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The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Group

Branch

Salary range

Actual starting salary

Work pattern

Type of opportunity

Location of Post

'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.

Interview dates

This post is in the fast-paced and supportive Animal Disease Policy Team which sits within the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer (OCVO). The Directorate’s aims are to ensure a state of preparedness to deal with and effectively control animal diseases, to protect public health and trade, as well as raise awareness and improve animal health and welfare in Wales.

This unique post will drive forward critical policy and strategy concerning endemic animal diseases in Wales (meaning diseases that are currently present within the country). This includes diseases with potential for human health impact such as Salmonella, Brucellosis and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs).

This leadership role is responsible for delivering an effective national control programme for an endemic disease in Wales, implementing and promoting it across Wales. This involves working with stakeholders, lawyers, colleagues responsible for livestock identification, and counterparts in England and Scotland as well as delivery bodies such as the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Public Health Wales (PHW) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to deliver a programme that can be practically applied by keepers across Wales.

In addition, the role will support Welsh Government policy relating to animal by-products to reduce the disease risks presented by animal by-products to animal and human health.

The role may also gain experience managing a high-profile emergency outbreak of exotic disease in ruminants (such as cows, sheep, goats and deer) or equines, which will require direct engagement with Ministers.

In the event of an Exotic Animal Disease outbreak or incident in Wales (of a disease not currently present in the UK), the post holder may be required to take re-prioritise own and others’ workloads and manage new situations as they arise.

• Manage outbreaks of endemic animal diseases in Wales, ensuring that suspect cases are investigated, disease control measures are applied, and that public health colleagues are engaged.
• Work closely with team veterinary advisers in order to ensure policy decisions and recommendations are based on sound scientific evidence. The post holder will communicate this advice in briefings to Ministers and senior officials as required.
• Oversee the development of an endemic disease scheme in Wales such as a Bovine Viral Diarrhoea scheme for cattle in Wales or a new National Control Programme for Salmonella in Wales
• Represent the Branch at working group meetings – engaging with stakeholders and other government departments and agencies such as the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Food Standards Agency.
• Identify gaps in legislation and working with other GB administrations and trade colleagues to strengthen our disease controls.
• Stay on top of the international disease picture and scientific developments and develop new endemic and zoonotic animal disease policy and legislation in response to disease threats.
• Manage the work of the endemics policy officer responsible for endemic diseases.
• In the event of a major exotic disease outbreak or incident in Wales, the post holder may be requested to work outside of normal working office hours to support this.

The role will offer an excellent opportunity to gain experience of policy development in a high profile, fast-paced area, working closely with Ministers and senior officials in the Welsh Government and other Government Departments.

The post offers a range of necessary skills to enable progression.

The post offers the opportunity to engage directly with stakeholders and represent OCVO at high profile events such as the ‘Royal Welsh Show’ and the ‘Winter Fair’.

24/05/2023, 16:00

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

The Welsh Government has adopted the social definition of disability, in which it is recognised that barriers in society act to disable people who have impairments or health conditions, who are neurodivergent or who use British Sign Language. We are committed to removing barriers so that all (or potential new) staff can perform at their best.

We guarantee to interview any disabled person who meets the minimum criteria for the post. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide us with evidence, at each stage of the assessment process before interview, which demonstrates you generally meet the job description requirements. We are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people.

If you have an impairment or health condition, if you are neurodivergent or use British Sign Language and need to discuss reasonable adjustments for any part of this recruitment process, or wish to discuss how we will put in place any adjustments if you were to be successful, please email [email protected] as soon as possible and a member of the team will contact you to discuss requirements and any questions you may have.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace.

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Welsh language skills

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competencies/Job Specific Criteria required

Assessment Process

• Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
• For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

Contact point for further information

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system. If you have an impairment which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail [email protected] to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to an impairment in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system. Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account. Registration takes just a few minutes to complete. You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register. Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email [email protected]. If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.