Exotic Mycoplasma Diagnostic Lead (ID 2809)
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 3rd October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
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 research, advice, and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, impactful and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our people are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.
Do you want to apply your science technical, communication and problem-solving skills in a role that provides variety?
An experienced scientist with diagnostic research expertise is required to provide management and delivery of exotic mycoplasma surveillance and diagnostics at APHA as part of National and International Reference Laboratory functions. The work of the team involves detection and identification of veterinary Mycoplasma presenting an economic and disease threat and includes surveillance for notifiable, reportable, and new and emerging Mycoplasma species. This work is carried out at ISO17025 quality standard and requires specialist scientific diagnostic skills and knowledge as well as communication with veterinarians and scientists both inside and outside the agency and internationally. As exotic ruminant Mycoplasma laboratory lead, the post-holder will manage the delivery of specialist bacteriological and immunodiagnostic testing associated with international trade and provide advice on Mycoplasma diagnostics to customers when needed. Some of the work is done at high containment and the post involves management of one containment laboratory, overseeing the work of others to support emergency response capability as well as contributing to underpinning research, and preparing technical instructions, reports, and manuscripts.
This is post is full-time, we may consider two part-time staff on a job-share basis if continuity can be arranged. The post is based at the Weybridge APHA laboratories. Attendance at the laboratories is essential and therefore the post holder needs to be able to work from the APHA Weybridge site.
Job description
- Develop specialist knowledge of Mycoplasma microbiology and diagnostic tests.
- Deputise for the Mycoplasma Team Lead, particularly supporting exotic Mycoplasma ruminant diagnostics ensuring relevant testing diagnostic reports are approved within turnaround times.
- Develop and maintain competency to work independently under SAPO2 / CL3 containment laboratory conditions and take responsibility for safe handling and disposal of waste.
- Develop as Mycoplasma containment laboratory manager, directing work and staff within the facility, taking responsibility of laboratory operations in response to disease incidents.
- Oversee production of reagents used by other teams in the agency for immunodiagnostic tests and contribute to underpinning research work with a focus on prevention and control of exotic mycoplasma disease.
- Direct line management responsibility of up to two team members and supporting these staff to line manage others.
- Organisation of training in specialist techniques to national and overseas visitors and delivery of in country advisory and training visits on occasional basis.
- Effectively communicate Mycoplasma expertise when liaising with stakeholders, veterinarians, diagnostic customers and other laboratories, both nationally and internationally.
- Expand Mycoplasma expertise, through communication with international mycoplasmology networks and visits to, and by, collaborators and other Mycoplasma specialists.
- Preparation of newsletters, presentations, reports, abstracts and scientific papers.
- Ensure work and associated reporting is carried out to ISO17025 and ISO9001 standards, as appropriate.
Person specification
We are seeking enthusiastic applicants with diagnostic research expertise who, within a team of 8 staff, will act as exotic Mycoplasma laboratory and test manager and deliver effective day to day oversight of the diagnostic workstream of the Mycoplasma team ensuring country freedom from exotic Mycoplasma disease. You will be based in the Exotic Bacterial Diseases Workgroup within the Bacteriology Department at APHA Weybridge.
You will have knowledge and experience of research and or diagnostics with veterinary pathogens to include health and safety management and associated procedures and you will be expected to use this expertise to develop your working knowledge, support underpinning research and liaise with stakeholders relating to the detection and identification of economically important exotic veterinary Mycoplasma in support of Reference Laboratory activities.
Good communication skills including experience of delivering presentations and in scientific writing.
Experience of designing and delivering specialist laboratory training to others, including visitors.
Knowledge and experience of microbiological diagnostic testing and/or research including standard microbiological / immunological techniques.
Good understanding of bacteriological diseases of animals.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Powerpoint, Excel and Access databases is expected.
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. For this reason, all postholders based, or working frequently, on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement to work at the Weybridge site where the team and work is situated.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
In return for your dedication and hard work, 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, a generous employer contributory pension (28.97%), staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers and in-year bonuses. We also offer additional days off if accrued extra hours (flexi-time –if accumulated), three paid volunteering day per year. We also have a social committee who run team building and fun events at the Weybridge site. Further details can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.
Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful 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.
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.
Candidates are to give details within their personal statement, in no more than 500 words, of how they are suitable for the post by demonstrating the skills and experience they have from the information listed in the Job Description.
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 CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the behaviours and experience.
Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) 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.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
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.
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 maybe 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.
Full time only
This is post is full-time, but we may consider two part-time staff on a job-share basis if continuity can be arranged. The post is based at the Weybridge APHA laboratories. Attendance at the laboratories is essential and therefore the post holder needs to be able to work from the APHA Weybridge site.
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.
All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to 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.
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. For this reason all postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the CTC residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have a minimum of 3 years continuous UK residency. If you cannot meet this criteria CTC clearance will not be possible as this is part of pre-employment checks before taking up the post.
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.
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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 : Anne Ridley
- Email : anne.ridley@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: Click https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/ to visit Civil Service Commission.
