About the job

Job summary

Bioinformatician/Molecular biologist to meet the milestones and deliver work proposed in VMD/DEFRA funded core projects, so APHA can deliver the UK’s National Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The post-holder will also deliver One health projects as appropriate. The post is in the AMR & Enteric pathogens team within the Department of Bacteriology at APHA, Weybridge.

The post holder will provide scientific expertise and leadership, as well be a good team worker, working within the bacterial characterisation cluster and collaborating with other departments.  The successful candidate will undertake various next generation sequencing techniques (including long- and short read sequencing) and conduct sequence analysis to characterise bacteria collected through surveillance and research projects as well as outbreak investigations. The post merges laboratory-based molecular skills with bioinformatic analysis. The post holder will be expected to contribute their expertise to expand the capability of molecular identification, bioinformatics, and characterisation of enteric bacteria at APHA. Applications are invited from enthusiastic, self-motivated scientists with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Job description

1. Developing and applying molecular biology methods and bioinformatics techniques to support research and surveillance activities within VMD/Defra as well as other projects at APHA.
2. Undertake a variety of phenotypic methods (such as microbial culture, susceptibility testing) and genotypic work (such as DNA and metagenome sequencing, MinION sequencing.
3. Lead scientific research, using bioinformatics (sequencing) approaches, to characterise the antibiotic resistance (AMR) of bacteria within livestock and the farm environment.  
4. Employ bioinformatics tools to characterise specific genes including AMR/virulence, genetic context of genes, mobile genetic elements, pan-genomes, as well as phylogenetic relationships in large numbers of isolates.
5. Management of project objectives or work package to meet target timeline for delivery of work, project milestones, and publications. They will be required to liaise closely with line managers/project leaders to help meet these deadlines.
6. Document research, provide written reports and contribute/lead peer-reviewed manuscripts for scientific publication. Present work orally/posters at internal and external meetings and develop a network of contacts.
7. Develop and manage junior scientists, especially in technical aspects, as part of a matrix management system to ensure delivery of project work, and undertaking advisory, training, and reporting duties associated with line management of staff and students (e.g., MSc and PhD).
8. Liaise/collaborate with researchers within the agency and at external organisations (e.g., collaborating institutes, Public Sector Research Establishments and Universities).
9. Maintain a safe working environment and comply with safety regulations and quality systems within the laboratory including maintenance of ISO9001:2015
10. Contribute to ideas and in drafting of concept notes, research, and other proposals.
11. Liaise with co-workers to ensure maintenance of an emergency response capability for molecular characterisation of isolates from a wide range of animals, including livestock found in different environments (e.g., farm premises and hatcheries).

Person specification

We are seeking applicants with experience in molecular microbiology to focus on the delivery of AMR research and surveillance projects.

The post holder will maintain oversight of the delivery of this work.

The post holder may functionally manage other staff to deliver the work and will liaise with project leaders and senior managers providing updates on progress of work and promptly reporting any issues.

This post focus on analysing sequencing data (large-scale) using established bioinformatics pipelines and will also require the post holder to develop and implement new bioinformatics tools and methodologies for detailed genomic analysis.   

The post holder will also collate the data and produce reports and prepare scientific publications.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,857, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £9,681 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 statements. 

In your Personal Statement please write up to 500 words demonstrating how you meet the skills and experience detailed in the job description.

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 "Changing & Improving".

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 & Behaviours. 

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed. Further information will be provided if invited to interview

Location

Please be aware that this role will be contractually based in at the Weybridge site. 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.

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. Attendance at the laboratories is essential and therefore the post holder needs to be able to work from the APHA Weybridge site.

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.

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.

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 at least 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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.