Salmonella Technical Officer

Animal and Plant Health Agency; West of England; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Contributory pension

Staff bonuses and recognition

Salary sacrifice options

Employee discount scheme

Flexible working

Job summary

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) seeks an experienced microbiologist to support the Salmonella National Reference Laboratory and oversee Defra-approved testing laboratories. The post includes auditing laboratories, writing reports and providing training, with travel to Weybridge and other external sites.

Based at any APHA laboratory location, the role requires UK residency and counter-terrorist check eligibility, with flexible working options.

Job description

Length of employment: Fixed term until 31 March 2028

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 safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of our environment and the economy.

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our people are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.

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.

The Department of Bacteriology is seeking an experienced microbiologist for the post of Salmonella Technical Officer to support Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (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, primarily those testing for the National Control Programme. The post will work alongside the APHA One Health team to deliver expert appraisal of applications for laboratory approval. The post will conduct audits of laboratories, write associated reports, and provide training. Can be based at any APHA laboratory location but requires travel to APHA Weybridge and external sites.

Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. Our benefits include generous annual leave, a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme. We also offer flexible working.

Other Information

The APHA 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. This post can be based at any APHA laboratory location. 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 based at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the CTC residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have at least 3 years continuous UK residency.

Closing date: 8 November 2026.