AddressThe 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 2,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
Provide specialist expertise, leadership and management to APHA’s Animal Science Technical team. To include biocontainment and livestock management and the advancement of animal sciences. Leadership and implementation of APHA’s Animal Welfare and Biosecurity Standards. As part of a team provide input into the operation of ACDP CL2, CL3 and SAPO CL2, CL3, CL4 biosecure animal facilities. Develop and drive APHA Animal Science capability and provide specialist support to the APHA Weybridge Masterplan development (animal facility requirements).
Job description
Animal Science Specialism:
The jobholder will be specialist with regards to the species in their area. They will advise on and oversee housing and husbandry. They will liaise with the Named Information Officer if new species or housing changes are being discussed. They will actively advance animal sciences and are expected to further science capability within the department.
They will acquire an E2PPL certificate and may be required to hold their own Project Licence. They will be a Personal Licence holder and develop a wide range of skills in regulated procedures including animal euthanasia and assist with necropsy and sampling procedures as appropriate.
They will oversee a range of livestock and disease biocontainment facilities and will develop specialist containment expertise for farmed livestock and animal models up to ACDP 3 and SAPO 4 classification – working on a wide range of zoonotic pathogens.
Daily Husbandry and care of animals and poultry as required.
BioEthics, Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB):
The jobholder is expected to be an active member of the AWERB, participating in committee meetings as well as having input into project licence applications, study reviews and offer advice on the 3Rs.
Livestock Facilities Management
Ensure compliance with ACDP/SAPO legislation. Attend Biological Safety Committee as Animal Sciences representative. Liaison with Estates, Facilities management and sub-contractors as required to ensure animal facilities are maintained as fit for purpose and future-proofed. Stakeholder oversight and input in the design and planning of animal facility refurbishments, new builds and equipment installation/maintenance. They will offer advice and support to the site re-development (Science capability for Animal Health) project as required. Fulfilling Building/Facility Officer duties in a high disease biocontainment (up to and included ACDP3/SAPO4) facility including liaising with the maintenance providers to ensure the appropriate monitoring and maintenance of plant including generators, water testing, alarm systems, Building Management Systems and biocontainment controls.
Safety, Health and Wellbeing:
They will ensure that adequate training and planning for response to emergency scenarios is in place within teams; actively participate in safety inspections and audits with Department Safety Officer, and ensure timely closure of safety audit actions. Ensure that appropriate documentation [e.g. Risk assessments, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and log books] are in place. Work closely with the Department Safety Officer (DSO), the SHaW (Safety, Health and Wellbeing) department, in respect of these duties. Carry out ad-hoc monitoring and regularly visit the animal facilities to monitor adherence to procedures. This might include non-compliance with APHA H&S Policy, SOPs and Risk Assessments.
Study and Contract leadership and Management:
The jobholder will work closely with animal tech team supervisors and scientists in the planning and conduct of studies being carried out in their area assuring compliance, staffing and timely execution. They will interact with scientists and be proactive in raising any concerns. They will participate in pre-start meetings and ensure the appropriate meeting forms are completed and submitted.
The jobholder will be required to oversee the implementation of commercial contracts that involve the facilities under their management, acting as the named manager and liaising with APHA Commercial Unit Business Development Manager. They will take part in meetings with the suppliers and liaise with the APHA contract team on compliance concerns and other issues.
Communication:
The jobholder will be required to have excellent communication skills liaising with a diverse range of people in writing, verbally and using a range of IT platforms.
Confidently deliver training, instruction, Toolbox Talks, and Team Briefings, actively contribute to ASU Management meetings and chair meetings as required. They will be part of study pre-start meetings.
They will write and participate in peer reviews of SOPs, Risk Assessments, Toolbox Talks, and documentation supporting Animal Science activities i.e. papers and summary reports.
Budget and Financial planning:
The jobholder will have an overview of the allocated budget and manage resources carefully. They will be involved in planning of new work and liaise with the Department administration team to identify such work and to inform workforce planning. They will be responsible for reviewing and approving requisitions for ASU and Foreign Payments on APHA’s Single Operating Platform.
Staff Management, Resource and Succession planning:
The jobholder needs to be an experienced staff manager with sound interpersonal skills. They will work closely with the Workgroup Leader to be proactive in succession planning and remain involved in planning of future workloads and staff capability. They will work with junior animal technicians and advise them in scientific data collection and analysis. Participation in staff utilisation meetings to ensure efficient use of resources, succession planning and developing skills, specialism and flexibility across teams.
Person specification
Behaviours
Seeing the Bigger Picture
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Experience
Strong interpersonal and communication skills – written and oral, teamwork
Technical
Specialist Expertise
- Animal Science degree
- Experience in working with a range of animals
- Previous experience with experimental models or pathogens at different containment levels
LicencesDriving LicenceQualificationsAnimal Sciences DegreeBehaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Experience in working with a range of animals
- Previous experience with experimental models or pathogens at different containment levels
BenefitsAlongside your salary of £42,577, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £10,648 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and 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.
Should you be successful in your application, you can join the active community of scientists and engineers in government as part of the GSE Profession (GSEP). Becoming a member enables you to grow your understanding of profession activities within your own organisation and across the profession. GSEP encourages all members to develop professionally and personally with a variety of free opportunities to learn, develop and network across government. Visit the GSEP GOV.UK page and GSE blog for more details.
Pension and Financial Benefits
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package and there are various options including Alpha and Partnership pension schemes in which Defra can invest in providing a contribution to the cost of your pension.
Life Assurance: if you become too ill or die before retirement valuable benefits will be provided to you and your family.
Learning and Development
Access to five days learning and development each year to support professional development through Civil Service Learning. Corporate induction and three days special leave for volunteering.
Staff Wellbeing
Access to Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7, providing advice and guidance on both personal and employment issues such as personal wellbeing, career development, legal matters such as landlord / tenant disputes. Access to the Employee Assistance Programme, Occupational Health Service and the Civil Service Sports Council.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £42,577.00-£47,039.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: 343399
