Details
Reference number
425567
Salary
£28,710
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
APHA – Science
Type of role
Administration / Corporate Support
Science
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
This is a dual location split between both our Aston Down (GL6 8GA) & Woodchester Park (GL10 3UJ) sites
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.
We are looking for compassionate, dedicated individuals who strive for excellence and integrity, who are passionate about supporting the British farming industry and ensuring healthy wildlife populations.
Are you conscientious and an excellent team worker?
If the answer is 'yes', we would love to hear from you
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The APHA Science Directorate consists of different specialist Departments, and this role will be within the National Wildlife Management Centre (NWMC) at Aston Down & Woodchester Park.
The team delivers a range of Wildlife Health research projects and field delivery services for Defra's wildlife policy teams, and for the Welsh Government. This supports the implementation of strategies to tackle bovine TB and other important diseases. The unit at Woodchester Park has at its heart a well-established scientific study that enables research into badger health and ecology. The unit at Aston Down serves as the national headquarters for delivery of wildlife health field services, including wildlife vaccination and ecological surveys.
This role will principally be an office-based post as a dual location at Aston Down and Woodchester Park, providing management of the Local Admin Team (2) supporting all areas of the National Wildlife Management Centre's operations, both locally and nationally.
Job description
The post will sit within the NWMC as a dual location in Woodchester Park and Aston Down, working closely with project managers, scientists and field staff.
You will be adept at working in an organised manner, be a confident communicator and be able to meet deadlines to ensure the smooth delivery of the team's work programme.
You and your team will provide administrative support to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of all our places, people, projects and services.
Person specification
The role involves the following responsibilities:
Purchasing
* Understand Civil Service Accounting Principles and Procurement rules
* Work closely with the Wildlife Business Manager to monitor expenditure for variance and take appropriate action
* Monitoring and approving purchases for local consumables
Department Support
Point of contact for all administrative matters for NWMC Woodchester Park & Aston Down, including:
* Support for Head and Managers of NWMC in any admin function
* Work closely with Wildlife Business Manager and Admin Team Lead in Sand Hutton following standard practice for monitoring and tracking of business needs and provide cover when necessary
* Manage contact with Defra Group Property Facility Manager and Contractors, providing local monitoring and tracking of facility planned maintenance & work orders
* Lead and coordinate Local Admin Team (2) schedules to welcome site visitors, respond to external enquiries and support the needs of on-site & remote field staff, Monday to Friday (normal office hours)
* Manage purchasing, stock inventories, fixed assets & equipment (ensuring compliance with ISO9001 standards), databases (within GDPR compliance), room reservations, staff tracking, training courses & materials
* Follow APHA Health & Safety policies to ensure a safe working environment
* Responsible for local vehicle fleet
* Work within recognised Quality accreditation standards to ensure compliance.
People & Communication
* Lead and manage Local Admin Team (2)
* Ensure consistent communication flow with Senior Managers
* Monitor and manage NWMC email inboxes & digital workstream platforms
* Organise & distribute communications to customers and other external stakeholders
* Organise MS Teams meetings, record Minutes, and ensure Actions are met
* Organise staff and stakeholder events and public engagement activities.
Governance
* Take responsibility for data and reporting in relation to Natural England and Defra licenses, and accreditation & auditing under Approved Training Provider Schemes
Essential criteria:
* Proficiency in a range of IT systems, including Microsoft Office products (including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, Access PowerPoint), databases and digital workstream platforms
* Excellent problem-solving, literacy and numeracy skills
* Excellent organisational skills with an ability to prioritise workload and manage time effectively to meet multiple deadlines in a busy environment
* Strong communication skills (written, verbal and listening) across a range of individuals and groups (internal and external) whether in-person or via video/audio calls
* Ability to manage, supervise and support a team of 2 in daily operations and task delegation
* High levels of discretion, tact and diplomacy
* Ability to travel independently between remote locations in a timely manner, as required in post
Qualifications
NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in related subject, for example Business Administration, or relevant experience listed in the Job Description.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Making Effective Decisions
* Delivering at Pace
* Working Together
* Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £28,710, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £8,317 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test and Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass the tests, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.
Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 29th September 2025. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours and after 2pm on the closing date of 29th September 2025.
While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.
It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.
Please note that online tests associated with this vacancy are not subject to time limits; for further information visit the Reasonable adjustments for online tests - a candidate guide
Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4:00pm and 7:00pm on 14th September and 27th September. There will be up to 1 hour during this time where candidates will not be able to access tests.
All online tests will be affected.
Impact for candidates
Candidates who are taking a test when the downtime starts will have their test paused. They will be able to pick up where they left off after the downtime. They can do this by accessing the test again from their application centre.
Candidates will not be able to launch new tests during the downtime.
Candidates reporting issues should be advised to return to take the test after 7:00pm on 14th September and 27th September 2025.
At application: As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit a CV (education and employment history) and complete a statement for each Behaviour using the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) approach. You will also be asked to give a Statement of Suitability (of no more than 500 words) detailing how you match the skills and experience detailed in the job description.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
At interview: If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your Experience and Behaviours. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
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.
Should you be successful at interview you will be required to undertake the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check. This includes identity, employment status, nationality and immigration status, criminal records, and any other essential pre-employment checks.
Depending on the areas of work involved you will be expected to have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment.
A valid full driving licence is required, or access to an alternative means of transport, as the post is a dual location, based at two rural and isolated sites.
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).
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.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
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- 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.
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 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.
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.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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)
* 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Alissa Tonkinson - Wildlife Recruitment
* Email :
* Telephone :
Recruitment team
* Email :
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:
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here