Animal and Plant Health Agency
Portfolio Analyst and Stakeholder Manager
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Bristol, Cardiff, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Crewe, Exeter, Leicester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham, Perth, Preston, Winchester, York
Job Summary
Can you build trusted stakeholder relationships and influence decisions to help shape a clear, prioritised portfolio pipeline?
Can you manage portfolio information effectively and use it to support clear reporting, prioritisation and decision-making?
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 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
We have an exciting opportunity for a Portfolio Analyst and Stakeholder Manager to join our Projects & Change team. You will play a pivotal role in promoting and supporting the delivery of the Agency’s Vision, Mission and strategic objectives, by providing high-level oversight of and support for the delivery of projects and programmes within the APHA Change Portfolio.
You will lead APHA’s project pipeline process. This process commissions, prioritises, and logs new change activity and feeds it into the projects and change portfolio, whether APHA is delivering the work or receiving it.
You will provide insight, information and support that strengthens portfolio governance and enables prioritisation decisions and effective allocation of project delivery resources across the portfolio.
Stakeholder engagement and management is a core part of this role, working across APHA business units, you will take account of stakeholder levels of influence and particular interests, ensuring their involvement throughout the project lifecycle, and representing their priorities in the portfolio pipeline of work. This role provides an opportunity to develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, providing clear communication and alignment with APHA’s objectives.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:
Portfolio & Stakeholder Expertise: Proven experience working in a portfolio environment ideally in portfolio analysis or strong stakeholder management experience within a project environment.
Leadership: Proven experience in leading and managing teams within projects or change initiatives. Proven ability to lead, inspire and can make sound and balanced judgements.
Continuous Improvement: Experience in reviewing and developing processes, implementing new ways of working, and driving continuous improvement.
Communicating and Influencing: Strong written and verbal communication skills, confident in influencing and guiding senior stakeholders and teams on complex issues.
Technical, Organisational & Delivery Skills: Proficient in Microsoft applications (Microsoft Lists, Power Automate, Visio, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint), exceptionally organised and adaptable, delivering results in fast-paced, complex environments.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
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You will be required to deliver a presentation to assess your ability to gather information, analyse and prioritise a portfolio of change initiatives. Full details will be provided prior to interview.
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £42,665, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £12,360 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Further Benefits Offered Also Include
- 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.
- Three days special leave with pay, per year, for volunteering (pro-rata for part time employees).
- Flexible working options to suit your circumstances.
Learning and Development
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 a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role.
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, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1
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.
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 4th August 2026. If you fail to complete the online test and full application 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 4th August 2026.
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
Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 3pm-Midnight on 2nd August 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.
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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.
You will also be required to complete the following as part of your application:
- A CV submitted through an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite; there is no requirement to upload your personal CV.
- 750-word Personal Statement.
- A 250-word Behaviour Statement for the lead Behaviour, Communicating and Influencing following the Behaviour criteria outlined in the Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK framework for the grade of the role.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
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. The CV will not be scored but can be used to support your application.
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 Person Specification 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.
We encourage you to use the full word allowance of the Personal Statement but not to exceed.
You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several criteria.
Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift and/or progressed straight to interview.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
For further guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website.
Stage 2
Preparing for the interview
During The Interview You Will Be Assessed Based On
- Your previous experiences relevant to the role requirements outlined in the advert following the Success Profiles: Experience - GOV.UK framework.
- The Behaviours specified in the Job Advert, following the Behaviour criteria outlined in the Success Profiles: Civil Service Behaviours - GOV.UK framework for SEO positions.
- The Technical Skill outlined in the advert following the Success Profiles: Technical - GOV.UK framework.
- A selection of Strength based questions related to the role requirements. Following the Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK framework. There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
Additionally, a presentation will also be assessed.
Interview Process
If you are selected for interview, you will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.
Upon receiving the interview invitation
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
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