Laboratory Scientist - Virology FTA (SD22/126) United Kingdom
Job description
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Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
At the Animal and Plant Health Agency, we safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy.
As a Laboratory Scientist, you will support the delivery of research projects within the Virology Department. You will also perform diagnostic tests to support outbreak response, commercial and statutory diagnosis of a broad range of viruses.
The successful candidate will work across the Virology department to develop a repository of viruses for the EVA-Global programme.
Job description
Main areas of work will include:
- Conducting and supporting experimental studies, primarily culturing and characterising pathogenic viruses.
- Assisting with the maintenance and management of the conventional and molecular test portfolio for viral diseases.
- Establishing new techniques, write and implement SOPs and maintain, troubleshoot or improve existing methods.
- Preparing written reports for inclusion into manuscripts, publications and project reports.
- Presenting data at national and international meetings and conferences as appropriate.
Person specification
Skills and experience
- Good written and oral communication skills.
- Numeracy and IT literacy.
- Technical laboratory experience in the following areas:
- Virology experience e.g. cell/virus culture, titration
- Molecular biology e.g. nucleic acid extraction, PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis
- Serology assays e.g. ELISA, immuno-diffusion assays, virus neutralisation
- Ability to input into the design, management, write up and presentation of work
- Be willing to work at Biocontainment levels 2 and 3 and have an understanding of SAPO/ACDP compliance.
Staff will be required to work rostered on-call duties, weekends, Bank Holidays and occasional evenings. Out of hours work may be required in the event of a disease incident. When overtime or out-of-hours work is required, APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment.
The successful candidate will be expected to have any necessary vaccinations and comply with health surveillance protocols. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It will also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment. The post holder will need to wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.
The work of the post can be physically demanding, and due to access requirements to biosecure areas (laboratory and animal facilities), individuals must be physically able.
Periodic travel within the UK or overseas may be required.
A valid full driving licence is necessary or access to an alternative means of transport.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Knowledge of veterinary viral diseases
- Understanding of laboratory techniques used for virus culture and characterisation
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, 500-word personal statement and one 250-word behaviour question.
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 personal statement only. 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 asked to give examples of Behaviours using Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) and will be assessed against the technical skills and experience requirements detailed in the Job description.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Location
Please be aware that this role 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.
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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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.
Loan and Fixed Term Appointments
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
This is a Fixed Term Appointment until December 2023 as a SO Laboratory Scientist in the Virology department. This is not a permanent post. It is time limited due to the fixed funding period or as part of a specific project. The fixed term will end when the funding or the project expires. Your responsibilities in the post will be culturing and characterising different veterinary viruses for the EVA-Global project. This post will therefore begin from your agreed start date and and in December 2023.
Higher Security Clearance
All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to Weybridge may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Governments response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason all post holders based on 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 residency criteria. UK residency is required from 3 to 10 years depending on the level of Security. However residency qualification maybe reduced for certain roles and will be considered on a case by case basis.
Should you be successful at interview you will be required to undertake this security check along with Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check. This includes: identity, employment.
Full Time Only
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. The post is full-time, we may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis if continuity can be arranged. Pro-rata salary for job share.
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
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Medical
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team :
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected]
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission
