Senior Scientist - Animal Health Monitoring

Join us as a Senior Scientist and make an invaluable contribution to our Food Safety & Biosecurity! As a Senior Scientist, you will play a key role in the science development and delivery of work in animal health monitoring and contribute to the overall scientific direction of Fera. You will be accountable for the successful efficient delivery of testing services and/or projects, directing and mentoring scientists and assistant scientists colleagues as appropriate.

What you’ll be doing:

• Contributing to potential new proposals, products/services, product or process improvements and/or areas of research.
• Working closely with the science leads to ensure delivery of animal health monitoring diagnostic and screening services against strict timelines whilst maintaining a high level of quality standards.
• Ensuring that scientists and assistant scientists in your allocated area work effectively and deliver results accurately and on time.
• Ensuring that the team fully understand the importance of working to specific quality systems, licensing requirements and health and safety practices.
• Developing staff and providing training and support to instil scientific excellence throughout the organisation.
• Supporting scientific delivery to ensure that the screening plans, quality assurance and reporting are fit-for-purpose, meet with customer expectations and provide opportunities for future business.
• Maintaining and growing your own scientific outputs and expertise, and actively seeking opportunities to enhance your and Fera’s standing in the science community.
• Working effectively as a team with other senior scientists sharing knowledge and providing support as necessary.

What we’re looking for:

• A biological or biomedical BSc and a well-established foundation of practical experience in the field.
• Understanding of full requirements of service delivery in animal health monitoring and leading on results reporting and troubleshooting of delivery for Molecular diagnostics, Bacteriology, parasitology, serology and necropsy.
• Understanding of the business environment in which the company operates, including the approach to strategy and business planning.
• Understanding FELASA recommendations under which animal health monitoring is delivered.
• Understanding the principles of laboratory techniques and scientific experimentation relevant to animal health monitoring.
• Ability to work effectively in a team with other senior scientists sharing knowledge and providing support as necessary.
• Strong organisation skills - ability to plan and prioritise delivery lines, review and evaluate progress against objectives and budget, report progress and issues to the Lead Scientist and Head of service and develop and implement alternative scenarios where appropriate.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to prepare and deliver talks, presentations and training to visitors, colleagues, external customers and at national/international conferences, as required.
• Strong understanding of the application of quality standards, H&S requirements and licences relevant to the workplace.

What’s in it for you:

• 25 days’ holiday (rising to 29) with the opportunity to buy extra leave.
• Flexible working hours, on-site gym, restaurant, and free parking.
• The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice.
• Company matched pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks’ fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks…and plenty more.
• Voluntary benefits designed to suit your lifestyle - from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel and technology.
• Access to our Employee Network Groups, which represent every strand of diversity and allow colleagues to connect and learn from each other on an open, inclusive platform.
• Fera operates a LTIP (Long Term Incentive Plan) under which all employees are awarded points towards shares in the Employee Benefits Trust on an annual basis.

What we hope you’ll do next:

Choose ‘Apply now’ to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you. If you have any questions you’d like to ask before applying, you can contact recruitment@fera.co.uk. We’re an equal opportunity employer, which means we recruit and develop people based on their merit and passion. We’re committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process and working environment for everyone. If you need the job description or application form in an alternative format or if you’d like to discuss other changes or support you might need going forward, please email at recruitment@fera.co.uk and we’ll get back to you.