Mutual Aid Relationship Manager

Job summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is a Government agency that sits within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

This is a high-profile, outward-facing role at the centre of APHA’s Mutual Aid capability. You will be the face of APHA, building and strengthening relationships with current and potential partners across the UK and internationally to secure the people and skills needed when it matters most. This is not a passive stakeholder role — you will engage with new and existing partners, including those who may be reluctant to work with us, and use your credibility, resilience and influencing skills to win trust and bring them on the journey. You will create long-term, trusted relationships that deliver real resilience for APHA’s operational response during outbreaks and emergencies.

Alongside this, you will help shape and embed the processes that underpin mutual aid, playing a key role in developing ways of working and supporting and leading the team to deliver at pace. We are looking for a proactive, resilient self-starter with excellent communication and relationship-building skills, who is comfortable leading by example and driving improvement. If you thrive in high-profile, relationship-led roles and want to make a real operational impact, we would love to hear from you.

Job description

As a Senior Executive Officer (SEO) within the Resourcing and Deployment Team you will play a key role in supporting the implementation and embedding of the APHA Sustainable Futures Strategy, which outlines the organisation’s vision for the future. A core element of this vision is ensuring that APHA becomes a data-driven organisation, enhancing its ability to identify and respond to emerging threats, manage risk effectively, and deploy resources sustainably.

The role sits within the Workforce Surge & Deployment Team, part of the Resourcing and Deployment Team, and works across APHA under the direction of the G7 Lead. Its purpose is to deliver resourcing strategies that create a flexible, agile workforce for outbreaks and emergencies. The post holder will develop mutual aid agreements with partner organisations to ensure the capacity and capability needed for strategic, tactical, and operational response, providing resilience for current and emerging disease outbreaks. They will also oversee and support service and project delivery in their area, ensuring policies and operational procedures are implemented effectively.

This role focuses on supporting all aspects of deploying resource and mutual aid during any emergency response, working closely with multiple cross-government organisations. This includes developing and delivering effective mutual aid agreements and implementing procedures to support this. There will also be a large element of stakeholder engagement involved with collaborative working with external partners, HR teams and internal business units.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to shape APHA’s Workforce Planning and Resourcing approach, driving improvements that support the organisation’s long term goals.

Your responsibilities will include:

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and alignment with APHA’s priorities.
• Collaborating with external partners, HR teams and internal business units to build and maintain mutual aid and loan agreements with multiple external partners including OGDs and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Capability & Experience team and Directorate workforce planning teams to support in assessing current workforce gaps, identifying key skills, capabilities, and competencies to forecast future needs and prioritise recruitment.
• Support the Intelligent Client relationship with Defra HRBP to ensure appropriate reward and recognition mechanisms are in place for surge resources from mutual aid partners and that health, safety and wellbeing is appropriately considered during deployment.
• Work collaboratively with team members and other departments to achieve common goals.
• Support with the development and implementation of engagement and communication plans, as required.
• Act as the primary point of contact across APHA, working closely with partners to understand their mutual aid agreement

Leadership and Management

• Manage and co-ordinate work across a number of sections, functions or geographic locations, as required, ensuring alignment with the Agency’s strategic priorities and goals.
• Be responsible for driving the professional and skills development of team members, as required.
• Monitor the governance of civil service commission recruitment principles to ensure compliance is maintained and support central audit.
• Provide support to embed the necessary cultural changes required for the Agency to thrive, implement new ways of working making the most effective use of technology across the agency.
• Promote diversity, inclusion, and equality of opportunity by promoting a respectful and inclusive environment that values external experience and differences.

Service Delivery

• Provide policy advice/and or contribute to policy development within area of responsibility/remit.
• Oversee and ensure the smooth delivery of processes within your area of responsibility/ remit.
• Implement efficient and sustainable ways of working and procedures that enhance operational efficiency.
• Develop a holistic understanding of outbreak capacity demand planning, associated lead times and trigger points for securing mutual aid resources.
• Support the G7 Lead to inform, create, and monitor a scalable mutual aid plan which includes a breakdown of the skills, knowledge, and competencies required for specialist roles across the directorates, collaborating with the APHA Capability & Experience Team and Technical Profession training teams as needed.
• Develop effective mutual aid agreements with appropriate lead times and review them regularly for amendments.
• Develop and implement scalable processes to onboard and induct resources at pace.
• Understand and work with APHA and other relevant external organisations to define processes underpinning mutual aid agreements and surge capability.
• Support the Workforce Surge & Deployment Team during periods of emergency response by providing capacity and cover for business critical functions.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Utilise data and analytics to assess demand planning, capacity and skills gaps and use these to inform trigger points and escalation routes during outbreak response.
• Develop processes and standards to track and analyse data and produce reports, highlighting and anticipating issues and opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with APHA Data & Information Unit to inform/influence Agency wide forecasting in outbreaks

Continuous Improvement

• Review existing and embrace / promote new systems, processes and ways of working, ensuring harmonisation across APHA and the wider Defra group, where appropriate.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement changes to enhance service delivery.
• Utilise continuous improvement working practices.
• Develop and use technical expertise and harness business knowledge to identify IT service improvements in current and new systems.
• Support initiatives to implement changes based on feedback and lessons learned, ensuring the candidate experience process evolves and improves continuously.

Person specification

You will have the following essential skills and experience:

Experience

• Experience of navigating challenging stakeholder dynamics, proactively building relationships with individuals or groups who may initially be reluctant to engage
• Experience of reviewing and developing systems and processes and implementing new ways of working
• Experience of developing, producing and analysing data, intelligence, and management information to inform decision making and drive great outcomes

Skills and Ability

• Resilient with the ability to work under pressure and prioritise competing demands, whilst delivering results in a fast-paced and complex environment
• Ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, using strong persuasion and influencing skills to secure buy‑in at all levels.
• Skilled in delivering clear written and verbal communication, and in providing informed guidance to junior colleagues on complex or sensitive matters.
• Demonstrate strong planning and organisational skills with a high level of accuracy. Applies effective problem‑solving abilities to identify and resolve issues proactively

Other Knowledge

• Strong understanding of effective resource allocation to ensure the right people are deployed where the business needs them most. Knowledge of data ethics, information governance, and data protection frameworks
• Strong understanding of recruitment processes and the ability to support a range of activities across the candidate journey
• Strong IT skills with experience designing and implementing new processes, using Microsoft Visio to document workflows and Power BI to gather, analyse and visualise data to support decision‑making

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,665, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £12,360 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

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Online tests

Before submission of the first stage of your application, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test. If you successfully pass the test, 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 and application is 23:55 on 3rd March 2026. 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 Civil Service Jobs website.

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4pm and midnight on 1st March 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

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 3rd March 2026.

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.

Click https://www.gov.uk/guidance/reasonable-adjustments-for-online-tests-a-candidate-guidefor test guidance.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV and complete a 750-word Personal Statement detailing your suitability for the role based on the essential skills and experience detailed within the advertisement. The CV will not be scored but can be used to support your application.

You will also be asked to provide a 250-word statement demonstrating how you meet the following Behaviour: Communicating & Influencing.

Further details around what this will entail can be found on the application form.

Sift

Should a large number of successful applications be received, there will be an initial sift assessing the Personal Statement. Those who pass the initial sift will either be progressed to a full sift or straight to interview.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Experience, and Strengths. The Behaviours are as follows:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Experience will be assessed through a short pre-prepared presentation. Details will be provided if you are successful at sift.

Your interview will be conducted via MS Teams.

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Further Information

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).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

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.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to APHA 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 a Mutual Aid Relationship Manager on the Resourcing and Redeployment Team.

The post requires temporary cover, for no more than 12 months, pending potential approval of a permanent post. The fixed term will end (if the post has been approved as permanent) when the permanent recruitment completes or will end on the fixed term end date if the post has not been approved as permanent.

This post will therefore begin from the candidate's start date and run for 12 months.

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to Weybridge 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.

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

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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 : HR Resourcing Delivery Team
• Email : HRResourcingDelivery@defra.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: here

Attachments

APHA Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1825kB)446186 Welsh Translation Mutual Aid Relationship Manager Opens in new window (pdf, 94kB)