Job summary
Are you passionate about working with animals and care for their welfare?
Are you caring, conscientious and an excellent team worker?
Do you enjoy working outside?
If the answer is �yes�, you should apply for an Animal Health Officer role!
Working as part of a Technical Team, you will be instrumental in helping to safeguard animal health and welfare. Through engaging with inspections, surveillance and collecting samples, you will be contributing to the control and eradication of disease to protect both the economy and food security.
We are looking for compassionate, dedicated individuals who strive for excellence and integrity and who put animal health and welfare at the heart of everything they do.
Sevington is a new site and we are looking to implement a 4 day on, 4 day off, hour day shift pattern when it becomes operational. This includes scheduled weekend and bank holiday working which will attract an additional shift disturbance allowance of once you are working on the scheduled rota.
Drop in Sessions
APHA will be holding a remote drop-in session whilst the advert is live. This session will be an opportunity to ask questions related to the job and the application process. Please join us and take this opportunity to hear about these exciting roles.
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Job description
At the Border Control Post (BCP) in Sevington, your time will be spent carrying out checks on live animals imported into Great Britain (GB) from the European Union and Third Countries. Your role will be to prevent the introduction of notifiable diseases and invasive species into the UK, and to ensure the welfare of animals during transport is not compromised.�
Sevington will be the largest Border Control Post in the country due to the level of expected traffic and no two days will be the same.
As a Border Control Inspector (Animal Health Officer) you will work as part of a technical delivery team carrying out a range of operational services to safeguard animal health, welfare, public health, protect the economy and enhance food security through your duties. Your duties will include physical inspections of live animal consignments, documentary inspections to contribute to the control and eradication of disease.
The AHO (Animal Health Officer) Border Control role involves a wide range of work including, but not limited to, the following:�
1. carrying out import controls on animals as required by UK legislation including documentary, identity, and physical checks
2. carrying out inspections of animals, records, equipment, and vehicles to audit compliance, taking appropriate regulatory action where appropriate
3. engaging with importers, transporters, and agents to facilitate import checks and clearances�
4. manage follow-on actions when non-compliance is identified to safeguard animal welfare and UK biosecurity including supporting investigation of possible illegal activity
5. inspecting documentation including animal identification, animal movement, breeding, medicine and other written or electronic records for audit and disease control and surveillance purposes
6. supporting veterinary and other colleagues in disease control and surveillance activities
7. liaising closely with various regulatory bodies such as His Majesty�s Revenue and Customs, UK Border Agency, Port Health, Animal Health authorities & Border Control Point operations management
8. playing an active part in contingency planning so the agency is able to respond to outbreaks of exotic notifiable disease and other emergencies
9. during outbreaks of notifiable disease, participate as directed to contribute to the control and the eradication of the disease
The timeline for the opening of Sevington Live Animal BCP is subject to change, but we are continuing with the recruitment process to allow for training at other BCPs in the Southern area. This training is likely to be at the BCPs located at London's 3 main airports, so overnight stays will be required for the training period.
APHA has a wide variety of field work, which we may require you to complete prior to commencing work at the BCP. This would be subject to the appropriate training in the specific work, which could include Animal by-products (ABP) and International Catering Waste (ICW) visits.
Additionally, you may be required to support in notifiable disease outbreak tasks, as well as other work areas dependant on previous experience. Engagement in these additional work areas would supplement the Border Control work and assist in any future career progression you wished to pursue. It also acknowledges the varying level of experience and skills successful candidates will hold on joining the agency.
Training material is designed to ensure all new entrants, to APHA, build suitable confidence and competencies to deliver the work of APHA.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates with the following essential experience and skills:-
10. have an agricultural background, an agricultural qualification or have knowledge of the agricultural industry
11. have high standards of written and spoken English and can communicate effectively about animal health topics with all stakeholders including customers, service users and colleagues
12. have knowledge of basic Health and Safety and an understanding of safe working on farms and with livestock and poultry
13. are able to work alone or as part of team, to take responsibility and remain positive and focused in the face of challenge
14. have experience with excellent record keeping, auditing processes and maintaining quality
15. able to adhere to procedures and processes and follow quality standards
Support and Training
All successful candidates will be provided with an extensive programme of training and support as part of their induction into working with APHA.
APHA appreciates the varying level of experiences and skills successful candidates will hold on joining the agency. Training material is designed to ensure all new entrants, to APHA, build suitable confidence and competencies to deliver the work.
Licences
A valid driving licence that covers the UK and access to a vehicle with appropriate business use insurance.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
16. Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
17. Knowledge of GB livestock industry
18. Knowledge of Technical Animal Husbandry
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �27,470, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes �7,417 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Pension and Financial Benefits
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package and there are various options including Alpha and Partnership pension schemes in which Defra can invest in providing a contribution to the cost of your pension.
Life Assurance: if you become too ill or die before retirement valuable benefits will be provided to you and your family.
Time off
25 days annual leave (rising up to 30 days over 5 years) for new entrants to the Civil Service and retaining existing arrangements for current Civil Servants.
Special Leave
Additional paid leave for other situations including family-related leave is available for employees volunteering and taking part in public duties, trade union activities, special/trained forces and for health & safety representatives.
Rewards
We have a Staff Recognition Scheme with our in-year awards rewarding exemplary work.
Learning and Development
Access to five days learning and development each year to support professional development through Civil Service Learning. Corporate induction and three days special leave for volunteering.
Performance Management
Individual performance plans, learning and development matched to your agreed career objectives and progression plans.
Examination Leave
Paid leave for exams and revision for approved studies.
Staff Wellbeing
Access to Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7, providing advice and guidance on both personal and employment issues such as personal wellbeing, career development, legal matters such as landlord / tenant disputes. Access to the Employee Assistance Programme, Occupational Health Service and the Civil Service Sports Council.
Headspace
Free access to Headspace which is a mindfulness, meditation and sleep app.
Work/ Life Balance:
Travel & Transport Benefits
A range of travel and transport benefits. Access to the cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme that enables you to buy a bike up to the value of �6k.
Shopping and Leisure Benefits
A variety of discounts at online stores and leisure experiences available via Mylifestyle.
Interest Free Loans
For season tickets and/or bicycles and safety equipment as well as tenancy deposit scheme.
Other Benefits:
Sick Pay
We have various measures in place to assist with your physical and emotional health. Our focus is on early intervention and proactivity in addressing health issues. However, should you not be well enough to attend work, occupational sick pay, increasing by length of service, is available.
Enhanced Parental Leave
We offer generous maternity leave, paternity leave and shared parental leave.
Making it work for you
With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances. Working within a team of 350 vets and 500 Animal Health Officers and scientists means that there�s plenty of flexibility available.