GOVTALENT.UK

Senior Scientist - Bovine Tuberculosis (ID 1101)

This opening expired 7 months ago.

Animal and Plant Health Agency

Location(s):
Addlestone
Salary:
£42,577 to £47,039
Job grade:
Senior Executive Officer
Business area:
Science
Contract type:
Permanent
Working pattern:
Full-time, Part-time

About the job

Job summary

Provide scientific input and leadership to the bovine TB surveillance & research programme at APHA.  

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.

Job description

APHA are world leaders in bovine TB research and surveillance, with our work contributing to Defra’s TB eradication plan which has the aim of eradicating the disease by 2035.

Work includes a statutory bovine TB testing programme, a bovine TB vaccine development programme (with field trials currently taking place) and complementary research studies, alongside development of novel diagnostics, use of genomics technologies and surveillance tools.

This work is conducted in state-of-the-art laboratories and animal accommodation including high containment facilities. APHA is also a WOAH world reference laboratory for mammalian TB.

We are seeking a senior scientist to contribute to existing work and provide input to development of future projects and funding applications.

Person specification

  • Assist in the project management of cattle and non-bovine TB surveillance programmes
  • Scientific contribution to current research and projects in the field of bovine TB, especially bovine/badger immunology, diagnostic test development and vaccinology
  • Contribution to the development of new project ideas – may include project management
  • Management and development of junior scientists
  • Performing experiments in the laboratory as necessary
  • Collaboration with APHA colleagues and a variety of other internal and external stakeholder such as Defra policy colleagues and academic collaborators
  • Preparation and presentation (oral and written) of project outputs (e.g. project reports, experimental data) to a variety of audiences, including funders and other stakeholders
  • Preparation and submission of scientific papers for publication where appropriate
  • Scientific background would include the application and development of immunological diagnostic tests, and an interest in working with mycobacterial pathogens
  • Track record of major author publication in peer-reviewed scientific/veterinary journals
  • Experience of working with laboratory management quality standards such as ISO17025 and ISO9001
  • Experience of working in high containment (ACDP3/SAPO4) environments or willingness to learn
  • Experience in managing, coaching or developing other members of staff
  • Proven scientific project management experience - ideally from obtaining funding through to final reporting
  • Possession or willingness to apply for a Home Office ASPA license

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,577, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £11,495 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.

Please write up to 500 words in your Personal Statement 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 "CV". 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 skills, experience & behaviour statements.

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(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.

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.

Full Time Only

This post is full-time, 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.

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.

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.

Added: 8 months ago