Wildlife Field Staff ID:1671

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 looking for compassionate, dedicated individuals who strive for excellence and integrity and who put animal health and welfare at the heart of everything they do.
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. This post 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 Wildlife Team are based at two locations; these roles may be contractually based at either the Woodchester Park location in Gloucestershire or the Sand Hutton location in York, although other APHA locations may be considered. (The project management office for this work is located at the Woodchester Park site).
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 October undertaking badger vaccination fieldwork, which is taking place in a wide geographic spread of counties, as far south as Cornwall and as far north as Cumbria. You would be expected to regularly work away for continuous 3 week periods (for each trapping and vaccination round). 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 endeavor 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 November to April inclusive, you will be undertaking other badger-related duties mainly consisting of conducting field surveys (again, across a range of counties as required by project needs) 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. Some initial attendance at Woodchester Park will be necessary for training and enrolment but further attendance on site thereafter is expected to be infrequent/minimal as you will primarily be working in the field as determined by the needs of the project (and therefore mostly travelling to work sites from home). Some training may take place elsewhere.
Please note that, if Woodchester Park is your normal contractual base, journeys to/from Woodchester Park will be at your own expense and in your own time. Depending on your home location, this might also necessitate overnight stays at your own expense. Once you are assigned a vehicle, occasional visits to your contracted base at Woodchester Park in your work trucks from your home locations is permitted where this is necessary and/or incidental to delivering the fieldwork.
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 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. The unit at Woodchester Park has at its heart a well-established scientific study that enables research into TB and badger ecology and the maintenance of a high standard of key skill sets and expertise.
What the role involves:
+ 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 in Cornwall, Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire currently, however there is the potential for the team to be asked to deliver new vaccination campaigns in other counties, as directed by policy. 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 trapping, welfare assessment, vaccinating and then releasing the animals.
+ Some office or desk-based work will likely be necessary shortly before the start of, and after the end of fieldwork
+ During the closed season other desk based duties will include reviewing images from wildlife cameras
+ Although this role is predominantly field based there is a requirement for good IT skills as all time-recording and expenses are submitted online
+ Mandatory online training must be completed
+ Data collection in the field (for example recording outcomes of trapping activities) is app-based data recording
+ 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 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.
+ Team meetings and meetings with the project management office, line managers, colleagues can usually be held online using software applications such as MS Teams unless there is a need to meet face to face.
Main responsibilities that come with the role include:
+ To undertake APHA induction training 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 become self-sufficient at operating consecutive rounds of badger trapping and vaccination during the period May to end October inclusive; each round will cover several square kilometres and is expected to take approximately 3 weeks to complete.
+ To accurately complete all associated project paperwork and records to deadlines, submitting accurate and complete field data on time.
+ To maintain regular contact with your HEO line manager/supervisor and the project management team and ensure that your line manager is 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 (this will include regular face to face meetings as well as phone and e-mail contact, following set protocols as directed by project managers) presenting professionally as APHA staff at all times and adhering to the terms and conditions of the relevant access agreements.
+ To undertake relevant health and safety training, including lone-worker First Aid training and 4x4 driving.
+ To adhere to all health and safety advice, 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., Good IT skills as all time-recording and expenses are submitted online, mandatory online training must be completed and data collection in the field (for example recording outcomes of trapping activities) is moving towards app-based data recording
This is a Fixed Term Appointment with no intention to become a permanent post. Contract will run from individually agreed start dates in 2024 until 31st December 2026 after the close of the vaccination work. Detailed schedule:
2024: May/June: Enrolment and field competency training during this window. Detailed scheduling of start dates to be agreed with successful individuals.
2024: July to October 2024: Vaccination field work across a range of counties (regular away working for three-week periods required)
2024: November to April 2025: Range of field and desk-based duties including (but not limited to) population monitoring, reviewing wildlife camera footage, carrying out field surveys across a range of counties (regular away working may be required, depending on where the survey need is)
2025: May to October 2025: Vaccination field work across a range of counties (regular away working for three-week periods required)
2025: November 2025 to October 2026: Range of field and desk-based duties including (but not limited to) population monitoring, reviewing wildlife camera footage, carrying out field surveys across a range of counties (regular away working may be required, depending on where the survey need is)
2026: November- December 2026: final reporting – contract ends.
The work of the post can be physically demanding.
A valid full driving licence is necessary.

• This role is not suitable to anyone with a peanut allergy

Due to access requirements to bio secure areas, individuals must be physically able.
Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident.
Successful candidate must be available to take up the post from 12th August 2024 at the latest.

Licences
A full UK driving licence is required to fulfil this role, We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Delivering at Pace

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Good IT skills as all time-recording and expenses are submitted online, mandatory online training must be completed and data collection in the field (for example recording outcomes of trapping activities) is moving towards app-based data recording., 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.
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 posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
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 Field Staff in the Wildlife Team.
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.
This post will therefore begin from the candidate's start date and end on 31/12/2026
Full Time Only
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.
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
Should you be successful at interview you will be required to undertake this security check along with Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check. This includes: identity, employment status, nationality and immigration status, criminal records and any other essential pre-employment checks.”
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.
Depending on the areas of work involved you will be expected to have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment.
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.
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
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The roles are predominantly based outdoors and will require a strong appetite and aptitude for that. They 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. 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., Demonstrate your suitability by drawing on for example any relevant field-based wildlife/animal research; wildlife, animal and/or land-related management activities, or other outdoors activities/jobs you have undertaken., GCSE in Maths and English at Grade C/Level 4 or above

Alongside your salary of £27,470, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £7,416 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and privilege days
+ 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 average employer contribution of 27%