Animal and Plant Health Agency
Veterinary Advisor - International Trade team
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Veterinary Advisor - International Trade team
Veterinary Advisor to Centre for International Trade (CIT) – Full-Time / Part-Time / Job Share / Flexible Working
Locations: Bristol, Cardiff, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Crewe, Exeter, Leicester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham, Perth, Preston, Winchester, York
About the Role
Are you a leader with a passion for change, communication, and problem-solving in a dynamic, fast-paced environment? Do you thrive in roles that prioritise variety, flexibility, and meaningful impact?
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an exceptional workplace where employees feel valued, empowered to have a voice, and encouraged to be authentic selves. We champion diversity and inclusion, believing these qualities drive innovation and stronger decision-making.
Our mission is to be an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities to all. We actively aim to build a diverse workforce and encourage applications from all backgrounds—especially those traditionally underrepresented in the sector.
Role Overview
We are excited to welcome a Veterinary Advisor to our Centre for International Trade (CIT) team, where you will oversee and advise on critical import/export matters for agriculture and animal health.
Your leadership will be central to supporting the International Veterinary Team (IVT), broader CIT initiatives, and APHA’s strategic priorities.
Responsibilities
Your key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead and manage the International Veterinary Team, defining clear strategic direction while providing day-to-day operational oversight.
- Foster performance development, effective people management, and high-quality outcomes across the team.
Expert Veterinary Advice & Policy Support
- Deliver authoritative, evidence-based veterinary advice to IVT, APHA, Defra policy teams, and the Chief Veterinary Officer.
- Collaborate on trade policy development, ensuring alignments with opportunity-driven issues and the organisation’s goals.
Border Control & Trade Partnerships
- Work with the Veterinary Head of Border Control and Veterinary Advisors for Border Control Posts to shape policies for EU border controls.
- Address UK and international border challenges while supporting new and emerging trade agreements.
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Collaboration, Culture & Best Practice
- Cultivate a "one team" culture by encouraging cross-training, knowledge sharing, and best-practice adoption.
- Enhance operational consistency, efficiency, resilience, and value-for-money across APHA’s trade delivery programmes.
Quality Assurance & Operational Excellence
- Oversee quality assurance of APHA trade certification, ensuring accuracy and consistency for traders.
- Co-lead the Border Control Knowledge Forum and align trade activities with policy and performance targets.
Biosecurity, Resilience & Crisis Response
- Support business continuity planning and contribute to disease outbreak responses.
- Guide Defra’s prioritisation, balancing trade facilitation and national animal health/biosafety priorities.
Stakeholder Engagement & Delegation
- Represent CIT and APHA at external stakeholder events to build and maintain strong relations.
- Ensure internal feedback loops to inform decision-making and strategic directions.
Person Specification
To excel in this role, you will demonstrate strong proficiency in:
Core Skills & Behaviours
✅ Leadership & Decision-Making
- Fifty-first a values-driven, influence-based leader excelling in decisive leadership to drive Civil Service behaviours and change management within APHA.
✅ Relationship Management
- Exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills to build longitudinal relationships, covering internal teams, delivery partners, and customer-facing stakeholders.
✅ Performance & Improvement
- Strong performance management ability, including:
- Setting clear performance expectations
- Facilitating meaningful performance conversations
- Coaching and mentoring staff for continuous improvement
- Driving actionable metrics to meet organisational goals
✅ Resource & Organisational Management
- Adaptive resource management tailored for complex environments, combined with exceptional organisational skills and prioritisation strategy.
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✅ Communication & Professional Credibility
- Robust written and verbal communication to provide clear, actionable advice and represent APHA’s interests with stakeholders ranging from policy-makers to traders.
✅ Governance & Quality Assurance
- Abilities to work within rigorous, audit-driven systems while maintaining high standards of record-keeping, traceability, and accountability.
** Qualifications & Professional Standards**
- Holding (or being eligible for) a veterinary degree that qualifies you to register as a Member or Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
Benefits Package
Remuneration
- Annual base salary: £56,375 (negotiable in accordance with APHA’s pay and benefits scheme, reflecting relevant experience and skills).
- Civil Service defined-benefit pension scheme: APHA contributes £16,331/year toward your pension scheme.
Competitive Benefits Beyond Salary
✔ Paid leave: Minimum of 25 days per year, rising by 1 day annually up to a maximum of 30 days. ✔ Learning and professional development: Access to tailored training programmes and career progression opportunities. ✔ Employee discounts: Discounts on retail, travel, lifestyle products, and services through APHA’s partnership programme. ✔ Recognition and reward: Annual staff bonus schemes, performance-related incentives, and an employee reward scheme for exceptional contributions. ✔ Volunteer time: 3 paid days leave annually for volunteering work (adjustable for part-time roles). ✔ Flexible working: A wide array of flexible employment models, including part-time, job-sharing, and hybrid options, to accommodate varying work needs.
How to Apply
Explore the full application details: Veterinary Advisor – International Trade team on the Civil Service Jobs pages.
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