About APHA

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 2,500 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. The Commercial Department is one of many departments within the Science Directorate and supports APHA by increasing its opportunities to widen its global, European, and national outreach.

The Role

As the Grants Officer you will be a critical member of the Commercial Department working across all programme areas within the agency. You will be instrumental in driving forward a sustainable research and technical assistance culture within the agency.

Assisting scientists in the identification, preparation, and submission of programme grants with responsibility for disseminating information about funding calls to researchers and helping them in finding the best sponsor and scheme for their research ideas. You will be providing support and coordinating the development of proposals, ensuring that submissions are of the highest standards and meet tight deadlines. You will work in collaboration with Finance Partners and Business Development Managers to ensure effective and efficient grant-making processes.

Who we’re looking for

You’ll be someone who can balance strong attention to detail and analytical skills with an engaging, consultative, relationship-focused approach to working with people. Have a Bachelor’s Degree and experience writing large and complex grant proposals and/or reports to both government and private funding sources. You will be a strategic thinker with a process and system mindset with the ability to quickly grasp the nature of a project and its requirements. Exceptionally strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to adjust working and communication styles to meet the requirements of multiple audiences and partners. Well-developed planning, prioritising, and problem-solving skills and comfortable in delivering to tight deadlines and competing priorities. Experience in building effective working relationships with team members of diverse backgrounds and expertise, both in person and virtual. Knowledge of or willingness to learn various internal APHA processes and procedures

What’s in it for me?

In return for your dedication and hard work, 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 (A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%), staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers, in-year cash bonuses. 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 a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role.