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East of England

Brampton

Brampton Office

Staff Grade 5

Fixed Term

Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Compressed Hours

Science

£37,462 Pro-rata

We are looking for a Technical Specialist with a strong background in molecular biology to join the National Fisheries Laboratory (NFL) team in Brampton, Cambridgeshire on a 24-month contract (with potential for the role to become permanent).

As a technical leader, you will oversee, drive, develop, and maintain the NFL’s molecular services, including responsibility for day-to-day operations and supervision of technical and scientific officers. The NFL has developed the use of molecular tools to support and deliver the team’s core remit in the detection, monitoring and management of fish diseases and non-native species to support our incident response and regulations. This role will build on developing this core diagnostic service, including the provision of molecular techniques (PCR and sequencing) to assist with fish post-mortem, health check investigations, pathogen and species identification, development of tools for future detection of new and emerging threats, and overall fishery management advice and risk assessment.

In addition to delivering the above, you will work alongside other technical specialists to manage a growing portfolio of project work for internal and external customers. This work will deliver the scientific evidence providing support to organisational decision making, regulation, operations, and our duties to maintain, improve and develop freshwater fisheries in England. This role will work across the Environment Agency’s Monitoring Laboratories (three labs across England) and wider partners to implement and deliver innovative monitoring tools for the detection of priority species and pathogens, and for broader environmental monitoring to address future risks, for example next generation sequencing and eDNA. You will be part of the NFL leadership team collaborating with other specialist and diagnostic leads to deliver and enhance the teams’ services.

We are currently recruiting for multiple roles into the National Fisheries Laboratory to support the growth of our molecular diagnostics (see other posts for details).

The team provides a national diagnostic and advisory service for fish health, ageing, and non-native species including:

• Laboratory examinations and support for fisheries incidents, disease investigations, and fishery management activities.
• Risk assessment and monitoring for non-native species and new and emerging diseases.
• Project work for service development, fisheries monitoring, and surveillance.

You will be based at our laboratories in Brampton, Cambridgeshire (one of three sites in Monitoring Laboratories).

Proven leadership experience in molecular diagnostics and/or environmental molecular monitoring.

Sound scientific knowledge of molecular tools and approaches, degree level or equivalent, with significant experience in collection, processing, and analysis of molecular data.

Experience of working in laboratory teams, leading areas of work, and overseeing the day to day running of laboratory disciplines.

Experience of leading including coaching, mentoring, and developing people.

Experience in working with a variety of customers, partners and /or stakeholders.

Ability to plan, design and deliver projects.

Ability to collate, analyse, review, and communicate scientific evidence to inform service development and management decisions.

A strong team ethic with an ability to work independently as well as part of a highly motivated team.

Ability to take initiative, be flexible, work under pressure to meet varied demands, solve problems, and make risk-based decisions.

Knowledge of disease diagnostic principles, freshwater fish diseases, non-native species, and fisheries management is preferred.

This post will be office and laboratory based, situated within the National Fisheries Laboratory, Brampton, Cambridgeshire. Occasional travel for meetings, events and site visits may be required.

This role will be involved in incident response (office and/or laboratory based) for fish disease and non-native fish related incidents and must be able to participate in these requirements.

The Environment Agency offers a generous employee offer, including a flexible working policy, access to a Local Government Pension scheme as well as a host of other employee benefits. For further information on this role, the employee benefits and work of the Environment Agency, please download the candidate pack.

For an informal discussion about the role contact Chris Williams via email [email protected] or phone 07884 491704.