.
•    Excellent organisational skills in planning and prioritising workload with competing priorities.
•    Experience of working effectively with a range of stakeholders within the agricultural, veterinary or scientific sectors, or a demonstrable ability to do so.

Qualifications

You must have a scientific degree - preferably in agricultural science, veterinary bioscience, zoology or a related discipline.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace
Alongside your salary of £30,827, Veterinary Medicines Directorate contributes £8,930 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
  • 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 test
  • Onsite gym
  • Access to a prayer room

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement, and Behaviour Statements. 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 lead behaviour, Communicating & Influencing.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Experience, and Strengths.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Sift and Interview dates

The sift will be conducted week commencing 23 September 2024.

Interviews are currently scheduled to take place by MS Teams week commencing 7 October 2024.

Please note that this timeline is indicative at this stage and could be subject to change.

Salary

New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

Location   

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based at the VMD headquarters in Addlestone, Surrey. Fixed location, but flexible working arrangements. 

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.

Office attendance

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).

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.

Working Pattern 

This is a full-time post. It may be possible for individuals to fill these roles on an 60% FTE or more basis, but no less due to the tight time constraints of the work commitments.

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.

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.

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.

NSV

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

  • Name : Catrina Prince
  • Email : c.prince@vmd.gov.uk

Recruitment team

  • Email : DefraRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact:
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.

Attachments

SO AMR -CIP Opens in new window (pdf, 6224kB)

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