PCR Laboratory Manager (ID4358) in Lewes

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 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.

Based within the Surveillance and Laboratory Services Department (SLSD) at APHA Weybridge, the Central Unit for Sequencing and PCR (CUSP) delivers polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and DNA sequencing across multiple facilities, including Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP3) and Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO4) high‑containment laboratories. The team plays a central role in providing PCR testing and sequencing for APHA’s disease surveillance, outbreak response and international trade assurance, while also supporting research projects and providing sequencing services to a wide range of stakeholders.

As PCR Laboratory Manager for CUSP, you will lead a team of scientists, overseeing line management, staff development, and the consistent application of HR policies and routine management processes. You will also be responsible for scientific direction across the unit, ensuring timely delivery of testing, maintaining ISO17025 accreditation, and upholding strong Health and Safety standards within all laboratory activities.

This role requires an end-to-end understanding of laboratory processes from across the team, with the ability to troubleshoot and advise as required. You will be managing a team of technical staff who are required to deliver testing to exacting quality standards in a safe and timely manner. The laboratory team undertake numerous tasks so you will need to prioritise the work to ensure that the outcomes are delivered as efficiently as possible, being mindful of reagent costs, and quality and safety requirements.

At times you will be required to undertake the testing yourself and to provide training to staff at all levels. Your key interactions will be with your team members, your management chain within the department (keeping them fully informed of any issues in a timely manner), and internal and external stakeholders of the testing service delivered.

New tests may emerge that need to be adopted by the team, so you will need to coordinate test transfer, validation and accreditation of these, including ensuring timely completion of documentation. In response to disease outbreaks, you will be required to work collaboratively with key stakeholders to co‑ordinate outbreak response testing activities; this will include working in high‑containment facilities and assisting with testing to contain the outbreak and uphold APHA wider objectives. This may include weekday and/or weekend overtime.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Molecular laboratory management, including reviewing test performance, monitoring activities, troubleshooting, advising on priorities, assessing workloads, and liaising with a range of stakeholders. This includes workflows that span across multiple high containment facilities.
• Direct line management of staff, including the SLSD Outbreak Response Testing Team delivering Avian Influenza wild bird surveillance testing and Blue Tongue Virus (BTV) PCR.
• HR responsibilities include performance management, absence and OH referrals, reasonable adjustments, and handling poor performance or disciplinary matters, ensuring consistent application of HR policies in liaison with HR.
• You will be required to work in high‑containment facilities for a range of ACDP and SAPO pathogens which may involve supervising and training staff at all levels.
• Working collaboratively with the Sequencing Laboratory Manager by sharing resources, reviewing business needs, prioritising workloads and providing functional line management support where appropriate.
• Liaise with project managers, veterinary professionals, and DEFRA to ensure the smooth delivery of local integrated work, maintaining ISO17025 compliance and leading on arising actions, test assurance, and Group quality requirements.
• Ensure team management and work performed meets health and safety and wellbeing requirements, including in containment laboratory facilities, working with departmental safety officers and Building Officers, Facilities Management and APHA Safety, Health and Wellbeing (SHaW) team.
• Review and update scientific and administrative procedural documentation. Follow Agency Procedures & Guidance.
• Communicating essential information to your teams for discussion and feedback.
• Tests (new and current) will potentially need test transfer, validation and accreditation, including ensuring timely completion of documentation and Laboratory information Management System (LIMS) integration.
• Support the Laboratory Managers with the personnel duties for SLSD staff including recruitment interviews, staff meetings, deployment, and correspondence.
• Liaison with HR business partner, staff utilisation reports, management reports, and team briefings.
• Coordinate with internal and external customers to build effective working relationships, communicate system changes, queries, and issues, and provide cover across SLSD activities as required.
• Participate in scientific discussion and training, with regards to new technologies and research applications of these technologies.