Scientific Officer Sd22/17

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

- 233392**Salary**:

- £24,918 - £26,584- Pro-rata salary for job share if continuity can be met.**Grade**:

- Executive Officer- Scientific Officer (SO)**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- Surveillance and Laboratory Services (SLSD), Science Directorate**Type of role**:

- Science**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share**Number of posts**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- APHA PenrithAbout the job

**Summary**:
This Scientific Officer role includes maintenance and oversight of post-mortem room operations/equipment and management of the Tuberculosis (TB) culture work in the Containment Level 3 Laboratory, including the supervision of testing and results. This will entail the day-to-day management of Assistant Scientific Officers (ASO) in the laboratory/postmortem room and to train, manage and develop staff.

SLSD operate a network of laboratories offering different test portfolios at each site, requiring the job holder to understand the wider role of the department, and how these fit with other departments of the wider agency. The job involves working with pathogens and hazardous samples so must be undertaken following safe working practices as specified in instructions and safety documentation. All laboratories perform to ISO 17025 standards, and all work must conform to these standards. We complete postmortem examinations and diagnostic testing, as well as advice and support, to veterinary surgeons in practice to diagnose, control and prevent disease in farm animals. The APHA diagnostic service is the cornerstone of the scanning surveillance system in England and Wales.

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 2,000 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.

**Job description**:
The post holder will be the Scientific Officer overseeing the Post-mortem room and manage TB Culture work. To include direct supervision and management of the department’s ASO’s at APHA Penrith. They will work as part of a cross department team of veterinary, laboratory and administration staff to deliver testing results to internal and external customers.

To carry out any duties within the grade and purpose of the post including, but not limited to the following:

- Management of TB culture testing in the laboratory
- Oversight and maintenance of the Post-mortem room
- Management and supervision of a small team of staff
- Oversee the maintenance schedule for the scientific equipment
- Inputting results and reporting using a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
- Ordering and maintenance of stores and consumables
- Liaise with site Facilities Management
- Attendance at accommodation and safety meetings
- Maintenance of the quality system in your specific area and in-house auditing
- To carry out safety contingency exercises
- To ensure Health, Safety, and welfare, are afforded priority and to demonstrate commitment to health, safety and welfare of self, staff, and visitors
- To ensure attendance at safety training courses as required in the APHA Health and Safety policy and other safety policies, as appropriate
- Involvement with internal/external safety audits and inspections
- To agree to implement safety objectives and ensure that risk assessments are implemented and maintained.

**Responsibilities**:
You will require experience in the following areas:

- Experience of working in Containment Level 2 or 3 laboratories
- Microbiology laboratory techniques
- Experience of training colleagues
- Good people/scientific leadership skills
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Well organised with good attention to detail
- Knowledge of risk assessments

**Licences**

You must have a valid driving licence or be able to call upon suitable alternate means of transport.

**Qualifications**:
**Behaviours**:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing

**Benefits**:

- In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training.
- 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, flexible working a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.Things you need to know

**Security**:
- People working with government assets must complete basi