Veterinary Advisor - Field Delivery Wales

Job summary

Are you passionate about animal health and welfare, with the ability to provide veterinary leadership and influence positive outcomes?

Do you enjoy leading teams, developing others, and working with stakeholders to deliver high-quality veterinary services?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (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, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

Job description

The role of Veterinary Advisor (VA) is a tactical and an operational role, requiring an individual who can provide credible veterinary leadership to develop and assure high performance in a geographically dispersed, multi-disciplinary team, both during and between exotic animal disease outbreaks.

The Veterinary Advisor is accountable for working with the Veterinary Heads of Field Delivery (VLW), to deliver operational excellence in veterinary service delivery, stakeholder engagement and customer service through the effective application, quality assurance and enforcement of veterinary public health policies and measures.

You will be responsible for identifying training and development needs as well as delivering training and mentoring to frontline staff to help meet those needs.

In collaboration with the VLW, the Veterinary Advisor for Field Delivery will functionally manage a veterinary field team, normally within a specific geographical area. Additionally, you may have line management responsibilities as needed and will be accountable for operational excellence in a nationally aligned subject area.

Within your designated geographical area- national subject areas, a VA will:

• Provide tactical leadership and serve as an authority on veterinary, and scientific matters related to the investigation, management, and control of significant animal-related risks, including representing APHA at local boards and meetings upon request
• Ensure effective knowledge exchange between business units and teams, facilitating the sharing of data, information, and intelligence for decision-making. This includes addressing knowledge gaps through appropriate risk assessments for continuous improvement and reporting.
• Collaborate with senior vets and operational managers to ensure that all veterinary and technical activities are delivered in accordance with desired policy outcomes, business plans and performance targets, while working with individuals and teams to identify efficiencies and deliver cost-effective services.
• Build strong relationships with key local stakeholders and partners to influence end user compliance with animal health and welfare legislation, policies, advice, guidance and instructions.
• Oversee decisions that require a comprehensive understanding of veterinary public health, including risk assessment and enforcement, particularly in cases not directly covered by the Content Hub instructions, requiring consultation with subject matter experts or disease consultants.
• Ensure the quality of the work undertaken by field staff, including evaluating the veterinary and technical performance of Official Veterinarians and contractors as directed by the APHA central quality assurance units and Quality Leads. Assurance will include oversight and evaluation of training, competence and compliance of staff, making recommendations for improvement as appropriate.
• Work in conjunction with the field Quality Coordinator team, as the national Quality Manager for the assigned delivery subject area.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to colleagues to develop their knowledge and experience of veterinary public health through a blended mix of theory, learning and practice, supporting senior managers to proactively manage talent and advising operational managers regarding the competency of individuals to undertake specific duties during and between outbreaks.
• Offer tactical veterinary leadership and direction in response to incidents and or outbreaks of endemic or exotic notifiable disease including being available for deployment across GB.
• Assist senior managers in delivering the APHA vision by contributing to the corporate leadership of the Agency and acting as a role model to embed the necessary performance improvements and culture changes in their subject area of influence.
• Lead and contribute to national policy initiatives and reforms, undertaking lead roles on programme boards, project teams, and working groups.
• Participate in an on-call rota, which is a requirement of the role eligible for an allowance.

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• A proven track record of experience in delivery of statutory and non-statutory animal health and welfare policies, threat characterisation, risk management, enforcement and control
• Experience in tactical veterinary leadership and decision -making during incidents or outbreak response, complex case work, contingency planning, and business continuity
• Strong personal organisation, time management, inter-personal and communication skills
• A tactical thinker with well-developed analytical and creative problem-solving abilities
• Persuasive communication skills capable of translating complex science into simple messages
• The ability to coach and develop high performance in teams and individuals
• Experience working collaboratively with a network of customers, partners, industry and other stakeholders

We welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

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

• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Knowledge and experience of statutory disease control and the control of exotic and endemic notifiable disease.
• Knowledge of animal welfare and livestock husbandry.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,375, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £16,331 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

At APHA, we are committed to supporting you to develop your skills, knowledge, and professional capability throughout your career.

From day one, you will be welcomed through a structured induction programme, helping you understand the Civil Service, our work, and how we operate. You’ll work closely with your line manager to set clear priorities and develop a performance, learning, and development plan tailored to your role.

Alongside formal training, you will have opportunities to apply and develop your knowledge in a practical environment, contributing to continuous improvement and innovation.

Inclusion, support, and the wellbeing of our people are central to what we do, ensuring everyone at APHA can thrive both professionally and personally.

Benefits

• Civil Service Pension - Defra contributes an average of 28.97% of your salary towards your pension
• 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 from retailers such as Highstreet coffee shops, Cinema’s, supermarkets, Highstreet retailers and many, many more.
• Staff bonuses and recognition including appreciate vouchers of up to £200 and larger in year awards of up to £1000,
• Salary sacrifice benefit options and an employee discount scheme such as bike to work, Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme, every £8 they pay in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 a year for each child.
• Discounted gym membership with Fitness First or Pure Gym.
• Special Leave with pay, per year, for volunteering.

Making it work for you - With so many flexible working options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances

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, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV and complete 750- word Personal Statement detailing your suitability for the role based on the bullet points within the Person Specification section of the advertisement above.

Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements and your main responsibilities in each role and be no longer than 2 pages. Your CV will be used to provide further context on your Personal Statement and will be scored.

Personal Statement Guidance

When completing your Personal Statement, please read and understand the Person Specification thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Please ensure you evidence the key personal qualities and experiences that align with the criteria. Consider the Job Description and look to demonstrate how your previous experience may align with the expectations and be applicable to the role. The written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc.

You will also be asked to provide 250-word statements demonstrating how you meet the following Behaviour:

Leadership

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

Sift

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

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviour, Experience and Technical questions.

The Behaviours are as follows:.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

Making Effective Decisions

Leadership

Technical Questions asked at Interview will cover:

• Knowledge and experience of statutory disease control, and the control of Exotic or Endemic notifiable disease.
• Knowledge and experience of animal welfare and livestock husbandry.

Communicating and Influencing

The Behaviour, Communicating and Influencing will be assessed by presentation. Details of the presentation will be sent to you prior to the interview.

During the interview, Experience will be assessed through a question.

It is intended that the interview will take place via Teams.

After the interview

Once all the interviews have been conducted, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are successful at the interview stage, we will be in touch to offer you a role. Offers will be made in merit order.

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

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk using the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’

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 (excluding Northern Ireland) and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

For most candidates your hours of work will be a blend of working from an APHA workplace (specific to the team location) with working at home.

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.

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 organisation allocations 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. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

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.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions within Defra Group which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

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.

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.

NSV

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

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 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.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 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 : APHA- Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment.sdd@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: here

Attachments

Welsh APHA Information Pack Jul2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 2772kB)APHA Information Pack Jul2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 1959kB)476248 Job Advert- Welsh 25-08 Opens in new window (docx, 41kB)