Aquarist
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 23rd October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
In the aquarium facility at the Cefas Weymouth Laboratory we work with finfish, crustacea and molluscs to support high quality science and evidence for governments, academia and industry. In this role you will join a professional, dedicated team delivering a wide range of aquatic stock husbandry services across the facility, actively championing a positive culture of care, and ensuring the highest quality standards for our research. Responsibilities will include maintenance of aquatic organisms rearing systems and husbandry, and biosecurity according to local, legislative and quality requirements.
After completion of training, the post holder will be expected to join a rota system requiring limited working outside of normal working hours to provide care and welfare of fish at weekends, and on call duties. This is a laboratory-based role, with limited opportunities for working from home.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Job description
You will work in a role that is helps support the highest quality scientific research enhancing the UKs capability and capacity to protect wild and farmed aquatic animals from disease, chemicals, and climate change. The working environment and specific daily requirements will vary depending on the species you are caring for and the research programmes being undertaken.
You will typically work around 37 hours a week but, as animal care is needed 24/7, this will include weekend and bank holiday working on a rota basis, along with the provision of emergency callout response. Overtime payments will be available for emergency call-out along with weekend and holiday work.
You will work in a team of aquarists and under the leadership of the Lead Aquarist, and you will be responsible for the day-to-day care of aquatic organisms, primarily animals including fish and invertebrates. Your main duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- be familiar with the Animal (Scientific Procedure) Act 1986, which governs the use of protected animals in scientific research.
- ensure good health and a high level of welfare for aquatic animals in the facility.
- provide efficient day-to-day husbandry of stock aquatic animals (e.g., feeding, handling, safe movement of the animals) and live feed cultures.
- maintain biosecurity in all areas of the facility for example cleaning tanks, equipment and fittings.
- collect and record data on stock management, health and treatments in line with the facility’s processes.
- monitor the condition of animals, recognise behavioural or health issues associated with the species and assist in resolving concerns.
- monitor husbandry conditions such as water quality, lighting, and temperature.
- provide out-of-hours cover and emergency callout response for all aquatic rearing and holding facilities on a rota basis.
- assist with essential system maintenance.
In addition, Cefas reserves the right to ask staff to take on additional duties and responsibilities which are commensurate with their grade. Team Leaders and management will have a discussion with staff to explain the changes that are to be made. A new job description will be issued if required.
Person specification
The following are essential criteria required for this role and you must be able to demonstrate your skills and experience in the following areas:
- You will have a keen interest in the care and welfare of aquatic animals. You will have an excellent culture of care, a responsible attitude, good attention to detail, excellent communication skills and be capable of working as part of a team and independently.
- You should be aware of the ethical issues surrounding the use of protected aquatic animals in research and a have willingness to care for them.
- You should have a good understanding of the care and maintenance needs of freshwater and marine aquatic species and should be able to demonstrate experience of working in practical settings with aquatic species previously.
- You should be able to demonstrate experience and knowledge of fish health, feeding, general care, welfare, and water quality monitoring.
- You should be able to demonstrate willingness to follow record keeping instructions and filling in the required paperwork and spreadsheets as required in this regulated and audited sector.
- You will hold, or show willingness to obtain, a personal licence to work under the Animals (Scientific Procedure) Act 1986; training will be available.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Aquarium or aquaculture operation: operating systems used for aquatic organisms husbandry, following husbandry processes and ensuring organisms are kept under species-appropriate environmental conditions.
- Maintaining biosecurity: working in a way which is safe and minimizes the risks of cross-contamination by appropriate disinfection and storage of equipment.
- Improving aquatic animal husbandry conditions: considering and proposing to the lead aquarist changes in the operations that would enhance the welfare of the organisms kept at the facility.
Benefits
- Generous annual leave entitlement – Cefas offers 25 days' annual leave on entry (rising to 30 days over first 5yrs) for full-time new entrants to the Civil Service Employees receive 8 public holidays a year, plus an additional day to mark the King's birthday.
- Access to learning and development tailored to your role.
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options.
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
- Eligible to join the Civil Service Pension scheme – more information can be found on the CSP website http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/
- Staff recognition vouchers.
- In-year award scheme.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process, you are asked to provide a CV (job history, qualifications, past skills and experience), a 750-word Personal Statement on how you meet the essential criteria as stated in the person specification section, and a 250-word statement on how you meet the advertised lead behaviour – Making Effective Decisions.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
- For guidance on Civil Service Success Profiles, this video tells you what you’ll need to provide throughout the assessment process with supporting guidance on each step. Link – Success Profiles
- For guidance on how to construct your CV, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link - CV
- For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Statement
- For guidance on how to construct your lead behaviour statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Behaviours
Sift
The sift panel will use the information in your CV and Personal Statement to assess your experience and how you meet the essential criteria as stated in the person specification section. The sift panel will also assess the lead behaviour statement – Making Effective Decisions.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour – Making Effective Decisions. 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 three advertised behaviours, three advertised technical skills and your experience (as stated in the person specification section).
If shortlisted for interview we will ask you to use the Situation, Task, Action and Result STAR model to structure the examples that you give to the behaviours and technical skills questions. In particular, if shortlisted for interview, concerning the technical skills questions, the examples provided will need to be relevant to aquaculture and biosecurity operations.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Please be aware that at this time, interviews will be held in person at our site in Weymouth.
If scores are equal following interview, an assessment of the lead behaviour – Making Effective Decisions will be used by the panel.
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.
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.
Please be aware that this role is based at our main location in Weymouth.
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.
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
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 : Cally Wiles or Alec Wilson
- Email : resourcing@cefas.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.
