Clinical Lab Scientist

Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare? More than ever before the health of our environment, plants, animals and bees matters. Do you wish to be part of are part of an amazing, diverse team on the frontline in researching, investigating, and acting to protect the UK’s animal, plant and bee health? You will be helping to make a difference to the UK and contributing to global efforts to control and eradicate disease in plants, animals (such as Avian Influenza) and protecting global biodiversity.
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.
We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions. The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. We’re recruiting a Laboratory Scientist to support and develop anti-coccidia product testing services and research for both internal and external customers, in line with regulatory guidelines. This post is on a fixed-term basis.
In this pivotal role, you will design and conduct in-vivo scientific procedures using a range of avian laboratory species. This includes techniques such as oral gavage, requiring expert animal handling, restraint, and the use of specialised equipment. You will also be responsible for sample collection and analysis, including the identification and quantification of coccidia (e.g. oocyst counts), ensuring robust and reliable outputs that meet customer requirements.
As Laboratory Scientist, your role will involve a wide range of tasks and responsibilities including, but not be limited to the following:
Assisting Study Directors with the management of commercial studies and other contracts, including liaison with customers, sub-contractors and other people in APHA.
Undertaking laboratory tests for parasites, esp. Animal handling & observation and attending/performing post-mortems of poultry.
Maintaining an awareness of new scientific and technical developments, which may be relevant to the work of the team, in particular developments in the field of Coccidiosis.
Holding & maintaining a Home Office Personal License under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for the purpose of animal studies.
Managing the laboratory phases of GLP, GMP, GCP (vet) and ISO17025 studies to ensure the work is undertaken reliably and accurately, within budget and in compliance with the relevant quality scheme.
Quality control testing of APHA products as required.
Preparing and checking Certificates of Analysis and Study Reports.
Writing, reviewing and updating Standard Operating Procedures.
Writing reviewing and updating Risk Assessments.
Validating test methods and Standard Operating Procedures and writing validation reports.
Representing APHA at meetings with customers and at seminars, scientific meetings, industry shows, etc. Training and supervising visitors and students.
To carry out all actions and responsibilities for safety management as detailed in the APHA Health and Safety Policy.
As Laboratory Scientist, your role will involve a wide range of tasks and responsibilities including, but not be limited to the following:
Assisting Study Directors with the management of commercial studies and other contracts, including liaison with customers, sub-contractors and other people in APHA.
Undertaking laboratory tests for parasites, esp. Animal handling & observation and attending/performing post-mortems of poultry.
Maintaining an awareness of new scientific and technical developments, which may be relevant to the work of the team, in particular developments in the field of Coccidiosis.
Holding & maintaining a Home Office Personal License under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for the purpose of animal studies.
Managing the laboratory phases of GLP, GMP, GCP (vet) and ISO17025 studies to ensure the work is undertaken reliably and accurately, within budget and in compliance with the relevant quality scheme.
Quality control testing of APHA products as required.
Preparing and checking Certificates of Analysis and Study Reports.
Writing, reviewing and updating Standard Operating Procedures.
Writing reviewing and updating Risk Assessments.
Validating test methods and Standard Operating Procedures and writing validation reports.
Representing APHA at meetings with customers and at seminars, scientific meetings, industry shows, etc. Training and supervising visitors and students.
To carry out all actions and responsibilities for safety management as detailed in the APHA Health and Safety Policy.
Experience working in a laboratory setting with avian species.
Knowledge of Molecular Biology.
Familiarity with regulatory frameworks (e.g. This post requires you to be working in the Laboratory five days per week or less for job share. The post is full-time, we may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis if continuity can be arranged.
When overtime or out-of-hours work is required, 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.
Degree in a relevant biological or veterinary science discipline
Alongside your salary of £29,715, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £8,608 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. 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 days per year. We also have a social committee who run team building and fun events at the Weybridge site. 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.
Artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. A CV-style application submitted through an online tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobs website
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Any candidates applying under the Disability Confident Scheme who scores 4 or above on all of the criteria will be offered an interview.
For further guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV style application, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website. Your interview will be conducted face to face or online. agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work
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. 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.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location (excluding Northern Ireland), and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
This post requires you to be working on-site five days per week or less if job-share.
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.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. 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.
gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
This role is full time only. We may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis if continuity can be arranged.
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 Loan and Fixed Term Appointments
This post is not permanent. It is time limited due to a fixed funding period or as part of a specific project. The fixed term will end when the funding or the project expires.  
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
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.
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) .
Name : Science Directorate Recruitment Team
Email : Science.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.