Animal and Plant Health Agency
Senior Project Support Officer
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Senior Project Support Officer
SENIOR PROJECT SUPPORT OFFICER – WAREHOME EXCELLENCE OPPORTUNITY
APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency)
About the Role
Are you a natural leader with a passion for guiding project teams and delivering impactful outcomes? Can you influence senior decision-making and drive continuous improvement in programme and portfolio management?
If so, we’d love to hear from you!
What We Offer
APHA is a dynamic place to work, where our people:
- Feel valued and empowered to be their authentic selves.
- Have a meaningful voice in decisions.
- Embrace diversity and difference, fostering innovation and better outcomes.
We are committed to building an inclusive workforce and welcome applications from all backgrounds, particularly underrepresented groups.
Flexible working arrangements, including full-time, job share, and part-time roles, are available.
The Opportunity
We are seeking two Senior Project Support Officers to join our leadership in Central Portfolio Management Office (CPMO) and the Borders and Trade Programme. An exciting match with experience in governance, assurance, PMO, and portfolio leadership could lead to one permanent position or one (18-month) fixed-term/secondment role.
You will take a strategic role, leading and coordinating project support acrossAPHA’s large-scale portfolios while acting as a proactive line manager, shaping project standards and delivery excellence.
Locations & Programmes
1. Central Portfolio Management Office (CPMO) – Permanent Position
Supported by the Projects and Change Portfolio which is pivotal for delivering APHA’s Sustainable Futures Strategy alongside critical organisational transformation, you will:
- Interact with APHA's four key portfolios:
- Borders and Trade (B&T)
- Priority Policy (PP)
- Digital & Operational Services (DOS)
- Delivering Sustainable Futures (DSF)
- Provide professional leadership for Project Support Officers across these portfolios.
- Ensure consistency in standards across all portfolio initiatives.
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2. Borders and Trade Programme – Fixed Term (18-month) / Secondment
This role supports APHA’s response to the UK/EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, delivering changes to systems, processes, and work practices. You will:
- Work closely with the Senior PMO Lead.
- Ensure effective trade and biosecurity processes are embedded.
- Contribute to the safe movement of animals, plants, and agri-food products.
Key Responsibilities & Focus Areas
Leadership & People Management
- Guide project teams with clarity while setting strong work priorities.
- Foster high performance by role modelling professionalism.
- Develop PMO and project teams through coaching, mentoring, and change management.
- Manage upward effectively to support decision-making.
Governance & Reporting
- Maintain robust governance and reporting arrangements.
- Apply PMO standards (aligned with APHA, Defra, and government requirements) across the portfolio.
- Deliver clear, data-driven insights for senior leaders.
Planning & Coordination
- Align multi-project delivery, ensuring confidence in timelines.
- Oversee planning, prioritisation, and capacity allocation.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the central contact for project governance.
- Build trusted relationships across levels to resolve issues and dependencies promptly.
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Continuous Improvement
- Promote best practice and learn from past experiences.
- Enhance PMO capabilities and processes, including digital solutions.
Financial & Resource Management
- Oversee resource allocation and utilisation.
Risk & Escalation Management
- Monitor and escalate challenges with clear risk analysis and recommendations.
Person Specification – What We’re Looking For
Essential Skills & Experience
- Strong track record in PMO, governance, reporting, or assurance support.
- Proven experience leading a team, including setting performance objectives and developing capability.
- Exceptional planning, prioritisation, and decision-making skills.
- Competent in PMO tools, methodologies, and best practices across projects.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including tailoring information for senior stakeholders.
Qualifications
- A recognised project/portfolio management certification or equivalent (e.g., APM PFQ/PMQ, PRINCE2, MSP, or MoP). OR
- Demonstrated experience with a willingness to pursue qualification in future.
Benefits & Offer
- Salary: £42,665 (with £12,360 additional pension match via Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme).
- Paid Leave: 25 days annually, increasing up to a maximum of 30.
- Development: Tailored learning opportunities for professional growth.
- Employee Discount Scheme: Access to exclusive savings on retail, travel, and lifestyle offers.
- Flexibility: A wide range of flexible working solutions available.
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