Operational Delivery Senior Manager - Livestock Subject Matter Expert

Do you want to be at the forefront of transforming the livestock industry?
Do you thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment?
If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you!
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is an executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), delivering over £2 billion in payments to farmers, traders and landowners each year.
We are an Operational Delivery Profession organisation, with the majority of our people delivering day to day services to our customers and stakeholders.
We make excellent delivery happen, empowering agricultural and rural communities to create a better place to live.
We manage over 40 schemes, and also make payments on behalf of Natural England, to ensure we have a healthy rural economy, strong and sustainable rural communities, and to protect and enhance the natural environment.
Our vision is to create a great place for people living in this country. We have developed a set of four strategic objectives covering our policy outcomes and corporate objectives. These objectives help us to deliver our ambitious vision to build our green and healthy future and provide a framework for all of the important work that we carry out.
Further information can be found on the Rural Payments Agency website Rural Payments Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), We are looking for an enthusiastic Livestock Subject Matter Expert (SME) who is passionate about the livestock industry to join our team at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). The role will be based in the Livestock Operational team. This area is undergoing a transformational change that includes the implementation of new policies, systems and technology, business processes and services.
Operational delivery plays a crucial role in providing essential services to our customers and stakeholders. As an operational senior manager SME, you will be on the frontline of our work which provides millions of pounds to the rural economy and ensures customers are able to access the services they need and fulfil their obligations.
You will be able to work on your own initiative, building and maintaining strong relationships with your team and key livestock stakeholders. With a commitment to problem solving, you will lead on strategies and policies, provide advice on livestock traceability and support innovative technologies and emerging developments. Additionally, you will represent RPA in various national governance forums.
You will work with flexibility to support the RPA, DEFRA, and our customers, while successfully managing the demanding challenges facing our organisation. You will contribute to the successful delivery of projects and programmes in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, demonstrating the ability to drive forward change and continuous improvement. You will be at the forefront of change, ensuring that teams are well-equipped to adapt while maintaining high service standards. The role involves providing visible leadership, guiding others through the transition, and fostering a smooth adoption of new practices.
There will be line management responsibility of large teams, including the possibility of remote management of colleagues in other parts of the country. There will also be the requirement of regular travel to the Workington office as this is where the majority of the team are based., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Leadership
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Leadership, Your Personal Statement should be no more than 500-words and detail evidence of how you meet the essential criteria as noted in the person specification section of the job advert.
Your Behaviour Statement should be no more than 250-words and be aligned to the behaviour 'Leadership'
Sift
Should a large number 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, or progressed straight to interview.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the following Behaviours:
+ Leadership
+ Communicating & Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
You will also be asked Experience and Strength based questions.
As part of your interview you will be required to prepare and deliver a presentation that will assess the behaviours 'Leadership' and 'Communicating and Influencing'. Further details regarding the presentation will be provided to candidates when invited to interview.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra Group 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.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Near Miss Candidates
Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in RPA which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Candidate Pack
Please see the candidate pack attached to this advert., If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
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.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ 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).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

+ A strong background or knowledge of livestock traceability policy, systems and technologies.
+ Proven ability to contribute and collaborate with multi stakeholders to the design of new systems and processes.
+ Demonstrable leadership experience, with a proven track record of successfully leading teams through change and developing their capabilities. You must have the ability to foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture, where team members feel respected, valued, and heard.
+ Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to convey messages clearly and persuasively influencing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
+ Strong organisational skills, with the ability to effectively track and manage workloads across multiple teams and workstreams, while gathering and using data and insights to drive and advocate for continuous improvements.

Alongside your salary of £41,220, Rural Payments Agency contributes £11,941 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 tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%, New entrants 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 circumstance 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-Employment.Checks@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.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should