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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare?
Are you looking for an exciting and challenging opportunity to make a difference in quality assurance?
Are you passionate about quality management systems, auditing, and making a positive impact, then this is the place for you!
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is seeking a Deputy Head of Quality Services to play a pivotal role in leading and managing our people, maintaining and expanding our quality systems, influencing positive change, and championing innovation.
Job description
You will be working closely with the Head of Quality Services to create and embed a quality management framework across the Agency. You will also implement an electronic quality management system and the work on the extension of current accreditations, which is aligned to the Quality Services 3-year plan driven by APHA Quality Services to develop a consistent quality framework across APHA and supports the APHA Sustainable Futures Strategy.
The Quality Services Team (QST) provides APHA with expertise to ensure the Agency actively manages and maintains its externally accredited Quality Systems. It provides advice and guidance to operational staff in the Science Directorate and the Service Delivery Directorate on the operation of their quality systems. It also works to implement quality systems in the areas of APHA where they are not present.
APHA has one of the largest ISO 17025 quality systems in the UK with approximately 600 staff members participating. There is a smaller ISO 17020 accredited system in the Plant and Bell Health areas, with plant to expand this to include Animal Health field work.
The team are responsible for the maintenance of an ISO 9001 quality management system, various GxP systems and for the internal organisation of audits carried out to provide assurance on compliance with trading partner regulations. The QST also have responsibility for APHAs Controlled Document Management system and GxP record management system.
You will have responsibility for:
- Implementing, maintaining and the retention of current quality management systems
- Managing risks and issues in relation to the Quality Management System and providing regular reports on operation of the Quality Management System
- Co-ordinating the Agencys management review meetings
- Provide support for APHAs controlled document system
- Setting targets, producing and reviewing guides on prioritisation of workloads
- Test Facility Manager for the quality assurance programme
- Leading and managing a team, including responsibility for staff development
- Ensuring a safe working environment is maintained for self and other colleagues, by observing all safety procedures and working methods
- Ensuring internal audits are planned, managed, and conducted as required, to monitor compliance with standards and to facilitate improvements in business processes
- Monitoring actions arising from internal and external audits to check they are appropriately addressed, within required timescales, escalating issues arising as necessary
- Managing and providing a regulatory quality assurance service according to the principles of the GxP standards and quality assurance standard operating procedures
- Liaising with third party certification bodies and regulatory bodies
- Maintaining expertise and knowledge of regulatory requirements in relation to relevant quality standards
- Seeking opportunities for continuous improvement and innovative solutions to complex issues
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following skills and experience:
- Background in quality with significant experience/understanding of ISO 9001, ISO 17025, ISO 17020, and an understanding of GxP requirements
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Good people management skills
- Experience in working with a range of diverse stakeholders
- Proficient in Microsoft platform, including outlook, word, excel and PowerPoint
- Excellent analytical skills with keen attention to detail, along with the ability to challenge and suggest improvements
- Ability to summarise information and be able to quick recognition of key points
- Experience of leading and driving change, reviewing, and implementing best practice, and process improvement
- Capable of working independently, organising, and prioritising at pace, and handling multiple tasks simultaneously
- Proactive approach to work
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Candidates will be asked to prepare and present a short 5-minute presentation, which will be followed by questions from the interview panel. The topic of the presentation will be confirmed to candidates in the interview invitation.
Benefits
£13,338 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- 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
- A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40% at home)
- Making it work for you – With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances
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
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement and one behaviour statement.
- CV – On the CV you should include details of career history, key responsibilities, and achievements.
- Personal Statement – In a maximum of 1250 words. Please provide evidence of how your personal skills, qualities and experience are most suited to this role.
- Behaviour In a maximum of 250 words, please provide an example against the behaviour Managing a Quality Service.
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 on the personal statement only.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The sift is expected to take place in late December 2023 through to early January 2024.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours and technical element.
- Behaviours – Please provide an example against the three behaviours Managing a Quality Service (Lead), Communicating and Influencing and Leadership.
- Technical – Candidates will be asked to prepare and present a short 5-minute presentation, which will be followed by questions from the interview panel. The topic of the presentation will be confirmed to candidates in the interview invitation.
Interviews will be conducted via Video link. Interviews are expected to take place in January 2024.
Location
Please be aware that this role will be contractually based in an APHA 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. You can work from any APHA office location
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.
Working Arrangements
For most candidates your hours of work will be a blend of working from an APHA workplace with working at home. Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident.
Travel
This post will require travel around the Agencys locations, with some overnight stays.
Learning and Development
Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities.
New joiners to the organisation will attend an induction programme that will provide you with 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.
All line managers will be supported to complete the Management Fundamentals Programme.
Inclusion, support, and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
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 or 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.
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Lisa Lewis
- Email : VDBusinessManagement@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 here to visit Civil Service Commission.
