Wildlife Field Officer CR1518/CR2092

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 3,000 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.

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.

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, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help 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.

We are looking for compassionate, dedicated individuals who strive for excellence and integrity, who are passionate about supporting the British farming industry and ensuring healthy wildlife populations.

Are you conscientious and an excellent team worker?

Do you enjoy working outside?

If the answer is ‘yes’, we would love to hear from you!

We currently have an exciting opportunity in the Wildlife Team for Field Staff to operate nationally. These posts will form part of a team of Field Staff to assist with delivering vaccination of badgers against TB and related work, mainly field-based activities such as badger sett and activity surveys.

The contractual base location for this team (the Northern Hub) will be based in Preston, although teams will operate from other designated APHA locations. The Wildlife Health Field Services Unit is located in Stroud, and this is where your training will be undertaken. All business costs/expenses incurred for training will be covered by APHA.

Job description

This is an important part of supporting implementation of the Government’s TB Strategy, and we are looking for highly motivated individuals with a willingness to travel and work away from home regularly and with a strong appetite for wildlife-related outdoors work. This role requires substantial and regular travel to various destinations within England throughout the year.

You will spend most of your time between May and end of November undertaking badger vaccination fieldwork, which is taking place in a wide geographic spread of counties across England. You would be expected to regularly work away for continuous 3 week periods (for each trapping and vaccination round). This includes working the second weekend only. Turn-around time between three-week vaccination rounds may be short at times. Where vaccination areas are close to your home location you may be able to carry out some vaccination rounds within reasonable daily travel and we will always endeavour to match staff home locations to project areas to minimize travel however the expectation would be that there would be a substantial requirement for away working in these roles.

From December to April inclusive, you will be undertaking other wildlife related duties mainly consisting of conducting field surveys (again, across a range of counties as required by project needs therefore potentially requiring further travel and staying away from home) and potentially other activities related to estimating and monitoring badger numbers some of which may involve periods of deskwork. Ability to satisfy this mobility requirement of the roles is therefore essential.

Suitable vehicles will be provided for this work on a business-use only basis and related expenses will be covered. Vehicles will be kept at the designated APHA office and collected by team members from site although in certain circumstances permission can be sought to keep a vehicle at home overnight (for example during vaccination mornings when working anti-social hours). Regular attendance at the designated office will be necessary. Some training may take place elsewhere. Please note that journeys to/from the designated office will be at your own expense and in your own time.

This is a great opportunity to gain new skills and valuable experience of wildlife-related fieldwork. If you are already a trained badger vaccinator or experienced in surveying for badgers, it is an opportunity to substantially employ those skills.

The wider wildlife team based at Aston Down, Woodchester Park and Sand Hutton (in York), is involved in a range of research activities, primarily focused on wildlife health and management across a wide variety of species therefore there may be opportunity/ business need to work across a wider range of species. The Woodchester Park unit delivers a range of mainly badger-related wildlife research, scientific, technical, and field-based services and projects for Defra’s TB policy team and Welsh Government. This supports the implementation of strategies to tackle TB.

• Field staff will generally work alone but as part of an overall team to deliver vaccination campaigns and field survey and monitoring work.
• Vaccination projects are ongoing across counties in the South West, North West and North East currently, however there is the potential for the team to be asked to deliver new vaccination campaigns in any counties of England, as directed by changing policy needs. It is therefore critical that the postholder is geographically flexible and willing and able to travel and work away from home regularly for this role
• You will be responsible for your own vaccination rounds (normally lasting 3 weeks per round end to end), and including surveying, trapping, welfare assessment, vaccinating and then releasing the animals. You will need to undertake relevant training and familiarisation with how this work is done (passing a competency assessment) and will be expected to adhere strictly to trained methodologies and APHA standard operating procedures.
• Some office or desk-based work will likely be necessary shortly before the start of, and after the end of fieldwork as well as ongoing administrative duties required year-round e.g. mandatory training, submitting timecards and vehicle log sheets.
• During the closed season other desk-based duties may likely include reviewing images from wildlife cameras.
• Although this role is predominantly field based there is an essential requirement for good IT skills as all time-recording and expenses are submitted online and project documentation and standard operating procedures are all accessed online. Data collection in the field (for example recording outcomes of trapping activities) is app-based data recording
• Mandatory online and face to face training must be completed; this includes induction training and staying up to date with regular training requirements. Additional training to support your role as a line manager will also be required.
• Necessary equipment for the field work, including a laptop and mobile phone, will be provided, as will a suitable vehicle for business purposes only.
• You will be expected to regularly attend your designated office for team meetings, and meetings with your line manager and colleagues. MS Teams can also be used, for example if you are working away from the office, or regular communications with Stroud based colleagues.

Things you need to know and main responsibilities:

• To undertake APHA training (induction and ongoing mandatory) and familiarise yourself with relevant APHA user support IT systems, procedures, standards, and practices.
• To undertake relevant training in badger sett-survey/badger monitoring techniques, appropriate trapping techniques, appropriate handling of vaccine and badger vaccination; including being assessed and signed off as competent in all relevant field skills before you can deploy.
• To carry out all tasks following relevant standard operating procedures, best practice guidance and instructions from managers and the Directing Vet overseeing APHA delivered badger vaccination.
• To become self-sufficient at operating consecutive rounds of badger trapping and vaccination during the period May to end November inclusive; each round will cover several square kilometres and is expected to take approximately 3 weeks to complete. Where vaccination areas are close to your home location you may be able to carry out some vaccination rounds within reasonable daily travel time and we will always endeavour to match home locations to project areas to minimize travel however the expectation would be that there would be a substantial requirement for away working in these roles.
• To accurately complete all associated project paperwork and records (including app-based recording) to deadlines, submitting accurate and complete field data on time. To use all equipment and vehicles issued to you in line with organisational policies.
• To maintain regular contact with your HEO line manager/supervisor and the Operational Manager within the Wildlife Health Field Services Unit, ensuring they are made aware in a timely fashion of any work or relevant personal issues affecting your ability to work.
• To establish and maintain professional relationships with relevant landowners and range of other external stakeholders and members of the public presenting professionally and courteously as APHA staff at all times and adhering to the terms and conditions of the relevant access agreements. Face to face meetings with landowners as well as phone and e-mail contact will be a regular part of the role, following set protocols as directed by project managers.
• To undertake relevant health and safety training, including lone-worker First Aid training and 4x4 driving.
• To adhere to all health and safety advice (including use of the PeopleSafe app as directed by project managers), APHA Standard Operating Procedures and also observe advice in all relevant risk assessments. These aspects will cover both operating in the field and driving for business purposes as appropriate.

**This post involves working with nuts, including peanuts, as a bait source in badger trapping, so would not be suitable for persons with nut allergies**

The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and, where required, wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE). Please note, as per APHA Health and Safety standards on RPE, Tight-fitting RPE (masks, both powered and non-powered) will only provide effective protection on clean shaven face. Men should be clean shaven when face fitted and when required to wear the RPE during fieldwork.

The post will require Health clearance. You will be expected to complete a questionnaire on your general health and have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance, including (Avian Influenza, TB, Tetanus and Respiratory & Skin Sensitisers). This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge.

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

Person specification

This role is predominantly based outdoors and will require a strong appetite and aptitude for that. You will require a suitable degree of physical fitness, proficiency in map-reading and accurate positioning and ability to carry necessary equipment while working in varied terrain and weather, which could include for example, steep and densely wooded areas. Physical demands may for example include carrying cage traps (each weighing around 10kg) and equipment some distance to/from less easily accessible areas and setting traps following set protocols. You will therefore need to be in good health, self-reliant and resilient, confident in working alone and able to strike up professional relations with farmers and landowners whilst also working within set communication guidelines, both during regular face to face interactions and during phone/written communication.

Must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to enable effective communication with customers and colleagues and meet one of the following:

• have undertaken undergraduate veterinary training in English;
• having a sufficient command of spoken and written English to effectively perform the role being undertaken by a public sector worker in a customer-facing role
• have achieved the following scores in the academic international English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application – Overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 7.

The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and, where required, wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE). Please note, as per APHA Health and Safety standards on RPE, Tight-fitting RPE (masks, both powered and non-powered) will only provide effective protection on clean shaven face. Men should be clean shaven when face fitted and when required to wear the RPE during fieldwork.

The post will require Health clearance. You will be expected to complete a questionnaire on your general health and have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance, including (Avian Influenza, TB, Tetanus and Respiratory & Skin Sensitisers). This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge.

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

The post holder must work from the location listed in the Location section of the advert.

Licences

A Full UK Driving Licence is mandatory.

Technical skills

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

• Communicating with others
• Planning fieldwork and Organisational Skills
• Attention to detail
• Proficiency in map-reading and accurate positioning
• Ability to follow set standards and procedures
• Ability to work flexibly in response to changing business needs
• IT Competency

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,715, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £8,608 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support as the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful 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 your performance, and a learning and development and this includes can include a variety of courses, Apprenticeships, paid Masters and PhD and on-the-job training specific to your role

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

These are just a few of our benefits we offer. To find out the full range of what we offer refer to the Information Pack attached for more detail.

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 Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV submitted through an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite; there is no requirement to upload your personal CV.
• A 500-word Personal Statement of how you match the details in the Personal Specification – the written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. We encourage you to use the full word allowance of the Personal Statement but not to exceed it.

CV Guidance

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 scored against the essential criteria.

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. Your Personal Statement will be assessed and scored, the scoring of your Personal Statement will be out of 7 aligned to Success Profile experience scoring rating.

You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several essential criteria.

Scoring for all criteria of the application is from 1 to 7 – A score of 4 and above in each area will progress to interview unless there is a large number of applications. In this instance, an initial sift will be conducted using the personal statement.Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

The panel may agree a benchmark score higher than 4 with a rationale for the decision. Any candidates applying under the Disability Confident Scheme who scores 4 or above on all of the criteria will be offered an interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

For further guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV style application, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website. How to write your CV , Civil Service Careers

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 Science.DirectorateHR@apha.gov.uk with the vacancy reference number, your applicant reference number, and the closing date.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on

• Experience as detailed in the Person Specification section - Success Profiles: Experience - GOV.UK framework.
• Technical skills, as outlined in the advert and job description, following theSuccess Profiles: Technical - GOV.UKframework. These will be assessed through a structured set of questions.

Your interview will be conducted face to face. You will be notified of the location and full details at the time of invite.

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

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

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

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

Pro-rata salary for job share.

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 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.

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.

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.

Working Pattern

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. We may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis if continuity can be arranged.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Defra 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.

Feedback

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 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 : Wildlife Jobs - Alissa Tonkinson
• Email : wildlifejobs@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