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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Do you have excellent leadership, communication skills, thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment and enjoy working to tight deadlines? Would you like to be part of an agency where we value managers responsible for building and maintaining employee morale, helping employees reach their full potential and inspiring employee loyalty?
If so, we would love to hear from you!
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
The post holder will manage a small team of scientists who perform diagnostic tests, some of which are situated within containment facilities.
It is the role of Scientific Officer is to ensure all diagnostic test results are reported accurately, within turnaround time and comply with our quality and safety standards. The tests include PCR, CFT, ELISA, culture and SAT.
The laboratory side of the role involves working with potentially hazardous samples and could be undertaken in a containment laboratory and/or a microbiological safety cabinet.
Job description
Your responsibilities in SLSD may include, but will not be limited to:
- Managing a team responsible for performing diagnostic testing
- Providing a supervisory role in containment laboratory including training and supervising new staff
- Managing staff performance reviews, absence, occupational health referrals and disciplinary actions
- Reviewing and updating scientific and administrative procedural documentation
- Ensuring work is performed to the ISO17025 standard including taking responsibility for audit actions and test assurance
- Overseeing diagnostic testing including interactions with veterinary professionals and Defra
- Investigating non conformances and documenting findings
- Communicating essential information to your team for discussion and feedback by regular minuted meetings
- Complying with all safety procedures including wearing appropriate PPE and reporting incidents and near misses
- Participating in all the necessary training to allow you to perform your role correctly and safely
Person specification
Required experience:
- Previous management or training of scientific staff
- Understanding of working within a microbiological safety cabinet/containment laboratory
- Experience and understanding of diagnostic / molecular tests
The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.
Restrictions on outside/domestic contact with small animals, mainly rodents and rabbits, may apply.
Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident or outbreak.
Travel will be required to attend training courses and undertake farm visits. You must have a valid driving licence or be able to call upon suitable alternate means of transport.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
Benefits
In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support as the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. Our benefits include generous annual leave of 25 days (rising one day per year up to 30 days after 5 years), flexible working, a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme. You can also take advantage of interest-free season ticket loans, a cycle to work scheme, and flexible working options.
Office attendance
Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the office locations listed in this advert. Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to give a 250-word personal statement and two Behaviour statements.
For the personal statement, please write up to 250 words demonstrating how you fit the following three statements:
- Previous management or training of scientific staff
- Understanding of working within a microbiological safety cabinet/containment laboratory
- Experience and understanding of diagnostic/molecular tests
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Behaviour, Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours and Experience.
An additional exercise or presentation may also be assessed and details of this will be provided at a later date.
Location
Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
All applicants will be based in the advertised location.Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice.
Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Full Time Only
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. We may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis if continuity can be arranged. Part-time hours will only be considered as part of a job share.
Higher Security Clearance
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.
The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Government’s response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. All post holders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. Each applicant for a post at APHA Weybridge must ensure they meet the residency criteria of between 3 to 10 years (depending on Security Level required for the post) continuous UK residency. Residency qualification maybe reduced for certain roles and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Medical
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.
