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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
Job description
The successful candidates will be responsible for the following:
- In liaison with line management, organisation of an inspection schedule
- Liaise with owners of establishments to be inspected
- Inspection of a range of premises either by agreement in advance with owners, unannounced visits where public access is available, or (in certain specific cases) using powers of entry
- Assisting with contingency and rapid responses
- Investigating escapes and deliberate releases of non-native species
- The collection of high-quality data in order to assess the risk posed by different pathways, the time required for inspections in different sectors and levels of compliance using a voluntary approach
- Writing of summary reports on all inspections
- Attending events and providing advice and guidance on biosecurity
- Liaising with diagnostic services and other experts to identify species where necessary
- Where relevant, to fully comply with Standard Operating Procedures, Health and Safety standards and risk assessments in the course of your duties
- Representing the pilot Non-native Species Inspectorate to a high professional standard
- To be willing to undertake all relevant training, including basic identification of more common high-risk species
Person specification
- Background in Biological or Botanical Sciences.
- Good inter-personal skills, including managing difficult situations / stakeholders, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Good knowledge of non-native species and biosecurity, especially prevention and rapid response/eradication.
- Good knowledge of pathways of introduction of invasive non-native species both at the border and post-border – Candidates will need to be proficient with appropriate desk-based work using standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, MS Teams) and willing to learn new skills where appropriate.
- Close attention to detail
- The ability to identify key non-native taxonomy including plants and/or animals at least to family or genus level
- Understanding of legal background underpinning invasive non-native species controls
Qualifications
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Good inter-personal skills, including managing difficult situations / stakeholders, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- The ability to identify key non-native taxonomy including plants and/or animals at least to family or genus level.
- Good knowledge of non-native species and biosecurity, especially prevention and rapid response/eradication.
- Good knowledge of pathways of introduction of invasive non-native species both at the border and post-border.
Benefits
£7,416 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by a day a year until the maximum of 30 days is reached, plus bank holiday and privilege days
- 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%
Office attendance
Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the office locations listed in this advert in order to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. Defras current policy is that no more than 40% of the working week should be spent at home, averaged over a month unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or the post-holder is a contractual home worker.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
At application you will be asked to provide a CV and give details in a personal statement (of no more than 500 words) of all your skills, experience, and suitability to the role.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Interview Process
Interviews will take place on MS Teams, and will include technical questions about your experience and technical skills relevant to the role described above.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further information
Should you be successful at interview you will be required to undertake this security check along with Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check. This includes: identity, employment status, nationality and immigration status, criminal records and any other essential pre-employment checks.
Successful applicants will be required to undertake health clearance prior agreeing a start date.
The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.
You will be officially based at an APHA location that is closest to your home address and you will work mostly across an area from your home but some flexibility to work further afield at times is expected. A suitable vehicle will be provided for this work that will be kept at your home address but can only be used for work purposes. Occasional visits to other APHA offices besides your official location will be necessary for training and enrolment, but further attendance is expected to be infrequent/minimal. Please note that journeys to/from your home/official location will be at your own expense and in your own time.
There will be no shift pattern or allowance. Overtime will be payable in the event of an incident when out of hours work maybe required. When working further afield which necessitates overnight stays, travel and subsistence is payable for the periods spent away from home/office. If successful you will be offered a permanent contract (on level transfer if appropriate).
This post will commence on 1st April 2024
A valid full driving licence is necessary or access to an alternative means of transport
Due to access requirements to biosecure areas, individuals must be physically able
Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident
Location
Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. 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.
Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised Defra hub locations. All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised Defra hub locations. Defras current policy is that no more than 40% of the working week should be spent at home, averaged over a month unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or the post-holder is a contractual home worker. Office attendance will enable candidates to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
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 youre 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 / Disclosure Scotland 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.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
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 applicants 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.
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.
Security
Nationality requirements
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).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Alissa Tonkinson
- Email : alissa.tonkinson@apha.gov.uk
- Telephone : 02080262490
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 here to visit Civil Service Commission.
