Salmonella Lab Quality & DAL Compliance Officer

Animal & Plant Health Agency; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is recruiting a Salmonella Technical Officer to support the Salmonella strategy. The post involves technical support to the Salmonella National Reference Laboratory and oversight of Defra-approved testing laboratories across the UK.

Travel to Weybridge and external sites is required. You will work with the APHA One Health team to appraise laboratory approval applications, conduct audits, and write reports.

Qualifications

• Auditing and advisory services for APHA and DALs across multiple locations in the UK.
• liaison with UKAS, proficiency testing and QA teams to deliver laboratory approvals and audits.
• Ability to collate and analyse laboratory test data and provide quality assurance commentary.
• Experience contributing to proficiency testing schemes and annual ring trials for approved laboratories.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct audits to ensure Defra/APHA procedures and ISO standards are followed across approved laboratories.
• Provide training and guidance to APHA staff and DALs on laboratory quality systems and DAL approval processes.
• Oversee performance of Defra-approved Salmonella testing laboratories (CSPO and PHS/TARP testing where relevant).
• Prepare audit reports, QA commentary, and recommendations for continuous improvements across the DAL network.
• Coordinate responses to audit findings and liaise with UKAS and internal teams as needed.

Job description

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is recruiting a Salmonella Technical Officer to support the Salmonella strategy. The post involves technical support to the Salmonella National Reference Laboratory and oversight of Defra-approved testing laboratories across the UK.

Travel to Weybridge and external sites is required. You will work with the APHA One Health team to appraise laboratory approval applications, conduct audits, and write reports.