About the job

Job summary

Lead Scientist for the Bovine Tuberculosis Portfolio.

The post is expected to be based at APHA Weybridge, Surrey but an alternative APHA location (Bury St. Edmunds, Carmarthen, Exeter, Lasswade, Newcastle, Penrith & Thirsk) may be considered based on desk space. The post-holder may be expected to work one day per week co-located with policy colleagues in London.

Job description

As Lead Scientist you will develop and lead the science strategy for the high-profile Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) portfolio of work across the APHA and manage delivery of the portfolio. You will chair internal BTB portfolio management groups and portfolio/Defra policy meetings.

You will drive visibility and exploit opportunities arising from APHAs innovative work developing cutting edge tools for disease management and control (such as vaccine development and whole genome sequence-based epidemiology).

You will need to ensure that customers’ needs are met (Defra, Devolved Administrations, Veterinary Medicines Directorate) and that research and surveillance delivered is high quality, timely, within budget and policy relevant. You will ensure that any additional research carried out on behalf of other funders is fully aligned with the Agency’s strategy and provides added value to the Agency and Defra. You will oversee proposals for new work, and you will need to anticipate and meet Defra and other policy customers’ future requirements.

You will ensure the scientific skills base required to deliver the science is developed and maintained within the agency, to suit changing needs, or delivered through established (or new) collaborations with others in the arena, in the most effective manner.

You will negotiate with Heads of Department/Resource Centre Managers to ensure that projects are effectively scheduled, prioritised, and resourced and assist in provision of sound business cases to support additional resource needs where appropriate.  

You will develop, influence, and maintain effective collaborations with key strategic external partners in the UK and worldwide and will provide, or source, veterinary and scientific consultancy expertise in the portfolio area to internal and external stakeholders.

Develop the strategy for, and lead, the programme of science which extends across APHA for the BTB portfolio. You will grow the scientific reputation of APHA nationally and internationally and provide leadership and management of the scientific portfolio of work, ensuring high scientific standards.

Ensure Defra and other customers’ needs are met and that the research and surveillance is delivered to high quality standards, on time, within budget and is policy relevant. You will maintain a regular dialogue with customers and ensure the timely proposal of new work that anticipates and meets Defra and other major customers’ future requirements.

Agree scientific objectives and approaches of all new contracts submitted by project leaders and co-ordinate approval of submission of proposals and budget bids. Oversee the approval of all customer reports before submission and the clearance of papers for publication.

Identify and nurture important strategic collaborations for APHA, such as links with other scientific and veterinary institutes internationally, sister agencies within Defra, UKHSA, public sector research establishments and academia to facilitate the delivery of the best APHA science.

Ensure the scientific skills base required to deliver the science is developed and maintained within the agency, to suit changing needs, or delivered through established collaborations with others in the arena. Work with Heads of Department to ensure that projects are effectively scheduled, prioritised and resourced. 

Provide, or source, veterinary and/or scientific consultancy and expertise in the programme area to APHA, and Defra.

Act as the Senior Responsible Owner for high-value strategically important projects in the portfolio.

Ensure that non-Defra areas of research are core to our work, that they are aligned with the Science Strategy and provide added value to the APHA and Defra.

Produce and monitor an annual publication plan for your work area.

Assess and maintain the suitability of Disease and Test Consultants, and International Reference Laboratory Experts, for your work area.

With the support of Project Support Officers ensure all processes related to portfolio governance and reporting are completed and input into corporate documents as required (e.g., strategy documents, annual reports).

Ensure that financial planning and management is carried out for your portfolio of work, working with project leaders, Heads of Department and the appropriate Project Support Officers in Customer Accounts and Programme Support (CAPS).

Responsible for working with the Heads of Department/ Resource Managers to ensure that the portfolio of work complies with legislation for Health and Safety, with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act and dangerous pathogens legislation and quality standards (ISO17025, GLP, GCP, ISO9001) as appropriate.

Person specification

The post-holder must have sufficient experience in scientific/veterinary research, surveillance, or disease management/control to be a credible face of the portfolio to diverse stakeholders with demonstrable evidence of working in science for a good outcome. 

Experience of preparing successful project proposals and/or peer reviewed publications highlighting the potential to drive visibility of the BTB science portfolio. 

Experience of management of a program of science, with direct responsibility for a group of projects, where functional management skills were required.

Experience of mentoring junior scientists to produce work to high scientific standards and supporting and driving innovation.

Experience of preparing and monitoring project budgets.

Experience of providing scientific advice to senior professionals and decision makers.

Experience of working with other institutes/ laboratories at a national and international level.

You will need to be an exemplar in communication, communicating science to non-specialists such as Government representatives, farmers, and other stakeholders in a compelling and understandable manner.

A range of scientific skills relevant to assembling and overseeing a credible portfolio of projects for the program.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,605, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £16,903 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement & behaviour statement. 

For the personal statement, please write up to 500 words demonstrating how you meet the skills and experience detailed in the job description.

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 criteria "Leadership". 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 your technical skills, experience & behaviour statements.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed. Details will be given if invited for interview.

Location

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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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 post is full-time, but we may consider two part-time staff on a job-share basis if continuity can be arranged. The post is based at the Weybridge APHA laboratories.

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.

If based at Weybridge site: 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 at 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 CTC residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have a minimum of 3 years continuous UK residency. If you cannot meet this criteria CTC clearance will not be possible as this is part of pre-employment checks before taking up the post.

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.