About the job

Job summary

Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare? If so, we would love to hear from you! 

This role is a unique development opportunity. It is an ideal position for able and ambitious candidates who are looking to expand and refine their skill set in a demanding environment.

In this role, you will carry out diagnostic laboratory testing duties in the APHA Starcross Veterinary Investigation Centre. You will work as part of a team handling the receipt, registering, and testing of samples in an ACDP Containment Level 2/3 laboratory.

This is a permanent post, and we will provide you with an extensive training and development programme to support you in your role and achieving your career ambitions. Part of this training and development programme will be to provide you with a fully funded Level 6 Laboratory Scientist Apprenticeship with BSc in BioSciences, with TIRO in conjunction with Middlesex University. There may be the opportunity to pursue further education.

The post holder will be required to:

• Work to Agency Safety and Quality standards (ISO:17025 / 9001)
• Follow approved Standard Operating Procedures, Risk Assessments and Codes of Practice
• Provide assistance with other duties in the Regional VIC when workload demands

Job description

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

General duties:

• Receiving samples into the laboratory and processing the tests that are requested by the RO’s
• Preparing samples for dispatch to other laboratories
• Dealing with queries received relating to laboratory submissions
• Maintain equipment records and logs
• Perform housekeeping duties to schedule
• Dispose of samples and spent reagents appropriately
• Keep line management informed of potential problems/anomalies

Diagnostic testing:

Receive training in all aspects of the laboratory, including:

• Culture and examination of specimens
• Plate inoculation
• Reading of cultures
• Use of molecular tools for the detection of nucleic acid e.g. PCR, nucleic acid extraction, high-throughput robotics
• Support the development and validation of molecular diagnostic tools
• Detection of antibodies from blood using ELISA and DPP testing methods

Health and Safety:

• Contribute to a positive safety culture by following safety policies, standards and procedures
• Understand and follow controls outlined in Risk Assessments
• Participate in contingency exercises and other safety training
• Participate in safety audits/inspections to support the local safety manager

Quality:

• Ensure equipment maintenance duties are carried out and to schedule
• Maintain accurate record keeping
• Work to Standard Operating Procedures
• Work to quality standards (ISO 17025 / 9001)
• Participate in appropriate external proficiency testing schemes
• Participate in audits to support the local quality manager

Work activities may change depending on the needs of the business which may involve training for additional tests and tasks not detailed on this job description.

Person specification

In order to undertake the apprenticeship as part of the learning and training development opportunities we offer you would require:

5 GCSE’s at grade C or above, including English, maths and a science subject and hold relevant level 3 qualifications providing the appropriate number of UCAS points for entry to a level 6 Higher Education programme. Other relevant or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative.

Experience

You must have experience of carrying out molecular biology techniques.

Flexibility in working hours is required if called upon to finish a particular urgent task or call upon in an event of an outbreak. Staff may be required to work rostered weekends, Bank Holidays and occasional evenings. APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment. 

Periodic travel within the UK and EU will be required and this could include attending training courses or 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. A valid full driving licence is necessary or access to an alternative means of transport.

Due to access requirements to biosecure areas, individuals must be physically able.

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. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £23,811, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £6,428 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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV-style template, personal statement and a Behaviour statement.

Please write up to 500 words detailing your suitability for the post, in particular any laboratory experience. 

Please complete a statement on the specified Behaviour (250 word max).

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 will take place w/c 12th August 2024

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, skills and experience, Technical ability, and Strengths.  

Interviews will take place w/c 2nd September 2024, in person, at APHA Starcross, Staplake Mount, Starcross, EX6 8PE.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed, further details will be given nearer to the interview date. 

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 APHA Veterinary Investigation Centre in Starcross.

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

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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.