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! 

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 duties of a scientist /technician in APHA laboratories will include sample testing in order to establish the diagnosis of animal disease, monitoring animal health, screening for incursion of exotic disease, and performing statutory testing. A wide variety of tests are undertaken utilising serology, microbiology, parasitology and molecular biology techniques. All work is undertaken in a minimum of Containment level 1 facilities, with some work being undertaken at the higher containment levels. The job involves working with pathogens and hazardous samples, and must be undertaken following safe working practices as specified in instructions and safety documentation. All laboratories perform to ISO 17025 standards, and all work must conform to these standards. The APHA operate 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.

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 in conjunction with Middlesex University.

Job description

Working as part of a cross department team of veterinary, laboratory and administration staff to deliver testing results to internal and external customers.  The work undertaken can be varied and may range from registering submissions on the LIMS IT system, undertaking repetitious tasks, to undertaking testing that requires specialist and demanding technical ability.  Laboratory staff are required to liaise with other agency laboratories and may be required to communicate with external customers.

Laboratory scientists are required to gain a high level of competency in all technical disciplines undertaken at the laboratory and are required to work in different areas of the laboratory involving different disciplines on a rotational basis to provide testing cover where it is needed.  Duties include:

Gamma Interferon:

• Ensure all samples received for gamma testing are processed as efficiently as possible.  
• Stimulation of high volumes of whole blood samples. 
• Carry out ELISA testing.

Media Production:

• Preparation of solid and liquid culture media.

Salmonella:

• Ensure all samples received for Salmonella and animal by-products testing are processed as required.

Animal by products:

• Ensure all samples received for Salmonella and animal by-products testing are processed as required.

General:

• Receipt and despatch of samples on a LIMS system.
• Recording test data and findings.
• Housekeeping duties.
• Preparation of critical test reagents.
• Disposal of samples and spent reagents.
• Use of lab equipment, autoclave, pipettes etc.
• Keeping line management informed of problems/ anomalies.

Health and safety:

• Contributing to a positive safety culture by following Agency safety policies and procedures.
• Understanding and following controls in Risk Assessments.
• Ensuring equipment maintenance duties are carried out in all areas of the laboratory.
• Participate in contingency exercises and other safety training.
• Participate in safety audits/ inspections to support the local safety manager.

Quality:

• Accurate record keeping.
• Working to Standard Operating Procedures.
• Working to quality standards (ISO 17025).
• Participate in proficiency testing schemes.
• Participate in audits to support the local quality manager.

Person specification

The post holder will be required to:

• Work to Agency safety and quality standards.
• Test submissions using scientific techniques used in APHA
• Provide support and undertake duties on behalf of local Quality and Safety managers.

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

The post holder must hold a UK Driving Licence or be able to travel between APHA SLSD sites via an alternate means of transport.

Qualifications

In order to undertake the apprenticeship, you will require:

• A Levels (C or above) / B-tech Level 3 (Merit or above) in a Science related subject.
• GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent) OR be willing to complete Functional Skills modules in working level Maths and English as part of the apprenticeship pathway.
• Government apprenticeship requirements state that the apprenticeship will provide “substantive new skills and learning” and that the apprenticeship programme it is “materially different to any other training undertaken or qualification held”.  For this reason, applicants who already have a science degree cannot be accepted.

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 and Experience.

Application Process

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

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

Please complete a statement on each of the four specified Behaviours (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 and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

Interview

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

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 APHA Newcastle.

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.