Assistant Scientific Officer

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

- 249172**Salary**:

- £22,150**Job grade**:

- Administrative Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- Surveillance and Laboratory Services**Type of role**:

- Science**Working pattern**:

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

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Carmarthen, Wales, SA31 3EZAbout the job

**Job summary**:
The role will be primarily based in Gamma Interferon with support to other areas, particularly the Post Mortem room.

The purpose of the job is to be a member of a team carrying out sample testing to establish the diagnosis of animal disease, monitoring animal health, screening for incursion of exotic disease, and performing statutory testing. A wide variety of tests are undertaken utilising serology, microbiology, parasitology

The post holder will be required to;
- Work to Agency safety and quality standards
- Test submissions using scientific techniques
- Provide support and undertake duties on behalf of local Quality and Safety managers
- Provide support in the post mortem room, dealing with farm animal carcasses and pathological specimens

**Job description**:
Laboratory scientists are required to gain a high level of competency in all technical disciplines undertaken at the laboratory, and are required to work in different areas of the laboratory involving different disciplines on a rotational basis to provide testing cover where it is needed., Laboratory staff may be required to provide support to veterinary colleagues in the post mortem room taking samples for testing, preparing cultures from carcasses, viscera or clinical material and may also be required to assist on farm visits to help with sampling, recording and other work as required.

**Gamma Interferon duties**:

- Ensure all samples received for gamma testing are processed as efficiently as possible.
- Ensure reagents and consumables records are maintained.
- Register submissions on to the LIMS system.
- Stimulation of high volumes of whole blood samples.
- Carry out ELISA testing.
- Data entry of sample information.

**Post Mortem Room Duties**:

- To assist Veterinary colleagues in taking samples for testing.
- Preparation and reading of smears.
- Storage and archiving and retention of samples.
- Dispatching of samples for processing to other locations.
- Disposal and manual handling of carcass waste.

**Parasitology and Salmonella**:

- Provide support and testing duties as required.

**Health and Safety**:

- Contributing to a positive safety culture by following Agency safety policies and procedures.
- Understanding and following controls in Risk Assessments.
- Ensuring equipment maintenance duties are carried out in all areas of the laboratory.
- Participate in contingency exercises and other safety training.
- Participate in safety audits/ inspections to support the local safety manager.

**Quality**:

- Accurate record keeping.
- Working to Standard Operating Procedures.
- Working to quality standards (ISO 17025).
- Participate in proficiency testing schemes.
- Participate in audits to support the local quality manager.

**Administration Support**
To assist with general administrative duties within the centre and across the wider Department to include telephone duties, use of APHA bespoke IT systems, dealing with enquiries etc.

**Outbreak Response**
Flexible to adapt to changing situations within the Regional Laboratory and prepared to support other parts of APHA in the event of an outbreak.

**Person specification**:
**Experience**
- Previous experience of working in a laboratory environment.

Due to access requirements to biosecure areas, individuals must be physically able. The work of the post can be physically demanding.

Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident.

Travel will be required to attend training courses. You must have a valid driving licence or be able to call upon suitable alternate means of transport.

**Qualifications**:

- 4 GCSEs at Grade C and above or equivalent.**Behaviours**:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace

**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**:

- This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.**Application Process**

**Sift**

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

**Interview**

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

**Location**

**Reserve List**
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

**Salary**
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

**Visa Sponsorship