Technical Advisor

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 leadership experience?

Are you looking for an exciting and fast-paced role?

Do you have the ability to influence others and guide your team in a shared strategy?

Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare?

If so, we have two exciting roles as Technical Advisors within our Scotland Field Delivery Team and we would love you to apply!

We are a friendly and welcoming team who take immense pride in our work. We work in a high pressure, but incredibly rewarding, environment - particularly during emergency response/outbreak. Working together is a hugely important aspect of our role. As such, we are committed to maintaining a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and respect within our team., We are looking for an individual with an in-depth knowledge of technical work processes and experience of the practical skills required to undertake the full range of AHO technical field work.

We are looking for someone to work closely with Technical Team Leaders (TTLs) to ensure our staff have appropriate training and skills to carry out AHO technical field work in line with appropriate quality standards.

Additionally, we are looking for someone who has a sound understanding of resilience requirements and an appreciation of the skills required for a disease outbreak and/or other emergency operations within APHA.

The successful candidate will primarily be responsible for:

• Providing functional leadership to AHOs;


• Providing technical advice and support to AHOs;


• Quality assuring the work carried out by AHOs including adherence to Health and Safety procedures;


• Through quality assurance work identifying technical BAU and resilience training requirements of AHOs;


• Ensuring that AHOs are appropriately trained and upskilled and going forward maintain those skills in line with APHA field delivery policies;


• Liaising with local TTL's to set requirements for managing equipment.


The successful candidate will also work in support of our Operational Readiness Manager (ORM), circa 20% of their time, in:

• Developing outbreak and other emergency response readiness planning;


• Implementing disease outbreak and other emergency responses;


• Evidencing the assurance provided by local managers that Field Services Teams are suitably ready and prepared for dealing with an outbreak of an exotic notifiable disease; and,


Support the with GB RaTA/TA/ORM network by sharing best practice to ensure a consistent approach across APHA., 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., 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., 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., 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.,
• 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
  
  A thorough understanding of AHO technical field work both in BAU and during outbreaks.


• An understanding of leadership in a diverse team.


• An understanding of quality assurance processes.


• An understanding of outbreak and/or other emergency operations within APHA.


Learning and Development, We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership


• Developing Self and Others


Technical skills

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

• An understanding of the methods of prevention and control of Exotic Notifiable Disease in GB.


• An understanding of Animal Welfare provisions within GB Agriculture, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills., 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., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

£32,136 - £34,546 a year - Permanent, Part-time, Full-time, Pulled from the full job description

• Childcare


• Company pension


• Employee discount, Alongside your salary of £32,136, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £8,676 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.


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