Farming & Countryside Development and Delivery Manager

Animal and Plant Health Agency; Exeter; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension

25 days annual leave

Learning & development opportunities

Employee discounts

Staff recognition bonuses

Job summary

Animal and Plant Health Agency in the United Kingdom is seeking a Development and Delivery Manager to join the Regulatory Affairs, Compliance and Enforcement (RACE) department. You will oversee a portfolio of projects across Defra and APHA transformation, strengthening farmer engagement and inter-agency collaboration.

The role requires strong organisational and communication skills, stakeholder management, and a proactive approach to continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Experience of working within the farming sector or regulatory environments and understanding the challenges facing farmers and land managers.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and enforcement and awareness of changes in the landscape.
• Strong organisational skills with ability to prioritise workloads and maintain accuracy.
• Experience collaborating with a range of stakeholders and building relationships.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to present information clearly to different audiences.
• Strong IT and analytical skills to gather, interpret and use information for decision-making.
• Proactive and adaptable approach to identify risks and solve problems in a changing environment.
• Hold a full UK driving licence and be willing to travel to field locations occasionally.

Responsibilities

• Support projects to improve engagement and communication with farmers via written, digital and face-to-face channels.
• Produce and analyse management information for reporting, planning and performance management.
• Support Defra Farming Directorate transformation and service improvement activities.
• Coordinate CPD opportunities and collaborative initiatives across Defra ALBs.
• Promote data-sharing initiatives and tools to improve operational effectiveness.
• Contribute to Defra's Joint Service Improvement Plan development and implementation.
• Represent APHA at regional Field Officer Forums, building relationships for improvement and collaboration.
• Provide flexible support to wider APHA transformation projects as required.

Skills

Farming sector experience

Regulatory awareness

Organisational skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

IT & analytics

Proactive adaptability

Driving licence

Job description

Job Description

Are you passionate about improving outcomes for farmers and working collaboratively across government to deliver meaningful change?

Are you an organised and proactive project professional who thrives on building relationships and driving continuous improvement?

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), is seeking a Development and Delivery Manager to join its Regulatory Affairs, Compliance and Enforcement (RACE) department.

RACE supports APHA's role as a national regulator, helping to safeguard animal, plant, bee and public health through effective regulation, compliance and enforcement, while maintaining the UK's biosecurity.

We have an interesting opportunity within the RACE department as a Development and Delivery Manager to provide support, development and management to a wide variety of projects across the Defra’s Farming Directorate.

This role supports the delivery of a diverse portfolio of projects across Defra's Farming Directorate and APHA transformation programmes. Working closely with Defra's Farming, Innovation and Regulatory Services team, the postholder will help improve farmer engagement, strengthen collaboration across Defra Arm's-Length Bodies (ALBs), and identify opportunities to improve regulatory services and reduce burdens on farmers and land managers.

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.

Key Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To:

• Supporting projects to improve engagement and communication with farmers through written, digital and face-to-face channels
• Producing and analysing management information to support reporting, business planning and performance management
• Supporting the Delivering Sustainable Future transformation programme through customer insight and service improvement activities
• Coordinating joint training, continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities and collaborative initiatives across Defra ALBs
• Promoting and supporting data-sharing initiatives, including the Eyes and Ears app and other tools that improve operational effectiveness
• Contributing to the development and implementation of Defra's Joint Service Improvement Plan
• Representing APHA at regional Field Officer Forums, building relationships and identifying opportunities for improvement and collaboration
• Providing flexible support to wider APHA transformation projects as required

Person specification

We are looking for a candidate who can demonstrate the below skills and experience:

• Experience of working within the farming sector, farmer engagement, or regulatory environments, with an understanding of the challenges facing farmers and land managers.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and enforcement, including awareness of changes and developments within the regulatory landscape.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads, manage competing demands and maintain accuracy.
• Experience of working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders and building effective professional relationships.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and adapt approaches to different audiences.
• Strong IT and analytical skills, including the ability to gather, interpret and use information to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
• A proactive and adaptable approach, with the ability to identify risks, solve problems and work effectively in a changing environment.
• A full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel occasionally to attend field locations, meetings and regional Forums.

Why work for APHA?

Alongside your salary of £35,895, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £10,398 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Learning and Development

At APHA, we are committed to supporting you to develop your skills, knowledge, and professional capability throughout your career.

From day one, you will be welcomed through a structured induction programme, helping you understand the Civil Service, our work, and how we operate. You’ll work closely with your line manager to set clear priorities and develop a performance, learning, and development plan tailored to your role.

Alongside formal training, you will have opportunities to apply and develop your knowledge in a practical environment, contributing to continuous improvement and innovation.

Inclusion, support, and the wellbeing of our people are central to what we do, ensuring everyone at APHA can thrive both professionally and personally.

• Civil Service Pension - Defra contributes an average of 28.97% of your salary towards your pension
• 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 from retailers such as High street coffee shops, Cinema’s, supermarkets, High street retailers and many, many more.
• Staff bonuses and recognition including appreciate vouchers of up to £200 and larger in year awards of up to £1000,
• Salary sacrifice benefit options and an employee discount scheme such as bike to work, Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme, every £8 they pay in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 a year for each child.
• Discounted gym membership with Fitness First or Pure Gym.
• Special Leave with pay, per year, for volunteering.
• Making it work for you - With so many flexible working options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances.

Closing date is 11.55pm on Monday 5th October 2026