Farming & Countryside Development and Delivery Manager

Animal and Plant Health Agency; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension

Annual leave

Development opportunities

Retail discounts

Staff bonuses and vouchers

Bike to work

Gym membership

Volunteer leave

Flexible working

Job summary

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is seeking a Development and Delivery Manager to join its Regulatory Affairs, Compliance and Enforcement (RACE) department. You will lead and coordinate a portfolio of projects across Defra and APHA transformation programmes, driving improvements in farmer engagement and collaboration with Defra ALBs.

The role requires proactive leadership, stakeholder management, and the ability to adapt in a changing environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in farming sector, farmer engagement or regulatory environments.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and enforcement.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise workloads.
• Experience collaborating with stakeholders and building relationships.
• Excellent communication and adaptability to different audiences.
• Strong IT and analytical skills to support decision-making.
• Proactive and adaptable approach with risk identification and problem solving.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel occasionally to field locations.

Responsibilities

• Support projects to improve engagement and communication with farmers.
• Produce and analyse management information for reporting and planning.
• Support Defra farming Directorate transformation programmes.
• Coordinate CPD opportunities and collaborative initiatives across Defra ALBs.
• Promote data-sharing initiatives and tools like Eyes and Ears app.
• Contribute to the Defra Joint Service Improvement Plan.
• Represent APHA at regional Field Officer Forums and build relationships.
• Provide flexible support to wider APHA transformation projects.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

IT & analytical skills

Organisational skills

Project management

Problem solving

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