Virology Diagnostician

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

- 291464**Salary**:

- £25,713 - £27,735**Job grade**:

- Administrative Officer- A4**Contract type**:

- Fixed Term**Length of employment**:

- 24 Months**Type of role**:

- Operational Delivery**Working pattern**:

- Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Hermiston, Scotland, EH12 9FJAbout the job

**Job summary**:
Are you looking for an interesting and varied role where you can utilise your analytical skills, and playing a part in contributing to the Scottish rural economy and the environment.

The Potato - Virology & Zoology Branch, part of the Agricultural and Rural Economy Directorate’s SASA division carries out diagnostic testing for a range of viruses to meet the Scottish Government’s commitments in relation to Plant Health legislation and Seed Potato classification. The Virology laboratory provides an efficient, cost effective and up to date service to customers through its skilled staff, modern equipment and facilities.

Working under the instruction of the Virology Laboratory Manager, the primary role of the Virology Diagnostician is to provide a diagnostic service for the detection of potato viruses in support of the Scottish Seed Potato Classification Scheme (SSPCS).

The main duties are to carry out diagnostics of a range of viruses to meet the Scottish Governments commitments in relation to plant health legislation and seed potato classification. In addition, the virology laboratory provides a commercial testing service to the wider potato industry. In addition, you will support the trial work and testing of variety collections held at SASA required for the National List Scheme and RPID inspector training.

You will also carry out duties in support of the Area Quality Manager to comply with ISO17025 and ISO9001 standards for a range of virus diagnostics, and Quality Management system. In addition, you will support trial work and testing of variety collections held at SASA required for the National List Scheme and RPID inspector training.

The Virology laboratory currently operates within a Quality Assurance system working to the ISO9001 standard and is accredited to ISO17025 standard for a range of virus diagnostic tests.

The key outcomes of this role contribute to the rural economy and the environment by testing material for the presence of regulated non quarantine organisms in agricultural and horticultural crops, preventing further disease spread, loss of earnings to businesses and the high health reputation of the Scottish seed potato industry.

This is a 24 month Fixed Term Appointment.

**Job description**:

- Responsible for virus diagnoses from SSPCS leaf and tuber material submitted by Scottish Government inspectors. We use immunological methods (ELISA) for the majority of diagnoses although Real-time RT-PCR method is increasingly used
- Provide support to the Virology Laboratory Manager in ensuring compliance to ISO standards
- You will also be required to carry out similar tests on plant material from other “customers” (institutes, agronomists, growers/breeders and other commercial bodies) in support of the commercial virus testing service provided by SASA
- Responsible for recording information on a bespoke computer database and the production of test reports

**Person specification**:

- Proven experience in using serological (ELISA) and/or real-time PCR techniques for plant pathogen diagnoses
- Relevant experience of working within a Quality Management System ISO17025
- Strong organisational skills and a methodical approach to work with the ability to balance competing priorities and work to strict deadlines whilst maintaining focus and accuracy.
- A working knowledge of plant pathology.

**Benefits**:

- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

**Selection process details**:

- Sift and Interview dates TBC- Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.**Security**:
- People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.**Nationality requirements**:
This job is broadly open to the following groups:

- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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 beh