Salmonella Technical 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 Bacteriology Department is responsible for research and surveillance activity on endemic and exotic veterinary and zoonotic pathogens with UK wildlife, food-producing animals and domesticated pets. Within the department, the Field Epidemiology and Surveillance Workgroup (BAC2) has a focus on endemic zoonotic bacteria and antimicrobial resistance regarding food producing animals and minimising risks to public health., BAC2 is seeking an experienced microbiologist for the post of Salmonella Technical Officer to support the APHA delivery of the Salmonella strategy. The work will involve technical support to the Salmonella National Reference Laboratory team, and oversight of the performance of Defra-approved Salmonella testing laboratories for the Salmonella National Control Programme. You will work alongside the APHA One Health team to deliver expert appraisal of applications for Defra-approved laboratory (DAL) status, conduct audits of laboratories, write associated reports, and provide training. The post can be based at any APHA laboratory location but requires travel to APHA Weybridge and external sites.,

• Provide external and internal auditing, training, and advisory services for APHA and DALs at multiple locations across the UK. Plan and conduct auditing to monitor compliance with Defra and APHA procedures for approved laboratories, relevant International Standards and to facilitate improvements in business processes.
• Provide oversight of the performance of Defra-approved Salmonella testing laboratories, primarily those testing National Control Programme (NCP) samples under Control Salmonella Poultry Order (CSPO), but also those testing Poultry Health Scheme (PHS) samples under Trade in Animal Related Products (TARP).
• Liaise with disease and test consultants, Department of Epidemiological Sciences, United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), proficiency testing team, APHA One Health and DALs teams to deliver expert appraisal of applications for laboratory approval.
• Provide audits (and associated reports) of laboratories (located at multiple sites across the UK) which apply for Defra approval (on a 2‑yearly basis) or in cases of performance issues.
• Collation and analysis of approved laboratory test and quality assurance data including commentary on participant performance in the VETQAS proficiency testing (PT).
• Contribution towards an annual ring trial of approved laboratories using a challenging faecal matrix with low Salmonella
• Act as APHA representative, liaising with UKAS (if required), APHA Quality/ISO17025 teams and VETQAS Sutton Bonington, with regards to DAL Salmonella‑related quality assurance procedures and the DAL inspection programme. Coordinate and advise on the effective response to findings raised at external and internal audits.
• Maintain and develop expertise in ISO17025, ISO9001 and ISO17043.
• Provide advise and summary reports on issues affecting the DAL scheme to the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) and DALs teams.
• Troubleshoot and resolve quality issues/ findings.
• Responsibility for establishment of effective and efficient implementation and communication of quality initiatives Across the DAL network.
• Identification of  opportunities  for or i nh......ear .x.. There will also be involvement with the VETQAS PTs team for both the provision of comments on participant performance in the VETQAS PTs and contribution to an annual ring trial for approved laboratories using a challenging faecal matrix with low Salmonella levels. The postholder will also contribute to future developments in EQA/PT and be involved in other general work relating to quality assurance within APHA. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
  

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