Veterinary Lead for Avian Endemics (Virology) – National Reference Laboratory (NRL) (ID4440) in Weybridge

Main areas of work will include:

• Strategic leadership, management, coordination and delivery of the work of the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Endemic Viral Poultry Diseases.
• Strategic veterinary leadership and development of science and surveillance activities for endemic viral diseases of poultry including characterisation of new and re‑emerging viral threats.
• Oversight of team delivery for notifiable avian disease (NAD) business as usual activities including international trade testing and commercial testing.
• Oversight of NAD wild bird surveillance and the poultry survey for NAD through linkages to the outbreak response team.
• Associated advice/support to government including sharing the role of disease consultant for NAD with the workgroup leader and senior management cadre within the Influenza and avian virology team.
• Leadership and management of the avian virology Endemic Viral Poultry Diseases NRL team, working to required staff performance, quality (UKAS 17025, ISO9001), Home Office, HSE/Safety, Health and Well‑being (SHaW) standards and requirements, and within agreed financial budgets/resources.
• Maintain and proactively develop relevant veterinary and scientific knowledge and expertise, networks and collaborations, including multi‑disciplinary approaches within and outwith APHA to assist in the development and delivery of work of the Endemic avian viral diseases reference laboratory.
• Critical links into frontline statutory NAD response.
• Strong ability to flex between endemic research and surveillance activities and frontline NAD outbreak response as necessary.
• Support the Workgroup leader, through deputising and delegated tasks; contribute to strategic planning.
• Communication of science through participation in internal and external meetings, but also to ensure a high quality programme of scientific approaches.
• Maintain and enhance links across the national and international avian stakeholder community through provision of expertise and influencing, particularly in the area of IBV.
• Provide consultancy to stakeholders such as Defra, Devolved Administrations and the industry.
• Supervise and provide training for members of staff, students, and visitors in the workgroup.
• Work closely and collaboratively across organisational boundaries, to ensure development and delivery of early warning threat detection and laboratory capacity and capability.
• Actively build professional networks within APHA and elsewhere to identify collaborators that will support characterisation of avian viral disease threats.
• Work closely with APHA’s Heads of Departments, Lead Scientists, other NAD Disease Consultants and Discipline Champions to maintain and develop capabilities in the field of avian viral diseases.
• Promote joint working with collaborators and contribute to the design, development and implementation of national policy initiatives, reforms relevant to the operational aspects, and the development of Government strategies.
• Provide support to the strategic development of avian virology surveillance, working closely with the Surveillance Intelligence Unit (SIU)’s Avian Expert Group to achieve this.