Veterinary Research Pathologist ID2944
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 26th November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Veterinary Services
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
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, high impact, and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.
The jobholder will be working in a team of veterinary pathologists performing gross and histopathological examinations and providing expert consultancy on endemic, new and emerging, notifiable, and zoonotic diseases, with a strong emphasis on ruminants and pigs. Additionally, the job holder will contribute to a range of research projects conducted by the Pathology & Animal Sciences Department and other departments in the Agency, working toward achieving our objectives of protecting public health, preventing farm animal disease, and promoting animal health and welfare.
Job description
The core duty of this position is to conduct histopathological examinations of tissues and provide interpretation and diagnostic advice that is tailored to the British livestock production context. Other duties include providing advice and contributing to the generation of surveillance data and intelligence, contributing to research projects on diseases of British livestock and wildlife species and disseminating knowledge through publications and presentations.
Responsibilities will include:
- Conducting gross, sub-gross and microscopic examination of fixed specimens from production animals (mainly ruminants and pigs).
- Producing relevant reports and advising on pathology findings using your knowledge of the British cattle, sheep and pig industry.
- Providing scientific and diagnostic advice to other science departments and colleagues working in the wider animal health network
- Collaborating with scientists from APHA, other governmental bodies, scientific institutes and academia, across the UK and abroad, on projects relevant to the British livestock industry and government.
- Communicating quality, evidence-based advice and scientific data through written reports, presentations, and scientific publications representing APHA at national and international level.
- Conducting gross examinations on a wide range of species in containment level-3 facilities.
- Maintaining veterinary and scientific expertise through Continuing Professional Development, whilst also supporting the development of your colleagues.
- Working to various Quality and Health and Safety standards, including ISO9001, ISO17025, Good Laboratory Practice, Animal Scientific Procedures Act (ASPA), Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO), Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) guidance.
Person specification
Experience and skills:
You will need to demonstrate the following:
- Member, or eligibility for membership, of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Join the Register of Veterinary Surgeons - Professionals (rcvs.org.uk).
- Good understanding of the British livestock industry
- Interest in developing a career in pathology and research.
Security clearance
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 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.
Other Information
The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.
Depending on the areas of work involved you will be expected to have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment.
The successful candidate should not keep pigs or poultry or live on premises where there are domestic livestock or poultry. Temporary restriction on contact with poultry, livestock or rodents may apply under some circumstances.
The work of the post can be physically demanding, and due to access requirements to biosecurity areas, individuals must be physically able.
The post is located at the APHA Weybridge laboratory.
Staff may be required to work rostered on-call duties, weekends, Bank Holidays and occasional evenings.
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.
Qualifications
Memberships
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
- Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Good working knowledge of at least one relevant livestock sector
- Understanding of gross and histopathology
- Working in a laboratory environment and containment facilities
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- Good working knowledge of at least one relevant livestock sector
Benefits
Benefits
In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training, as 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, a generous employer contributory pension, 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. In the Pathology and Animal Sciences Department we take your development as a pathologist seriously and will support you through a combination of funded internal and external training and development opportunities.
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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a comprehensive CV in the provided template and give a 500-word personal statement describing your skills and experience. You will also be asked to give an example against one behaviour (Working Together) and one technical skill (Good working knowledge of at least one relevant livestock sector ) in the Situation, Task, Action and Result (STAR) format in your application.
If successful for an interview you will be asked to give a presentation and details of this will be given at the time.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and we will assess you against the Civil Service Behaviours and Experience.
Please use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of each of the criteria in your application form and at the interview.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Working Together and technical skill ,Good working knowledge of at least one relevant livestock sector.
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 Behaviours, Technical skills 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.
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
The role is based at Weybridge where the team is located and due to the nature of the role and duties required. Flexibility in working hours is required if called upon to finish a particular urgent task or call upon in an event of an outbreak.
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.
We have a Staff Recognition Scheme with our in-year awards rewarding exemplary work. This post offers the successful candidate the opportunity to receive an additional pay supplement of up to £3,000 upon appointment. There is a further pay supplement of up to an additional £3,000 which may be offered based on candidate’s experience and annual competency assessment. These allowances do not form part of the Terms of Employment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Flexibility in working hours is required if called upon to finish a particular urgent task or call upon in an event of an outbreak.
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 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 potholders 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 residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have between 3 to 10 years continuous UK residency depending on the level of Security.
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 : Rutuja Bansode
- Email : rutuja.bansode@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.
