Senior Scientific Officer International Disease Monitoring and Risk Identification
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 22nd November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
Are you passionate about protecting animal health and supporting the development of policies?
Do you have expertise in risk assessment and a strong scientific background in veterinary health?
Are you looking for an exciting and challenging opportunity to make a difference as a Senior Scientific Officer (SSO) for International Disease Monitoring (IDM) and Risk Assessment?
Job description
This is a critical role where you’ll be working at the forefront of animal disease control, developing and delivering evidence-based risk assessments that inform UK policies on animal health and welfare. You will be integral to APHA’s Advice Services team, collaborating with policy makers across Defra, Devolved Administrations, and international partners to identify and respond to disease risks.
As part of this role you will be working at the forefront of animal disease control, leading on and enhancing our horizon scanning capabilities to inform the development and delivery of evidence-based risk assessments that inform UK policies on animal health and welfare. You will be integral to APHA’s Animal Health and Welfare Advice team, collaborating with policy makers across Defra, Devolved Administrations, and international partners to identify and respond to disease risks.
Responsibilities will include (not be limited to):
- Undertake daily horizon scanning for exotic animal diseases, produce outbreak assessments to be published on gov.uk and lead on reporting to Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs), Policy leads in Defra and DAs, and including the UK Office for SPS and Trade Assurance (a suite of routine reports as well as ad hoc reporting when required).
- Provide expert advice on the change in risk of animal disease incursion through changing trade patterns and legislation.
- Provision of written and verbal evidence-based advice to Ministers, CVOs, EU Exit and other policy teams, Devolved Administration colleagues, external stakeholders and similar on risk assessment and risk management.
- Development of technical risk identification and co-ordination across new partners in third countries and with international organisations beyond our EU partners.
- Develop contacts with other agencies such as FAO and WOAH, and working with risk identification groups in the USA, NZ, Canada, Australia and others.
Work with Defra, APHA, FSA and UKHSA on understanding the risk of changing trade rules. - Development of technical risk identification and co-ordination within APHA and with key national and international organisations.
- Establish links between APHA Animal Health and Welfare Advice team and other relevant departments/teams to facilitate knowledge exchange.
- Ensure effective knowledge exchange between business units and teams so that data, information and intelligence is effectively shared for decision-making, continuous improvement and reporting.
- Support the design, development and maintenance of the GB Risk Assessment Hub.
- Support the development of animal health policies and provide rapid risk assessments for trade and disease control during international outbreaks.
- As required act as Veterinary Risk Group risk lead or deputy for IDM and Risk Team Leader, ensuring a seamless flow of information and leadership during outbreaks.
- Provide leadership and provision of the National Expert Group Secretariat function; both in preparedness for, and during, outbreaks of exotic notifiable disease.
- Undertake the production of rapid risk assessments to support trade (imports and regionalisation) and the development of animal health exotic disease control policies in response to an animal disease outbreak in a trading partner or other country, working closely with other risk assessors in APHA.
Build and maintain strong networks with key national and international organizations, including the FAO, WOAH, and risk identification groups in countries such as the USA, Canada, and New Zealand.
With a good understanding of risk assessment principles and methodologies, in an outbreak:
- Develop and coordinate Veterinary Risk Assessments (VRAs) during outbreaks of exotic notifiable diseases to support disease control and trade policies.
- Provide liaison between APHA teams and policy teams.
- Lead on the provision of other risk assessments to support policy options for disease control.
- Provide technical input on drafting and reviewing of VRAs.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following experience and skills:
- Experience of scientific data handling, with experience in translating complex data into advice for policymakers and stakeholders.
- Experience in horizon scanning, qualitative risk assessments, and understanding of legislation related to the trade of animals and animal products and being able to translate into advice.
- Ability to collaborate across government and international teams, building relationships with key stakeholders.
- Expertise in animal health, disease monitoring, and public health policy, with knowledge of WOAH and CODEX risk assessment processes.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to write scientific papers and reports as well as being able to deliver complex advice to non-scientific audiences.
- Ability to meet tight deadlines, be proactive and use initiative to drive work forward.
- Experience in a risk assessor role.
- Experience in the area of modelling risks from international trade.
- Knowledge and use of Microsoft Products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, Teams and SharePoint.
Travel
The successful candidate can be based nationally but will need to commit to frequent travel to London.
There may also be a need to travel around the Agency’s locations to attend meetings and/or training with some overnight stays.
Support, Training, and Induction
Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. New joiners to the organisation will attend an induction programme that will provide you with information on the civil service, our work and our policies.
Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role. 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.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We have strong staff networks covering mental health, disability, and other needs. We also have a range of special leave policies and will put reasonable adjustments in place for people who need them.
The department places significant emphasis on talent programmes that help everyone to achieve their full potential. The Civil Service as a whole is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. Support available includes a bullying and harassment network and mediation services.
Encouraging diverse applicants
The natural environment is important for everyone, and we aim for our teams to reflect the diversity of our society. We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups. Your personal qualities will be as important as your professional experience, and we welcome applications from all ethnicities, faiths and backgrounds.
We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age, ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Applying scientific and technical knowledge, this will be assessed through a 10 minute presentation with the scenario being sent 5 working days before the interview date.
Benefits
- 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.
- Staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
- A hybrid office/home based working model.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
Making it work for you - With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances. These are just a few of our benefits we offer.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and four behaviour statements.
- CV – Please list your job history, and qualifications.
- Personal Statement - In a maximum of 750 words, please provide evidence of how your personal skills, qualities and experience are most suited to this role.
- Behaviours – In a maximum of 250 words for each, please provide an example against the behaviours Communicating and Influencing (Lead behaviour), Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture and Making Effective Decisions.
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 on 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.
The sift is expected to take place towards the end of November 2024.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours, experience and a technical element.
- Behaviours – Please provide an example against the behaviours Communicating and Influencing (Lead behaviour), Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture and Making Effective Decisions.
- Technical - Candidates will be assessed on their technical knowledge by giving a 10-minute presentation on a scenario. The scenario will be sent by email 5 working days prior to the interview date.
- Experience - Candidates will be assessed on their experience with qualitative risk assessment.
Interviews will be conducted via Video link and are expected to take place at the start/middle of December 2024.
Dates for both the sift and interview could be subject to change.
Location
Please be aware that this role will be contractually based in an APHA workplace.
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
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.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
Candidate location will be agreed at the time of of a provisional offer, please note that locations are subject to space being available.
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 grs@cabinetoffice.gov.ukas 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 /Disclosure Scotland 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.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
NSV
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
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.
This post requires the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London or Weybridge may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer. It is up to each person applying to ensure they meet requirements.
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
Medical
Nationality requirements
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Lisa Lewis
- Email : ProfessionalAdvice.Standards@apha.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/ to visit Civil Service Commission.
