Do you wish to be part of an amazing, diverse team on the frontline in researching, investigating, and acting to protect the UK’s animal, plant and bee health? If so, why not join us and make a difference.
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.
APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.
The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.
As the diagnostic test manager for the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for human and animal rabies, you will manage a team of diagnosticians to ensure that all diagnostic tests are completed to the highest quality standards and that results are accurately reported to both national and international customers. The post holder will also be required to manage aspects/work packages of R&D; projects, which may include test development for a range of zoonotic viruses, supporting international vaccine development programmes through in-vivo challenge studies and the analysis of sample panels from national and international collaboration projects.
Main areas of work will include:
- Management of a diagnostic team to deliver statutory testing for the rabies NRL. Manage the rabies serology testing for the pet travel scheme and the human occupational health scheme.
- Undertake laboratory work, including classical virology, molecular (PCR and sequencing) and serological (virus neutralisation and ELISA) within high containment (ACDP3/SAPO4/Schedule 5) facilities and in low containment laboratories.
- Support training of staff, new and experienced, in new techniques and ensure staff maintain their competence.
- Coordinate the preparation of biological control standards, virus stocks and test reagents. Ensure all reagents used, commercially available or internally produced, are fit for purpose.
- Support and help maintain an excellent effective quality management system, meeting the requirements for ISO9001 certification and ISO17025 accreditation.
- Coordinate participation in annual internal and external (international) test proficiency schemes.
- Manage some of the research and development activities within the team. Working with internal and external collaborators to meet project milestones.
- Analyse and prepare data for inclusion test reports, project reports and manuscripts for publication. Deliver presentations at meetings (internal and external) and at national and international scientific conferences.
- Represent the Viral Zoonoses Workgroup at local, national and international levels with a broad range of stakeholders including Government policy makers, other agencies / organizations, academia, commercial customers and industry.
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