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SalaryLead Scientist for the Bovine Tuberculosis Portfolio.
The post is expected to be based at APHA Weybridge, Surrey but an alternative APHA location (Bury St. Edmunds, Carmarthen, Exeter, Lasswade, Newcastle, Penrith & Thirsk) may be considered based on desk space. The post-holder may be expected to work one day per week co-located with policy colleagues in London.
As Lead Scientist you will develop and lead the science strategy for the high-profile Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) portfolio of work across the APHA and manage delivery of the portfolio. You will chair internal BTB portfolio management groups and portfolio/Defra policy meetings.
You will drive visibility and exploit opportunities arising from APHAs innovative work developing cutting edge tools for disease management and control (such as vaccine development and whole genome sequence-based epidemiology).
You will need to ensure that customers’ needs are met (Defra, Devolved Administrations, Veterinary Medicines Directorate) and that research and surveillance delivered is high quality, timely, within budget and policy relevant. You will ensure that any additional research carried out on behalf of other funders is fully aligned with the Agency’s strategy and provides added value to the Agency and Defra. You will oversee proposals for new work, and you will need to anticipate and meet Defra and other policy customers’ future requirements.
You will ensure the scientific skills base required to deliver the science is developed and maintained within the agency, to suit changing needs, or delivered through established (or new) collaborations with others in the arena, in the most effective manner.
You will negotiate with Heads of Department/Resource Centre Managers to ensure that projects are effectively scheduled, prioritised, and resourced and assist in provision of sound business cases to support additional resource needs where appropriate.
You will develop, influence, and maintain effective collaborations with key strategic external partners in the UK and worldwide and will provide, or source, veterinary and scientific consultancy expertise in the portfolio area to internal and external stakeholders.
Develop the strategy for, and lead, the programme of science which extends across APHA for the BTB portfolio. You will grow the scientific reputation of APHA nationally and internationally and provide leadership and management of the scientific portfolio of work, ensuring high scientific standards.
Ensure Defra and other customers’ needs are met and that the research and surveillance is delivered to high quality standards, on time, within budget and is policy relevant. You will maintain a regular dialogue with customers and ensure the timely proposal of new work that anticipates and meets Defra and other major customers’ future requirements.
Agree scientific objectives and approaches of all new contracts submitted by project leaders and co-ordinate approval of submission of proposals and budget bids. Oversee the approval of all customer reports before submission and the clearance of papers for publication.
Identify and nurture important strategic collaborations for APHA, such as links with other scientific and veterinary institutes internationally, sister agencies within Defra, UKHSA, public sector research establishments and academia to facilitate the delivery of the best APHA science.
Ensure the scientific skills base required to deliver the science is developed and maintained within the agency, to suit changing needs, or delivered through established collaborations with others in the arena. Work with Heads of Department to ensure that projects are effectively scheduled, prioritised and resourced.
Provide, or source, veterinary and/or scientific consultancy and expertise in the programme area to APHA, and Defra.
Act as the Senior Responsible Owner for high-value strategically important projects in the portfolio.
Ensure that non-Defra areas of research are core to our work, that they are aligned with the Science Strategy and provide added value to the APHA and Defra.
Produce and monitor an annual publication plan for your work area.
Assess and maintain the suitability of Disease and Test Consultants, and International Reference Laboratory Experts, for your work area.
With the support of Project Support Officers ensure all processes related to portfolio governance and reporting are completed and input into corporate documents as required (e.g., strategy documents, annual reports).
Ensure that financial planning and management is carried out for your portfolio of work, working with project leaders, Heads of Department and the appropriate Project Support Officers in Customer Accounts and Programme Support (CAPS).
Responsible for working with the Heads of Department/ Resource Managers to ensure that the portfolio of work complies with legislation for Health and Safety, with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act and dangerous pathogens legislation and quality standards (ISO17025, GLP, GCP, ISO9001) as appropriate.
