GOVTALENT.UK

Senior Quantitative Ecologist ID:275

This opening expired 7 months ago.

Animal and Plant Health Agency

Location(s):
York
Salary:
£39,439 to £43,569
Job grade:
Senior Executive Officer
Business area:
Science
Contract type:
Permanent
Working pattern:
Full-time, Part-time

About the job

Job summary

In this role, you’ll be applying your skills in experimental design and statistical modelling to wildlife management and disease in support of government policy making. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) want an innovative, versatile, and numerate ecologist to join the epidemiology and modelling team at the agency’s National Wildlife Management Centre (NWMC). As a member of the team, you’ll be working with ecologists and modellers on diverse topics like the potential for spread of exotic diseases in UK wildlife, the best response to disease outbreaks and the management of non-native invasive species. A willingness and demonstrated ability to learn new skills are as important as extensive experience.

APHA safeguards animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment, and the economy. As an executive agency of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), we are a world-leading centre in animal and plant health research, as well as being responsible for identifying, managing, and controlling incidents and outbreaks of endemic and exotic diseases and pests in animals, plants, and bees. We provide unique capabilities and an evidence base for UK government, together with international research and reference responsibilities. The NWMC is an internationally important centre for wildlife disease management with multidisciplinary skills in epidemiology, statistics, and field ecology.

Job description

You will work on a wide range of projects and tasks, for which:

  • Experimental design - You will use your expertise in experimental design and statistical analysis to support NWMC’s data collection, including by ecological field teams, and promote good practice in this area
  • Statistical modelling - You will undertake statistical modelling across a diverse range of ecological and epidemiological topics, for example, spread of diseases in terrestrial mammal species including bats and management of invasive non-native species such as the Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
  • Quality assurance - Where required, you will have quality assurance oversight of the work of colleagues in the NWMC, ensuring we achieve high standards of statistical rigour in scientific outputs
  • Keep up to date - You will be encouraged to maintain awareness of emerging techniques and approaches in ecological statistical modelling to the benefit of colleagues and the work of the NWMC
  • Support modelling - You will be supporting the wider department’s disease and population modelling
  • Communication - You will contribute to expert presentation and clear communication of results for policy decision-making and scientific peer-review. You will work with other researchers across APHA and develop networks with statisticians/modellers and other collaborators in Defra and beyond
  • Line management - This is a senior position that will include management of a small number of other scientists

Person specification

Essential criteria

The following criteria are essential for this role:

  • Experience of experimental design for collection of ecological and/or epidemiological data
  • Proven skills in the application of data analysis and/or statistical modelling
  • Experience in the use of statistical analysis software packages, e.g., R, GenStat, SPSS
  • Strong leadership skills with the capability and experience to overcome challenges in order to deliver quality business outcomes
  • Ability to deliver to tight deadlines, using forward planning to identify risks and issues, while including quality assurance and protection against errors; ability to work within a team and a strong sense of inter-disciplinary working
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex data to non-specialists and contribute effectively to discussions with external stakeholders and lay audiences on the outcomes of scientific study

Experience:

  • Experience of applying numerical methods to deliver solutions or products to customers, including project design or management and working with others
  • Experience beyond an educational or training context of the application of statistical modelling to ecological problems, including the use of statistical analysis software

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £10,648 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 and personal statement.

Your Personal Statement should be no more than 500 words, and should detail of all your skills, experience your suitability to this role as given in the job description.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Interview

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

Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/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.

All applicants will be based in of the advertised location. Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

Reserve List:

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Near miss:

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

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.

Added: 8 months ago