About the job

Job summary

More than ever before the health of our environment, plants, animals and bees matters. Do you wish to be part of are part of an amazing, diverse team on the frontline in researching, investigating, and acting to protect the UK’s animal, plant and bee health?.  You will be helping to make a difference to the UK and contributing to global efforts to control and eradicate disease in plants, animals (such as Avian Influenza) and protecting global biodiversity.

The Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Test Manager is responsible for managing the AMR testing, as well as Brachyspira culturing/ identification and post-mortem activities at Starcross VIC. Provide line management to the officers within these areas, and ensure all work is performed to a high standard and conforms to the requirements of our UKAS accreditation status. The job involves working with samples that may contain ACDP and SAPO pathogens and must be undertaken following safe working practices as specified in instructions and safety documentation. The APHA operates a network of laboratories offering different test portfolios at each site, requiring the job holder to understand the wider role of the department, and how this fits with other departments of the wider agency.

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.

Job description

The successful candidate will provide test management responsibilities at APHA Starcross working as part of a cross department team of veterinary, laboratory and administration staff to deliver testing results to internal and external customers. 

To carry out any duties within the grade and purpose of the post including, but not limited to the following:

General duties:

• To manage the AMR, Brachyspira, and post-mortem testing as well as post bench activities carried out at Starcross.
• To manage the receipt, processing and reporting of results for samples submitted for testing.
• To carry out testing processes according to the relevant SOPs in CL2 and occasionally CL3 facilities.
• To carry out the administrative tasks associated with the testing activities. This includes checking and sorting submissions/samples and associated documentation, test allocation, worksheet preparation, test result reading, recording and approval, and report preparation.
• The use of the computerised Sample Management System (SMS), the storing and filing of documentation and resolving or referring enquiries associated with the testing. 
• To monitor and maintain all associated stocks of reagents, media and consumables for testing areas.
• Maintain a training programme for scientific staff within the testing areas described above, paying close attention to succession plans as required.
• To keep up to date with literature and policies/regulations that will compliment or enhance current testing regimes or project work and feed back to colleagues as required e.g. via project meetings and presentations.
• To ensure testing processes are in line with ISO17025 quality standards by maintaining SOPs, logbooks, calibration records, UoM, EQA, IQC documentation as well as participating/undertaking audits as required.
• To ensure all testing processes are carried out in line with the agencies safety policies and procedures and as well as maintaining appropriate risk assessments.
• Responsible for troubleshooting, test development/improvements and validation.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative links with other scientists within/outside APHA.
• Continue to keep relevant managers, disease consultants and test consultants up to date as required.
• Attend local management meetings representing the AMR department.
• Develop and expand expertise in given field.
• Direct line management of a team of scientists through the monitoring of staff leave and absence, providing development opportunities as well as following the PMR processes and ensuring staff have regular feedback on performance.
• Administrative duties: Timecards, leave cards and sickness forms.
• To provide assistance and technical support to other areas of the laboratory as required.

Person specification

The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required. 

Periodic travel within the UK and EU will be required and this could include farm or abattoir visits as part of ongoing research. The successful candidate may have to ensure that no contact is made with farmed animals for a period of 1-2 days or more before visiting livestock farms. This may preclude anyone who lives on a livestock farm.  

Travel will be required to attend training courses or other APHA laboratories.  You must have a valid driving licence or be able to call upon suitable alternate means of transport.

The work of the post can be physically demanding. Due to access requirements to biosecure areas, individuals must be physically able.

Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,470, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £7,416 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement, and Behaviour statements.

Please write up to 500 words in your Personal Statement demonstrating how you match the required skills and experience for this role.

Please complete statements on the specified Behaviours (250 word max per statement).

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 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 date to be confirmed.

Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours and your Experience. A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Interviews are expected to take place late March-early April 2024 and will be face-to-face at APHA Starcross.

Location
Please be aware that this role will be contractually based in the Starcross, Exeter APHA office. 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. 

As part of the pre-employment process, 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.

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.

Ways of Working
This role is full time. 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.

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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.