Operational Business Manager

Preston, Carmarthen, Bristol, Carlisle, Exeter, York, Cardiff

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.

For any internal candidates not currently based at the advertised locations, we would consider honouring current contractual bases subject to capacity and business need, this would be discussed at offer stage.

Job Summary
Are you ready to lead a high-impact team that powers APHA's strategic delivery—from outbreak response to national training events?

Could you be the driving force behind operational excellence, stakeholder collaboration, and future-proofing support services across the agency?

If so, we would love to hear from you

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

Job Description
We are looking for a confident Operational Business Manager to lead a small but impactful team supporting the Service Delivery and Strategy Planning & Innovation Directorates.

This varied leadership role spans high-level secretariat support, management of agency-wide distribution lists, specialist pay allowances, and Fraud and Error returns. You'll be the go-to expert for SharePoint Online across multiple sites, coordinate Extra-Mural Studies (EMS) placements for veterinary students, and collaborate with the National Training Budget team to deliver training, conferences, and events.

During outbreaks, your team plays a critical role in communications—supporting key meetings and managing the Infected Premise (IP) data entry cell to ensure fast, accurate information flow.

The role offers location flexibility across APHA sites, with a bi-monthly leadership presence required at the Preston office and occasional travel elsewhere.

If you're a proactive leader who thrives on variety, collaboration, and meaningful impact—this is your opportunity to shape the future of Support Services at APHA.

The Successful Candidate Will:

• Inspire and Empower: Lead by example, fostering a collaborative team culture where diverse perspectives are valued and everyone contributes meaningfully.
• Drive Performance and Manage Resources: Set clear goals and manage performance to deliver high quality outcomes whilst prioritising, allocating work, and managing resources effectively
• Agency-Wide Collaboration: Partner with peers and managers across APHA to ensure consistency, share best practices, and embed continuous improvement.
• Business Planning and Budget Oversight: Shape and implement business plans, operate within budget constraints, and work closely with the Operational Budget Manager to maximise value for money.
• Operational Excellence: Standardise administrative processes and lead business continuity planning, including coordination of returns and exercises for the Business Management Group.
• Risk Management: Coordinate risk registers for Service Delivery and Strategy, Planning and Innovation, and collaborate with the Defra Audit, Risk, and Assurance Manager to ensure robust risk management.
• Outbreak Resilience: Maintain a highly trained, outbreak-ready team to support IP Data Entry and Internal Communications during disease response scenarios.
• Information Governance: Act as Information Asset Owner for key SharePoint sites, ensuring data integrity, security, and compliance.
• Future-Proofing and Succession Planning: Champion succession planning and proactively develop innovative solutions to meet emerging challenges.

We are looking for a confident Operational Business Manager to lead a small but impactful team supporting the Service Delivery and Strategy Planning & Innovation Directorates.

This varied leadership role spans high-level secretariat support, management of agency-wide distribution lists, specialist pay allowances, and Fraud and Error returns. You'll be the go-to expert for SharePoint Online across multiple sites, coordinate Extra-Mural Studies (EMS) placements for veterinary students, and collaborate with the National Training Budget team to deliver training, conferences, and events.

During outbreaks, your team plays a critical role in communications—supporting key meetings and managing the Infected Premise (IP) data entry cell to ensure fast, accurate information flow.

The role offers location flexibility across APHA sites, with a bi-monthly leadership presence required at the Preston office and occasional travel elsewhere.

If you're a proactive leader who thrives on variety, collaboration, and meaningful impact—this is your opportunity to shape the future of Support Services at APHA.

The Successful Candidate Will:

• Inspire and Empower: Lead by example, fostering a collaborative team culture where diverse perspectives are valued and everyone contributes meaningfully.
• Drive Performance and Manage Resources: Set clear goals and manage performance to deliver high quality outcomes whilst prioritising, allocating work, and managing resources effectively
• Agency-Wide Collaboration: Partner with peers and managers across APHA to ensure consistency, share best practices, and embed continuous improvement.
• Business Planning and Budget Oversight: Shape and implement business plans, operate within budget constraints, and work closely with the Operational Budget Manager to maximise value for money.
• Operational Excellence: Standardise administrative processes and lead business continuity planning, including coordination of returns and exercises for the Business Management Group.
• Risk Management: Coordinate risk registers for Service Delivery and Strategy, Planning and Innovation, and collaborate with the Defra Audit, Risk, and Assurance Manager to ensure robust risk management.
• Outbreak Resilience: Maintain a highly trained, outbreak-ready team to support IP Data Entry and Internal Communications during disease response scenarios.
• Information Governance: Act as Information Asset Owner for key SharePoint sites, ensuring data integrity, security, and compliance.
• Future-Proofing and Succession Planning: Champion succession planning and proactively develop innovative solutions to meet emerging challenges.

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:

Key Skills/Experience

• Lead teams to achieve challenging targets with constrained resources by applying strong organisational skills to effectively manage competing priorities.
• Set performance expectations and coach team members to deliver results.
• Remain calm and focused in high-pressure environments.
• Provide collaborative yet decisive leadership, especially during periods of change.
• Hold meaningful performance conversations to support development and accountability.
• Build and maintain strong, productive relationships across teams and stakeholders.

Learning and Development
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.

In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership

Alongside your salary of £42,665, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £12,360 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Further Benefits Offered Also Include:

• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities tailored to your role.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• Staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
• Making it work for you - With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances.

These are just a few of our benefits we offer. To find out the full range of what we offer refer to the Information Pack attached for more detail.
Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Stage 1
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• A 750-word Personal Statement.
• A Behaviour statement of 250-words for the lead behaviour, Leadership, following the Behaviour criteria outlined in the Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK framework for SEO positions.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form

Personal Statement Guidance
When completing your Personal Statement, please read and understand the Person Specification thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Please ensure you evidence the key personal qualities and experiences that align with the criteria. Consider the Job Description and look to demonstrate how your previous experience may align with the expectations and be applicable to the role. The written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc.

We encourage you to use the full 750-word allowance of the Personal Statement but not to exceed.

You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several essential criteria.

Should a high volume 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 and/or progressed straight to interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

For further guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website. How to write your CV , Civil Service Careers

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Recruitment
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Stage 2
Preparing for the interview
During The Interview You Will Be Assessed Based On:

• The Behaviours specified in the Job Advert, following the Behaviour criteria outlined in the Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK framework for SEO positions.
• A selection of Strength based questions related to the role requirements. Following the Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK framework. There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
• Your previous experiences relevant to the role requirements outlined in the advert following the Success Profiles: Experience - GOV.UK framework.

If you are selected for interview, you will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.

Upon receiving the interview invitation, please log into the system to schedule your interview slot in advance.

Interviews will be conducted via MS Teams, and a link will be provided in your interview invitation.

The interview
The interview will follow a blended approach and will last approximately 45 minutes.

A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation at interview, offering a more inclusive approach.

The Strength and Behaviour based questioning explores what the candidate can and has done, but also their potential.

Behavioural questions will explore what you have done in previous jobs or experiences as well as what you have achieved and/or learned.

Strength questions will explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role.

This Is An Example Of a Strengths-based Question:
"It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?"
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

After the interview
Once all the interviews have been conducted, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are successful at the interview stage, we will be in touch to offer you a role. Offers will be made in merit order by location.

Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via: using the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – 'Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]'

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'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.

Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Near Miss
Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra 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 appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

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:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

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.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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.

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).

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.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team - Leanne Williams
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email:

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here