Risk Analyst (7079 & 7073 & 7071)

This post in the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) offers the opportunity to build and develop expertise in risk assessment for animal disease and food safety. APHA is an executive agency of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). We are responsible for identifying, managing and controlling incidents and outbreaks of endemic and exotic diseases and pests in animals, plants and bees. We provide unique capabilities and an evidence base for UK government, together with international reference responsibilities. The Biomathematics & Risk Research (BRR) Workgroup within the Department for Epidemiological Sciences is a nationally & internationally recognised group of risk analysts, modellers and statisticians providing high quality scientific evidence for policy formulation and outbreak response, as well as specialist support to research and operations in the area of animal and public health. The post holder will be primarily involved in developing qualitative risk assessments, after appropriate training, and supporting data collection for quantitative risk assessments. The post holder will work on projects for policy and trade, assessing the risk to animal health due to trade in various commodities, as well as research projects and reactive projects in response to perceived threats from incursions of pathogens relevant to livestock, pets and wildlife. This post provides an opportunity for an enthusiastic individual to gain a deep understanding of qualitative risk assessment, and some knowledge of quantitative risk assessment. The responsibilities of the Risk Analyst will involve:

• With on-the-job training, development of qualitative risk assessments and simple quantitative risk assessments.
• Liaise with national and international disease and risk assessment experts in the veterinary and public health fields and colleagues within the APHA providing and collating data or information for use in current risk assessments and other mathematical modelling projects.
• Carry out literature searches on specific pathogens and topics.
• Contributing or leading the writing of project reports and scientific papers. Writing and giving scientific presentations where appropriate.
• Keep up to date with developments in selected areas of the risk analysis discipline, in particular, with relevance to animal health policy.
• Seek opportunities to assist in the writing of project proposals to obtain funding.