Workgroup Leader

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 257247**Salary**:

- £49,403 - £55,823**Job grade**:

- Grade 7**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Type of role**:

- Science**Working pattern**:

- Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- New Haw, South East England, KT15 3NBAbout the job

**Job summary**:

- Workgroup Leader of Field Epidemiology & Surveillance within Department of Bacteriology, providing leadership in science and management of the workgroup and being a key player in the Department of Bacteriology Senior Management Team. This post is based at our laboratory site in Surrey.**Job description**:
Management of BAC2 (Field Epidemiology & Surveillance), one of four Workgroups (c. 35 staff) within the Department of Bacteriology. The Workgroup delivers a wide portfolio of science focussing on enteric pathogens (particularly applied work around _Salmonella_, _E. coli_ and _Campylobacter_), disinfectants and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and provides several national and international reference laboratories.

Activities include statutory testing in support of control programmes (particularly_ Salmonella_), reference activities (_Salmonella_, _Campylobacter_ and AMR), delivery of the Defra Disinfectants Approval Scheme and underpinning applied and field research. The postholder will lead the team in resourcing and delivery, provide leadership in people management, and ensure the delivery of science across the Workgroup in an appropriate environment according to relevant Health & Safety and Quality standards. The postholder will also maintain and develop an area of science expertise/leadership relevant to the Workgroup activities.

Provide leadership in science and management of the BAC2 workgroup and be a key player in the Department of Bacteriology Senior Management Team flexing team and self to meet priorities as they emerge.

**Science**:Maintain and develop own personal science portfolio/leadership and reputation in an area of work integral to workgroup activities. This should include preparation, delivery, and reporting on research/surveillance projects as appropriate to postholder expertise, identification and development of new opportunities, outreach activities such as external presentations, preparation of peer-reviewed publications for high impact journals, and other esteem markers (such as membership of relevant scientific committees). The postholder may also be expected to act as APHA test and/or disease consultant in relevant areas of expertise.

**People management**: Set and monitor clear aims and objectives for team - linked to the Defra and APHA strategies. Make sure all team members have meaningful PDPs with SMART objectives. Ensure staff have regular feedback on performance and make use of voucher and in-year rewards. Ensure prompt and appropriate response to any performance, attendance and conduct matters. Identify and address skills gaps, succession for myself and my team (particularly in relation to specialist scientific skills and leadership) and agree appropriate development plans. Ensure that pertinent information cascades downwards from senior meetings through to local meetings. Lead in recruitment for the Workgroup ensuring it is progressed in a timely manner following agreement.

**Strategic Leadership**: Represent the Workgroup at both Bacteriology & Food Safety Portfolio and Bacteriology Department Senior Team meetings. Input into your departmental scorecard to monitor departmental objectives that cascade from the SD and strategy scorecards and to staff personal objectives. Escalate risks to portfolio/department risk registers, take responsibility for key risks and identify and develop mitigations. Attend Defra/VMD customer meetings where appropriate to represent personal/workgroup science. Support National and International Reference Laboratories within Workgroup to ensure delivery of agreed objectives and maintenance of Reference Laboratory status. Host Defra and external visitors as requested to highlight work of Department. Cover for Head of the Bacteriology Department on occasion.

**Science Capability for Animal Health**:Engage self and team as appropriate in design process for both transition buildings and final Masterplan. Oversee movements of teams during transition phases balancing the need to deliver the redevelopment programme with continuing to deliver key science outputs.

**Finances**: Engage in the financial planning process and make the best forecasts possible of income and expenditure for your work area. Prepare and monitor annual planned hours spreadsheet to ensure that resources match income planned and that staff are appropriately utilised. Ensure accurate and timely time recording by staff in your area. Oversee preparation of bids for equipment, estates work etc. to maintain facilities fit for purpose for science delivery.

**Health & Safety/Quality**: