Pathology Scientist ID2768

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.
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.
This role comprises the following:
+ The provision of technical, scientific, laboratory and administrative assistance within the Department of Pathology, carrying out all duties to relevant Safety, Quality and Home Office standards in accordance with APHA procedures.
+ Management of support staff working within containment facilities and the bio-archive.
Perform specialist techniques to support surveillance and research within the TSE workgroup. Organise staff and laboratory resources to ensure the smooth and safe running of biocontainment facilities (ACDP3) and preparation areas in compliance with APHA and legislative policies., + Laboratory facility duties such as temperature monitoring and equipment maintenance, accurate recording of these duties and reporting of anomalous results. Provide cover to colleagues when required.
+ Managing and providing support to Biological Archive audits, consolidation, and discards of diagnostic / research samples in ultra-low temperature freezers and managing freezer maintenance and capacity.
+ Maintenance of paper and electronic records. Including data entry and recording of results using Microsoft computer based sample management systems, local databases, or logbooks.
+ Sample requests, including sample collection, pre-dispatch checks of sample data against customer requirements and oversight of AO contribution to tasks. Assistance in the maintenance of cryogenic samples storage in the Biological Archive.
+ Assisting with or performing laboratory techniques and tests conducted within Pathology. To include molecular pathology and histopathological procedures, reagent & tissue preparation, and immunohistochemistry.
+ Preparation of fixed tissue samples for long term storage, archiving of formalin fixed tissues and paraffin wax blocks, filing of histology reference tissue slides.
+ Compliance with lab waste management procedures, and completion of relevant documentation.
+ Support to HEO in maintenance of the TSE QA Stocks database and associated tissue storage, TSE Proficiency Testing sample preparation, distribution of TSE Rapid Test and Western Blotting PT schemes.
+ Provide technical support, tissue sampling and preservation expertise for post-mortem examinations on a range of livestock species in high biocontainment facilities (up to ACDP3/SAPO4).
+ Line and/or functional management of laboratory staff, supervision of students, visitors and contractors within high containment areas, as required. Maintain knowledge of APHA's diversity policy and implement it within the team.
Management of laboratory equipment, including calibration, monitoring and routine maintenance. Maintenance and updating of local computer-based sample management systems in compliance with Quality accreditation.
+ Perform all duties in accordance with Pathology and Animal Sciences and APHA Safety and Quality Policies including ISO17025, ISO9001, TSE NRL procedures. Review, write/edit local SOPs, risk assessments and participate in Quality and safety audits.
+ Performance of Room Officer duties including ensuring the work environment is clean, tidy and professionally managed. Deputize for building officer as required.
+ Administrative support to TSE Surveillance and research projects. Including, analysis, preparation and presentation of data, contribution to reports and peer reviewed publications. Development of specialist scientific knowledge of modern pathology technologies, relevant disease processes/host responses and research applicable to the TSE science portfolio., + Communication with team members, team lead and Veterinary pathologists through scheduled and ad hoc team meetings, one to one staff development reviews and through the provision of written progress reports. Represent Pathology and deputise for manager at internal Pathology group meetings.
+ Present verbal and written scientific and technical data to senior management team, project leaders, and peer group. Analysis and presentation of data for contribution to reports, meeting and peer reviewed publications.
Safety, Health and Wellbeing (SHaW)
+ Maintain the high standards for health and safety requirements within the department.
+ Acting as a role model, ensure appropriate staff training is provided and undertaken.
+ Undertake and critically analyse inspections and inspection outcomes, undertake risk assessments and escalate risks as required.
+ Implement APHA policies and ensure required compliance of containment facilities and staff.
+ Audit and review of COSHH records, risk assessments and standard operating procedures for Pathology biocontainment facilities. Compliance with working procedures in other APHA biocontainment facilities.
Learning and Development
+ Develop and maintain relevant scientific expertise in modern pathology tools: including molecular pathology, histology, and immunohistochemical techniques.
+ Develop and maintain safety training for room officer component of the EO role.
+ Contribute to organisational learning, supporting continuous improvement for self and team.
Specialist Competence, We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Working Together
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Seeing the Big Picture
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Working Together, As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
The role is based at Weybridge where the team is located and due to the nature of the role and duties required. Flexibility in working hours is required if called upon to finish a particular urgent task or call upon in an event of an outbreak.
Full Time Only
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
We may consider two part-time staff on a job-share basis if continuity can be arranged. Part-time hours will only be considered as part of a job share.
Flexibility in working hours is required if called upon to finish a particular urgent task or call upon in an event of an outbreak.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made., The 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. For this reason all potholders 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 at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have between 3 to 10 years continuous UK residency depending on the level of Security.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Other Information
The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.
Depending on the areas of work involved you will be expected to have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment.
The work of the post can be physically demanding, and due to access requirements to biosecurity areas, individuals must be physically able.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks., + UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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+ Team working and strong interpersonal skills are essential as well as written and verbal communication skills to represent and contextualise science. You will also have experience of working in quality systems and to high safety standards., Degree in biological/biomedical/bioveterinary science or relevant proven experience.

Alongside your salary of £30,827, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £8,930 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training as 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 generous employer contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers and in-year bonuses. We also offer additional days off if accrued extra hours (flexi-time –if accumulated), three paid volunteering day per year. We also have a social committee who run team building and fun events at the Weybridge site. Further details can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.
Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role.
Ways of Working
This post requires you to be working in the Laboratory five days per week.
As part of the pre-employment process, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s). The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations for meetings for example. Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
Staff may be required to work rostered on-call duties, weekends, Bank Holidays and occasional evenings. APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment.
Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident.
Restrictions on outside/domestic contact with small animals, mainly rodents and rabbits, will apply. The successful candidate should not keep pigs or poultry or live on premises where there are domestic livestock or poultry.
Periodic travel within the UK or overseas may be required and this could include visits to farms, abattoir or other post mortem facilities. The successful candidate may have to ensure that no contact is made with farmed animals for a period of 1-2 days or more before visiting these premises, and may therefore preclude anyone who lives on a livestock farm.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot work from an overseas location for any prolonged period of time. Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Pension and Financial Benefits
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package and there are various options including Alpha and Partnership pension schemes in which Defra can invest in providing a contribution to the cost of your pension.
Life Assurance: if you become too ill or die before retirement valuable benefits will be provided to you and your family.
Learning and Development
Access to five days learning and development each year to support professional development through Civil Service Learning. Corporate induction and three days special leave for volunteering.
Staff Wellbeing
Access to Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7, providing advice and guidance on both personal and employment issues such as personal wellbeing, career development, legal matters such as landlord / tenant disputes. Access to the Employee Assistance Programme, Occupational Health Service and the Civil Service Sports Council., New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.