Animal and Plant Health Agency
Administrative Officer APHA Starcross (ID4685)
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Administrative Officer APHA Starcross (ID4685)
Location
Starcross, South West England, EX6 8PE
Job Summary
Do you have excellent communication skills?
Do you thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment?
Do you enjoy working to tight deadlines?
If so, we would love to hear from you!
APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value differences 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.
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.
You will provide general administrative support to the Surveillance and Laboratory Services Department, which works to safeguard animal health and welfare.
Job Description
- Providing various office administrative duties, including but not limited to:
- Booking in submissions
- Preparing reports
- Answering telephone queries and following up enquiries
- Ensuring accurate records are kept and updated accordingly
- File management
- Inputting data and information onto APHA data systems
- Ordering stationery, laboratory and PM room consumables
Person Specification: Requirements
You will need to demonstrate the following:
- Being well-organised
- Responding positively to change
- Being customer service focused
- Accuracy in inputting data and collating/filing paperwork
- Being IT competent using Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, Outlook)
Work Pattern
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Working on-site five days per week on a full-time basis.
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Alternative: Two part-time staff on a job share basis may be considered if continuity can be arranged.
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Working time spent at the workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations (e.g., for training) or field-based sites.
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Travel costs to non-contractual locations are subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies.
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Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
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A valid full driving licence is necessary or access to an alternative means of transport.
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Health clearance may require completion of a questionnaire on general health, necessary vaccinations/health surveillance, and a possible pre-employment medical assessment.
Behaviours (Applied During Selection)
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Technical Skills Assessed During Selection
- IT Skill Test
- Filing Test
- Prioritising Exercise
Benefits
- Salary: £26,025 alongside a £7,539 pension contribution from APHA as part of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme (Civil Service Pension details).
- Annual Leave: Minimum of 25 days (increasing annually by 1 day up to a maximum of 30 days).
- Learning & Development: Extensive opportunities tailored to your role, including:
- Paid Apprenticeships
- Masters/PhD studies
- On-the-job training
- Employee Discounts: Wide range of retail, travel, and lifestyle discounts.
- Volunteering Leave: Three days’ paid special leave per year for volunteering (scaled for part-time employees).
- Wellbeing Support: A focus on career and personal development with inclusion and support initiatives.
- Flexible Working Options: Tools to develop work schedules suited to personal circumstances.
Application Process
Requirements:
- CV-Style Application: Completed via the Civil Service Jobs website. No personal CV upload required.
- Personal Statement: 500 words outlining how you match the Person Specification (written evidence must relate to your individual experiences).
- Behaviour Statements: 250 words each for "Making Effective Decisions" and "Delivering at Pace" (aligned to the Coordinate, Lead and Support (CLOVER) framework).
supplémentaires :
- Applications will be scored from 1–7 per criterion. Candidates scoring 4 and above in all areas will progress to interview unless excessive applications necessitate a different cut-off. Disability-Confident Scheme applicants with 4 or above will receive an interview.
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Interview Stage
Where and When The interview will be face-to-face at APHA Starcross. Planned dates: Interview week commencing: 17th August 2026 (subject to change).
Assessment Criteria Candidates will be judged on:
- Relevance of Past Experiences to role requirements (aligned with the Coordinate, Lead and Support (CLOVER) framework).
- Behavioural Competencies:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together (Applicants are expected to use the STAR technique in interview).
- Technical Skills (3 tasks; 15 minutes allocated).
Technical Assessment (Part of the process)
- Success Profiles will assess experience, behaviours, and technical skills.
Close Date:
- Close date of campaign: 26th July 2026
Selection:
- Sift week: 27th to 31st July 2026
Selection Process Principles
- Detailed Screening Application:
- Must complete the CV-style application via the Civil Service Jobs website.
- Application Paperwork:
- 500-word Personal Statement for evidence aligning to the Person Specification.
- 250-word statement for the Making Effective Decisions and Delivering at Pace behaviours using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Scoring & Sifting
- Scoring Criteria: 1 to 7 across aspects.
- Minimum Progress: You must achieve a score of 4 or above across each area.
- Exception (Disability-Confident Scheme): Those meeting minimum criteria with disabilities will secure an interview.
- Fire-walling Note: Initial sifting will prioritize candidates scoring higher in the behaviour category "Delivering at Pace" if needed.
Eligibility
- Accurate ticking required on the application form in the eligibility sections.
- Handling Mistakes: Mistakes in ticked options can be corrected only within 2 working days prior.
- Any errors require setting up via email: Science.DirectorateHR@apha.gov.uk (rifinery)
- Include:
- Vacancy reference number
- Applicant reference number
- Closing date.
Working Pattern Summary
- Full-Time: The post is available in this setting.
- Part-Time Job Share Consideration: Up to two part-time staff if operational continuity may be ensured.
Flexible options are encouraged and may be negotiated. Employees must have:
- Honestly complete all sections of the civil service eligibility questionnaire. Relying on AI to write any of your submissions could lead to those sections getting rejected, unreviewed, or referred directly to disciplinary action if confirmed.
Eligible Nationalities
Applicants can be:
- UK nationals
- Ireland nationals
- Citizens from Commonwealth countries with UK work rights
- EU nationals (including Swiss canton, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland) with:
- Settled/pre-settled EUSS status
- Successful applications (previously or present) for same
- Turkish citizens and certain relatives/associated family members with working rights
- Individuals with permanent limited UK status who could always prove EUSS eligibility associates
For deeper details visit the civil service’s highlight concerning definition of nationalities.
Post-Interview Communication
- Feedback: Only received following actual interviews or assessments.
- Outcome Notifications: Following all interviews, candidates will be informed by email.
- Offer Procedural order: Offers will follow in merit order.
Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
- Great Place to Work for Veterans: This role is part of the initiative.
- Applicants from Prisons: Applications encouraged from those recently released or with unspent convictions.
Feedback
No written or verbal feedback provided unless attended an interview/assessment.
Pre-Employment Processes
- Successful candidates must complete:
- Security vetting:
- Sole baseline personnel data reset must be submitted.
- DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check for new hires transfer education forms.
- Health References including:
- Health declarations and vaccination requisites information,
- Health Surveillance examinations included skin sensitizing surveys.
- Potential relevant medical tests authored possibly approved by Weybridge Health Team
- Security vetting:
- Medical Assessments as necessary enforced by medical instructions pre-recruitment branding.
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Other Responsibilities
A criminal records check may also be executed in the case of candidates migrating from other government departments.
It is strongly encouraged:
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Documentation As Soon As Possible: Timing in documents submission avoidance can critically delay application processing.
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Communication paths: Deputy Fraud Investigative Branch: send related contact and formal confirmation to
pre-employmentchecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk -
Exceptions acknowledged should include instances where info submission of a completed related writ specifically directly indeed. However application timelines cannot be stretched past initial reportier deadline.
Adjustments for Disability and Accessibility
To address any substantial disadvantage encountered:
- Inform ASAP before deadline: Government Recruitment Service: contact: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk Request format/needed by presenting your location on-line modifications and system customization needed.
- Fill the ‘Assistant Needed’ section inside the application's extra notes within your application.
Work Location: Contracts
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Pre-contractual local processing will negotiate the Starcross, Devon base location only.
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The maximum permissible contractual work will be traditionally F2F within designated workplace—based spaces but working pattern flexibility expires to desktops/alternate workspace, ensured each location’s capabilities can manged safely at app-level (civil servants’ minimum 60% DH locations).
The remaining time is under mutual agreement between staff and supervisor infused flexibility options provision.
Clarifications
- you could not self-report pre-set doubts questioning General Proposed travel means across non-contract provision — explained exceptions hierarchy handle accordingly.
- Inclusion: The expected disciplinary check domains include Determination Regulations and Approval forms, points previously identified inside External Hiring Information.
On overseas based-residencies language informed Civil Service requirements.
Nationalities for Civil Service:
.disabled candidates held additionally at the Disclosure Schemes Benchmarking. Terry minimum are offered interview path review/
General Civil Service Code:
- The Civil Service Code outlines professional behavior norms and is mandatory adherence.
- Understands how Discrimination Policy concerns and training pathways work in broad agency context.The Civil Service Commission:
- Participation: Ensuring open competition and good governance across departments using officials’ guidance and channels.
- .Success Profiles used a linked engagement that determines another evaluation post-recruiting protocol:
Initial Disclosures & Disability Advantage
Simultaneous application position disclosure criteria considers DCS applicants on failure in criteria-closure under current Eligibility Data. All-pointing queries also:
Secures a due dialogue and sensitivity.
Gist of Forward Processes
Elements beyond diary-file closing within email central estimators require thorough utilization, grist:
Contact Points
Job Contact:
- Name: Science Directorate Recruitment Team Email: Science.DirectorateHR@apha.gov.uk
Recruitment Support (External Query solicitations): Email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Not satisfied? Additional processes adhawk-check communicable with recourse standing deviations from formal Coordination Ensues Clarification scheduled approach. Email again: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Standalone extended application missed questions may require pertaining the Civil Service Commission direct talks or announcements thereafter.
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