Animal and Plant Health Agency
Farming and Countryside Development, Delivery and Compliance Manager
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Bristol, Cardiff, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Crewe, Exeter, Leicester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham, Preston, Winchester, York
Job Summary
Are you passionate about improving services, compliance, and outcomes for the farming community?
Are you motivated by leading collaborative change across APHA, Defra, and the wider regulatory network?
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 APHA Farming and Countryside Development, Delivery, and Compliance Manager is responsible for identifying and delivering opportunities to improve the regulatory system by working collaboratively with policy teams, other regulators, the farming community, and Defra partners. The role focuses on improving engagement, communication, and compliance through a joint service improvement approach, while ensuring APHA contributes proactively to regulatory reform and the Delivering Sustainable Future (DSF) transformation programme.
The postholder will lead the development and implementation of Defra Farming Directorate's Farming, Innovation, and Regulatory Services workstream, overseeing projects that explore alternative approaches to regulation, compliance, and enforcement. The role also involves engaging with frontline inspectors and stakeholders to improve customer experience and operational effectiveness.
Key Responsibilities To Include:
- Leading projects across Defra agencies to improve engagement with farmers and establish best practice in written and verbal communications
- Working closely with the APHA Delivering Sustainable Future programme to gather and utilise customer insight to inform service improvements
- Supporting joint learning and development initiatives across Defra regulators, identifying opportunities for shared training, particularly in generic and interpersonal skills
- Managing and promoting the use of the Eyes and Ears app, identifying opportunities to improve its effectiveness and uptake
- Leading APHA's participation in Regional Field Officer Forum pilots, working with Defra regulators to expand the initiative and deliver positive outcomes
- Contributing to the development and delivery of the Defra Joint Service Improvement Plan, including implementation of data-sharing and geospatial improvement initiatives
- Evaluating current regulatory practices and identifying opportunities to strengthen engagement with the farming community and improve compliance outcomes
- Line managing the Farming and Countryside Delivery Manager (HEO)
- Providing management oversight of Regulatory Affairs, Compliance, and Enforcement (RACE) team compliance functions and associated teams where required
Person Specification
- Knowledge of APHA's Animal Health and Welfare operational delivery and regulatory activities
- Understanding of the wider Defra regulatory landscape and the role of Defra group regulators
- Knowledge of Data Protection legislation and experience of working within data protection and information-sharing requirements
- Awareness of geospatial systems and their application within operational and regulatory delivery
- Ability to analyse regulatory systems, identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement, and develop practical solutions to enhance compliance, service delivery, and customer outcomes
- Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders
- Full UK driving licence required to undertake travel in support of field-based activities, operational visits, and attendance at regional and national forums
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Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
Changing and Improving
Salary
Alongside your salary of £44,052, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £12,761 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Learning and Development
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 High street coffee shops, Cinema’s, supermarkets, High street retailers, and 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.
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, and Experience.
Application Process
After submission of the first stage of your application, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.
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Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 28th September 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours and after 2pm on the closing date of 28th September 2026.
While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.
It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.
Please note that online tests associated with this vacancy are not subject to time limits; for further information, visit the Reasonable adjustments for online tests - a candidate guide.
You will be directed to the Talogy - True Talent – Scheduled Maintenance Window Webpage for online tests during an outage.
Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4pm and Midnight on Sunday 27th September 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.
If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a CV and complete a 750 word Personal Statement detailing your suitability for the role based on the 'Essential Experience' bullet points within the Person Specification section of the advertisement above.
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 but will not 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:
Changing and Improving
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
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