Safeguarding jobs in United Kingdom

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.

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions. We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

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 Virology department is a multi-disciplinary team with a statutory remit in named reportable, endemic, notifiable and exotic diseases for the delivery of research, diagnostic services and surveillance programmes.

As a senior scientist, you will plan, manage and execute research and development into the pathogenesis and epidemiology of veterinary viruses, and novel diagnostic methods, particularly relevant to equids. You will generate expertise and provide consultancy both inside the agency as well as to national and international stakeholders on veterinary viruses, particularly those relevant to equids. You will lead the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) and Designated Laboratory (DL) for equine viral diseases such as Equine arteritis virus (EAV), Equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) and including those that are zoonotic and their differentials (equine encephalitides viruses). You will also support the disease emergency responses in the Virology Department.

Main areas of work will include:

• Manage research projects and design approaches for scientific investigations, ensuring completion of project objectives and milestones to customers satisfaction; delivery of science in accord with relevant Quality Assurance standards and within budget.
• Be a member of the Workgroup’s senior scientist team, and through deputising and delegated tasks contribute to strategic planning.
• Communication of science through participation in internal and external meetings, but also to ensure a high-quality programme of scientific approaches published in peer reviewed literature with high impact.
• Develop and seek opportunities for the initiation of (collaborative) research proposals, both nationally and internationally, specifically through accessing opportunities out with UK government funding.
• Draft applications for funding bodies and obtain permissions for work (e.g. from Home Office and HSE)
• Act as coordinator for equine viral diseases and lead the corresponding Designated and national reference laboratories.
• Disease consultant for equine viral diseases if/as required.
• Monitor the horizon for technological developments that may be used to develop the research programme of new and emerging viruses, particular those of equids, whilst maintaining current disease portfolio capabilities.
• Provide consultancy to stakeholders such as the Defra, but also the industry, maintain and enhance links across the national and international equine stakeholder community.
• Supervise and provide training for members of staff, students, and visitors in the workgroup.
• Ensure that self and team maintain safe operation of the laboratory, including CL3 and 4 high containment laboratories, ensuring staff are aware of and adhere to appropriate safety procedures and emphasize a culture of continuous improvement in health and safety.
• To liaise with APHA scientific and Quality Assurance Unit - Sutton Bonington, e.g., as commentator for External Quality Assurance (EQA) schemes.
• Implement and maintain good laboratory practice and standards and act as room officer, if required, for a laboratory.
• Participate in the disease emergency response in the event of a disease outbreak and on call rota if required.