Assistant Scientific Officer (ID4425) in Penrith

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 the 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 Post Holder Will Be Required To:

• Work to Agency safety and quality standards.
• Test submissions using scientific techniques used in APHA.
• Provide support and undertake duties on behalf of local Quality and Safety managers.

Job Description:

Assistant scientific officers 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.

• Bacteriology/CEM duties working with veterinary and administrative teams.
• To learn laboratory tests across a wide range of disciplines.
• Work in all laboratory departments as required.
• Carry out tests requested by our customers.
• Record results onto Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) or to admin staff as soon as available.
• Occasional weekend overtime (Rostered weekends).
• Ensuring the appropriate disposal of specimens and other clinical laboratory and animal waste.
• Setting up Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) cultures.
• Reading culture plates.
• Performing biochemical tests to determine ID.

Quality:

• Work to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and local procedures.
• Check and report results, liaising with line manager.
• Maintain laboratory daybooks and records.
• Ensure equipment logs are up to date and that failures are reported to Responsible Officer.
• Assist with maintenance of ISO17025 accreditation by working to SOP’s.
• Contribute to the ethos of working to the highest quality standards.
• Archive specimens according to agreed procedures.

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.

Person Specification:

You will need to demonstrate the following:

• Laboratory skills or experience (e.g. Microbiology).
• Excellent team working skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.

Ways of Working:

This role is full time only. We may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis if continuity can be arranged. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available. The post will require you to be working in the Laboratory five days a week or less if on a job share. The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations. Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

Contact Point for Applicants:

Job Contact: Name: Science.DirectorateHR Email: Science.DirectorateHR@apha.gov.uk

Recruitment Team: Email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further Information: If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.