The post holder will lead and manage a regional team of Seasonal Bee Inspectors (SBIs) within the geographically dispersed National Bee Unit (NBU) field delivery service within APHA’s Plant and Bee Health (PBH) across England and Wales, including operational, technical, and administrative matters. The role encompasses both day to day operational responsibility for the assigned NBU region and outbreak roles as required. Direct Line management of assigned EOs. Responsible for delivering operational team leadership within the Region, ensuring the team of SBIs are managed effectively to deliver the NBUs programme for England and Wales at a regional level to safeguard GB from honeybee pests and diseases and threats to GB Apiculture generally.
Regional role but will be required to attend other locations for meetings or detached duty for longer periods based on business need, such as during a disease outbreak.
The post holder plays an important role in managing regional statutory inspections, maintaining regional standards, along with delivery of the NBU’s beekeeper training programme for the Region in support of statutory regulatory activities, delivery of KPIs and other bee health priorities. The post holder is responsible for certain Bee Health Specialisms, supporting projects and technical content throughout the year, bee health communications and dissemination activities, which may include the production of National Bee Unit advisory leaflets, articles for the Bee Press, YouTube Content and other social media.
Job description
The successful candidate will:
Be responsible for providing leadership and management of one of the NBUs regional teams of inspectors.
Ensure effective and efficient deployment of inspectors with reference to priorities and performance targets.
Support continuous improvement initiatives and role model cultural change within the NBU’ Regional team to achieve this.
Ensure all SBIs within the Region operate to the required H&S and quality assurance standards, maintaining the NBU’s ISO Accreditation.
Work to develop staff professionally to ensure capability to meet targets, support succession plans and to respond to outbreaks and changing Policy objectives.
Build effective working relationships with other managers and team leaders within APHA and stakeholders.
Participate in wider Agency engagement activities to provide NBU representation when required.