Job type: Part-time, Fixed term contract

Salary: £22,150 a year

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Job content

Details

Reference number

293362

Salary

£22,150
As this job is part-time, the salary will be pro-rata (25 hours).

Job grade

Administrative Officer

Contract type

Fixed Term
Loan
Secondment

Length of employment

Until 31st March

Business area

VETQAS Proficiency Testing, Commercial Department, Science Directorate

Type of role

Administration / Corporate Support
Commercial
Science

Working pattern

Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

    Location

    About the job

    Benefits

    Things you need to know

    Apply and further information

Location

Sutton Bonington, East Midlands (England), LE12 5RB

About the job

Job summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 2,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.

Proficiency testing (PT) is an integral part of laboratory quality assurance. It forms the basis for continuous monitoring of diagnostic test validity and supports laboratories to achieve and maintain accreditation to ISO 17025. VETQAS is a world leader in veterinary PT covering a wide range of diseases, species, and tests; it is held in high regard globally.

This role is within the Commercial Department, part of the Science Directorate of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The VETQAS PT programme supports the core work of APHA and Defra to safeguard animal health and welfare and public health, protect the economy and enhance food security.

The purpose of this job is to provide administration support to help ensure delivery of products and services of the highest standards to laboratories worldwide. The post holder will operate independently and as part of a team to perform a wide range of administrative and customer service duties. You will be a contact point for all incoming enquires and work to improve productivity, efficiency, and work processes.

This is a Fixed-Term Appointment with no intention to become a permanent post. This post will therefore begin from June 2023 and end on 31st March 2025.

This post is part-time (25 hours per week).

Job description

The post holder will operate as a team member to perform a range of duties including, but not limited to, the following:

Administration Duties

  • Support staff and customers by providing administrative and scientific services
  • Receive and facilitate replies for email and telephone enquiries (most are relevant to customer contracts and shipping administration)
  • Preparation of paperwork for shipping biological materials e.g. customs proformas and export/import documents
  • Assisting with the preparation, labelling, packaging, and distribution of PT samples
  • Ensure accurate records are kept and updated accordingly
  • Monitor and maintain reports and spreadsheets to show customer activity e.g details of new business, business retention, figures for re-ordering etc.

Personnel

  • Experienced AO’s may be expected to supervise and train less experienced staff.

Safety & Wellbeing

  • Works in accordance with health, safety, and well-being procedures.

Quality

  • Adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures and relevant ISO standards.

Other Duties

  • Specified duties as agreed with Managers e.g., Fire Marshal or First Aid Officer.

Person specification

  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
  • Working with Stakeholders
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Good standard in verbal and numerical reasoning.
  • High standard of interpersonal skills, being motivated, resilient and approachable in our multi-disciplinary team
  • Ability to work under pressure in a flexible and agile way.

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.

The Unit is on three levels and, as there is no lift, the post holder needs to be able to use two flights of stairs and thus be reasonably physically fit.

Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident.

Travel may be required to attend training courses. You must have a valid driving licence or be able to call upon suitable alternate means of transport.

Qualifications

GCSE in Maths and English at Grade C and above or equivalent is required.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Working Together
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

  • Working Together
  • Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

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. Our benefits include generous annual leave, flexible working, a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, 500-word personal statement, and two behaviour statements. 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 using the lead behaviour, Working Together. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Strengths and your experience. A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

Loan and Fixed Term Appointments

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This is a Fixed-term Appointment as an Administrative Officer in the Commercial Department. Your responsibilities will include providing administration support to help ensure delivery of products and services of the highest standards to laboratories worldwide. This post will therefore begin from June 2023 and end on 31st March 2025.

The post is not permanent. It is time limited due to a fixed funding period or as part of a specific project. The fixed term will end when the funding or the project expires.

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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 :
    Gemma Aliaj
    Email :
    gemma.aliaj@apha.gov.uk

Recruitment team

    Email :
    defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

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: 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
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Deadline: 16-07-2024

Click to apply for free candidate

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