Animal and Plant Health Agency plays a crucial role in protecting the UK’s biosecurity. It delivers functions that are critical to animal and plant health, and which in turn secure human health and confidence in the food supply chain. The regulatory underpinning provided by the Agency is also integral to our ability to be a successful food trading nation.
We are one of the most prestigious and critical organisations in the protection of the United Kingdom. More than ever the health of our environment, plants and animals matters. If you join us, you will be part of the safeguarding of animal, plant and bee health for the benefit of everyone in society, the environment and the economy. Everyone who works in APHA is passionate about achieving this mission.
You will find APHA staff at the border, on farms, and in world-leading laboratories. All of them are delivering on our mission to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of everyone in society, the environment and the economy.
APHA is a world-leading Agency, respected around the world and at the farm gate. It is on a transformation journey, modernising and digitising its operations to continue to rise to the challenges of biosecurity risks in a global world, and the opportunities of developments in science and technology.
To lead APHA you will need to bring vision, inspirational leadership and a track record of successful operational delivery in a complex environment to make sure the Agency continues to deliver its pivotal role to the UK’s biosecurity. You will be comfortable leading in a crisis.
Across Government and externally too, you will need to be able to carry the confidence of a broad variety of stakeholders.
You don't need to be a scientist or a vet, but you do need to share our commitment to the critical role APHA plays in delivering world-class services for the benefit of society, the environment and the economy.
The CEO will lead one of the most prestigious and critical organisations in the protection of the United Kingdom. More than ever the health of our environment, plants and animals matters. If you join us, you will be part of the safeguarding of animal, plant and bee health for the benefit of everyone in society, the environment and the economy. Everyone who works in APHA is passionate about achieving this mission.
As the CEO, you are accountable for the leadership of APHA and delivery of its objectives. You are also a critical leader within Defra, working alongside other senior leaders and chief executives to deliver collectively across the entirety of the Department.
Leadership and management
* Work with Defra and the APHA Steering Board to define and deliver the organisation’s strategy, aims and objectives.
* Ensure that the organisation has the resources, skills and capability to enable it to deliver its aims and objectives.
* Lead, manage and motivate the Executive Team in their delivery of performance.
* Be an inspirational and inclusive role model to staff, exhibiting the behaviours we expect of all our people.
* Provide visible and credible leadership in a science and veterinary environment and in technical meetings, connecting with and inspiring different professions.
Delivery
* Ensure the effective delivery of APHA's key goals, across England, Scotland and Wales, including delivering on statutory and legal obligations.
* Plan, lead and manage APHA’s response to disease outbreaks, ensuring visible leadership and organisational resilience.
* Act as the Senior User in the multi-year, multi-billion pound development of the National Science Centre for Animal Health property and laboratories, including overall leadership of the associated business transformation.
* Maintain and develop best practice, value for money and continued business improvement to the highest ethical and professional standards.
* Drive organisation-wide commitment to customer service excellence, transparency and value for money. This includes transforming live services, and digitally-enabled business change to significantly reform and improve business practices, outcomes for customers and cheaper services.
Finance and Governance
* Take personal responsibility as the CEO for financial probity and regularity and value for money on APHA expenditure and internal governance.
Stakeholder Engagement and Relationships
* Work collaboratively across the Defra Group and with the devolved administrations of Scotland and Wales, including with the Chief Vet of the UK, and also the Chief Vets of Scotland and Wales.
* Work together with Defra and partners to ensure the policy – operational policy - delivery pathway works effectively for customers.
* Represent the organisation to a complex and varied stakeholder group and promote a wide understanding of the work that APHA does and the role that it plays.