(Bovine TB) Hotspot Manager
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 14th October 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.
This role will provide business, science, driving transformative change, innovation, and science excellence for APHA .
Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare?
Are you an effective and engaging communicator?
If so, we have 1 exciting opportunity to join our TB Delivery Advice Team as a Bovine TB Surveillance Manager, responsible for co-ordinating all Bovine TB (BTB) Hotspots for APHA.
Job description
TB Hotspots are established when a pattern of Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) breakdowns of obscure origin (not attributable to historical infection, new cattle movements, or other vectors) are found within a distinct area of the TB Low Risk Area (LRA) of England. Hotspots may also include land in the Edge Area. Each Hotspot will last for several years and typically there can be 5 to 10 Hotspots at any time.
The Hotspot Lead function was introduced in the TB Delivery Advice Team in 2023 to provide central operational management and coordination of all Hotspot work delivered by APHA. Through careful monitoring and coordination, the Hotspot Lead Function has already significantly improved outcomes and engagement with Hotspot work both in APHA and with external stakeholders. The general approach to Hotspots has been refocused onto establishing evidence and control of the disease situation in cattle as the immediate priority, whilst also monitoring and, where necessary, then managing the disease situation in susceptible wildlife or other species.
As the Hotspot coordinator your role will be;
- To coordinate all bTB Hotspots, monitor all meetings, reviews and actions in each Hotspot according to where it is in the lifecycle, to ensure a more consistent approach is taken generally. There are currently eight Hotspots at different stages of their lifecycle and around five Areas of Concern. The HS Coordinator’s key responsibilities for each of these areas will vary according to the local situation.
- To Coordinate the start-up activities (management meetings, stakeholder engagement, APHA actions) for new Hotspots.
- To Coordinate further activity arising from any reviews of Hotspots, particularly where there are revisions to boundaries and cattle testing regimes, stakeholder engagement and actions, or improvements to wildlife surveillance) or can be closed (e.g. coordinating all closure activities within APHA and with all stakeholders).
- To monitor the Hotspot Lead mailbox, resolving as many queries as possible without the need to escalate to senior staff in the Hotspot Lead team, and quick processing of any Hotspot Wildlife Surveillance ‘web reports’ for submissions of wildlife carcases into APHA for Post mortem examination (PME) /analysis.
- To Ensure all information on each Hotspot is up to date, particularly for TB CSC customer advice call handlers who are often the first point of contact for cattle keepers.
- As the Hotspot Coordinator, you may be required to help deliver training sessions about Hotspots for new staff and stakeholders who become involved.
- You will be responsible for gathering and analysing data related to hotspot activities and producing regular reports for the veterinary team to identify trends, assessing the effectiveness of interventions and making evidence-driven decisions.
- To implement Quality Assurance processes to ensure that all hotspot activities meet high standards of accuracy and effectiveness.
- To lead on communication strategies aimed at educating the public and stakeholders about hotspot activities, TB risk, and prevention measures.
- To assist in the development and implementation of risk assessment frameworks to identify/ manage Areas of Concern and devise strategies to mitigate risks before they escalate.
- Your ability to be flexible to working across the team to help support on various tasks if required.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates that will be able to demonstrate their good knowledge, experience and successful delivery of the following elements, or at least be able to demonstrate their clear aptitude to do so:
- Coordination of high-quality complex casework and/or project delivery.
- Coordination of work involving geographically dispersed individuals and/or teams.
- Building effective networks with delivery teams, policy customers, stakeholders, and operational partners.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- Successful achievement of high-quality operational delivery outcomes.
- Bovine tuberculosis policy in England.
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.
Licences
Languages
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Management and coordination of complex casework and/or projects Coordination of work involving geographically dispersed individuals and/or teams.
- Knowledge and understanding of the Government bovine tuberculosis policy in England’ only.
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, a 500 word personal statement and four 250-word behaviour statements on the following;
- Communicating & Influencing
- Managing a Quality service
- Working Together
- Delivering at pace
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 lead behaviour, Communicating & Influencing.
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 a face to face interview at the APHA Leicester office, where we will assess your Experience, Behaviours and Technical skills. You will also carry out a presentation to assess your written/oral communication abilities.
Further information on your presentation will be provided.
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.
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.
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.
All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
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.
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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- Leanne
- 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.
