At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead UK plant health initiatives and respond to major pest outbreaks.
- Company: Defra, a key government department focused on environmental protection.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and impactful work in plant health.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team dedicated to environmental sustainability and public health.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in safeguarding plants, trees, and bees across the UK.
- Qualifications: Relevant degree in plant science and strong leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
- Job summary
- Head of the UK the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) and International leadership of UK plant health at the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and European Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO).
- Head of Profession for the UK Plant Health Service
- Deputy Director for policy on plants, trees, bees and plant varieties and seeds.
- Lead the assessment of new and emerging risks to plant, tree and bee health and co-ordinate and lead the government’s central response to major incursions and outbreaks
- Lead and commission a research, evidence and analysis portfolio
- External lead and spokesperson on plant, tree and honeybee issues and a wider advisory role to UK government and other stakeholder organisations.
- Lead policy, science and analysts c. 73 people and a delegated budget of c. £27m
- Ownership and improvement of a publicly available Plant Health Portal
- Ownership and improvement of a publicly available plant health risk register to achieve better risk prioritisation and management
- Prioritising items identified by the monthly Plant Health Risk Group (PHRG) for presentation and discussion at the Monthly Biosecurity Meeting with Ministers, alerting Ministers to high profile pests for action
- Chair consultation meetings with stakeholders: Tree Health Policy Group and Plant Health Advisory Forum
- Chair UK NPPO group with Devised Governments and UK Coordination Group with Crown Dependencies
- International leadership as Head of UK NPPO with EU, EPPO and IPPC
- Develop, maintain and test the plant health Contingency plans to ensure a rapid and effective response to pest outbreaks by
- Leading emergency response to new or changing pest threats; evidence of new pest outbreak response. Oversee development of pest specific contingency plans via the PHRG
- Lead spokesperson for plant and bee health matters for media interviews
- Implementing the Plant Biosecurity Strategy and SRO for Plant Health Programme Boards
- Policy customer oversight of APHA and Fera delivery of plant health inspection, surveillance and diagnostic activities
- Implementation of the tree health resilience strategy as part of 25 year environment plan
- Leadership of the Plant Variety and Seeds function through facilitating the breeding of varieties for UK conditions and maintaining the quality of marketed reproductive material, including improved disease resistance and reduced pesticides, and boost UK productivity.
- Leadership of honey bee health policy and SRO for the Healthy Bees Plan as part of the National Pollinator strategy.
- Written and verbal communication at events, conferences, webinars
- Other corporate roles
- Defra lead scientist for plants; lead for plant and tree initiatives across Government and with external stakeholders
- SRO for Fera SSCS contract
- Member of APHA Steering Board
- Member of Forest Research Board
- Member of the BBSRC the Food and Animal & Plant Health Programme Board
Person specification
- A relevant qualification in a plant related discipline such as, plant pathology, entomology, mycology or a related discipline with clear evidence of professional expertise
- Policy Leadership.
Experience of policy leadership and sound judgment in a political environment.
You will demonstrate clear ability to assimilate a wide range of information, analyse complex problems, identify how best to reconcile the conflicting priorities of different stakeholders and make propositions to ministers.
- Leading People.
Outstanding people leadership skills, with a track record of leading, motivating and developing large, high performing teams and building a diverse and inclusive culture, while leading people through change and re-prioritisation.
- Negotiating and Influencing.
Strong proven experience of successfully working collaboratively with and influencing a broad range of Board-level and more senior stakeholders internally and externally, and ideally, in international negotiations and wider representative roles.
- Excellent communication skills at all levels with demonstrable experience of communicating clearly and succinctly in all forms (written and oral) to a broad range of stakeholders, adapting the style for the appropriate audience, ensuring that complex issues are set out in a simple and accessible way that is influential and authoritative.
- Incident Response.
The ability to work at a strategic level in a high-stakes incident or crisis and the flexibility and personal resilience to adapt to rapidly changing and high-risk circumstances.
- Be a member of/join the Register of Plant Health Professionals
- Media trained or experienced in speaking to the media
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
UK Chief Plant Health Officer and Deputy Director Plant and Bee Health, Plant Varieties and Seeds in Bristol employer: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is an exceptional employer that prioritises the health of our environment and agricultural sectors. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will find ample opportunities for growth and collaboration in a supportive work culture that values innovation and public service. Located at the heart of policy-making, this role offers a unique chance to make a meaningful impact on plant health both nationally and internationally.
Contact Details:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Recruitment Team
