Grants Officer ID2772

APHA is seeking people passionate about leadership, excelling in interesting and creative roles that help civil servants and public sector leaders to succeed and support citizens by collaborating across the public sector. This role will provide business, science, and people leadership driving transformative change, innovation, and science excellence for APHA.
Are you inspirational in your leadership style? Are you curious by nature?
Can you lead and manage change within a challenging and dynamic environment?
Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare?
Do you want to apply your communication and problem-solving skills in a role that provides variety and flexibility?
Are you able to influence others and guide your team in a shared strategy?
Would you like to be part of an agency that values managers, responsible for building and maintaining employee morale, helping employees reach their full potential and inspiring loyalty?
Can you lead and manage successfully in a challenging and dynamic environment?
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
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.
The Grant Office supports APHA by increasing its opportunities to widen its global, European, and national outreach. The Grants Officer will be a critical member of the Department for International Development, Innovation and Business (DIDIB) and is expected to work across all program areas within the agency, including collaborating with Finance Partners and Business Development Managers to ensure effective and efficient grant-making processes.
As a Grants Officer, you will assist APHA scientists in the identification, preparation and submission of programme grants. In this role you will be responsible for disseminating information about funding calls to researchers, helping them identify the best sponsor and scheme for their research ideas; for providing support and coordinating the development of proposals; and for ensuring that submissions meet the highest standards and tight deadlines.
The post holder will be instrumental in driving forward a sustainable research and technical assistance culture within the agency., The post holder will be expected to:
+ Proactively keep up to date with the activities of funders (including funding consortia) that support research or capacity strengthening initiatives in fields relevant to APHA’s activities. This may involve attending funders’ info days.
+ Filter and disseminate information about funding calls to relevant research teams, working with our scientists to find the best sponsor and scheme for their research proposal. This may require successfully influencing both funders and collaborators to shape funding applications that match project objectives with the best expertise and skill sets.
+ Lead on providing advice on the process of compiling complex and high-value grant applications.
+ Facilitate grant relationships management including linking researchers across networks and liaising with national coordinators on submission and reporting of different funding and processes.
+ Write the non-technical sections of APHA’s input to programme grant applications. Detailed scientific knowledge will not be required, as this will be provided by local and collaborating specialists. However, you will need to show a clear understanding of the proposed project’s purpose which will include comprehension of the key project aims, how they will be delivered by the project objectives and with clear alignment to deliverables required by the funding stakeholders.
+ Provide oversight to the writing and presentation of programme grant proposals following funding body guidance and award criteria to ensure that highest standards are met by the stated deadline. You will administer internal peer-review and provide feedback on draft sections of applications, before drawing together the different contributions to provide a compelling written narrative for funding. Team working with a wide range of specialists including scientists, finance and project managers will be essential. This will include those at collaborating organisations and in the field where the development will be delivered. Flexibility, patience, pragmatism and diplomacy to understand the contribution of collaborators and how this will be written into the grant will be necessary. The development of excellent working relationships with key individuals at customers and collaborators will be critical to harness and target efforts towards production of a
successful grant. This will include the ability to meet deadlines with contributions from collaborators where appropriate.
+ Build APHA’s capacity in effectively collecting and communicating research impact evidence
The tasks are not always routine, so a flexible approach is essential. You may be asked to perform other related work commensurate with the grade and purpose of the post.
You will undertake any relevant and specific training and development as agreed with your manager and in line with job role and core behaviours., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Working Together
+ Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Maintaining working knowledge of the agency’s programs and priority funding areas and remain abreast of current research, activities, and trends in the wider One Health/ global health security sectors.
+ Monitoring and documenting the grant making portfolio, workflow processes, forms, templates, reports and data to assure full compliance with internal controls and audit/legal requirements.
+ Leading on providing advice on and contributing to the process of compiling complex and high-value grant applications.
+ Capturing and using grant-making information to enhance operational decision-making and grantee/grant seeker relationships, to enable learning and to document APHA’s research impact., Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
Staff maybe required to work weekends, Bank Holidays and occasional evenings in the event of an incident or disease outbreak. In the event of this you may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment. APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements.
Periodic travel within the UK and Europe will be required to attend training courses, conferences and scientific meetings.
The post is full-time, and we may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis if continuity can be arranged.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made., Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.
The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Government’s response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason, all postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement to work at the Weybridge.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks., + UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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You will need to demonstrate the following:
This role requires an individual who can balance strong attention to detail and analytical skills with an engaging, consultative, relationship-focused approach to working with people.
Essential Person Specification
+ Experience writing large and complex grant proposals and/or reports to both government and private funding sources.
+ Strategic thinking, and a process and system mindset.
+ Ability to quickly grasp the nature of a project and its requirements.
+ Exceptionally strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to adjust working and communication styles to meet the requirements of multiple audiences and partners.
+ Well-developed planning, prioritising, and problem-solving skills.
+ Being comfortable delivering under tight deadlines and competing priorities.
+ Experience in building effective working relationships with team members of diverse backgrounds and expertise, both in person and virtual
+ Knowledge of or willingness to learn various internal APHA processes and procedures., A bachelor’s degree is required. Master’s degree in agriculture, biological science, or related field.

Alongside your salary of £42,577, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £12,334 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides., In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training as inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. Our benefits include generous annual leave, a generous employer contributory pension (28.97%), staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers and in-year bonuses. We also offer additional days off if accrued extra hours (flexi-time –if accumulated), three paid volunteering day per year. We also have a social committee who run team building and fun events at the Weybridge site. Further details can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.
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.
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%, New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.