Head of Virology (ID4520)

Do you want a role leading a world-renowned science department, underpinning UK National Biosecurity and animal health?

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.

The Head of the Virology Department provides stable leadership for the Department. The principal role is to provide operational management for the Virology Department in the areas of finance, quality, estates and health & safety, to enable translation and delivery of the Departments portfolio and the Agencies' strategic priorities. Responsibility for the planning and delivery of diagnostics, surveillance and research for the Virology Department to time, budget, quality and safety standards. Ensure performance monitoring and engagement of staff whilst delivering business change including through the National Biosecurity Programme.

Main areas of work will include:

• Providing leadership and resource management, including staff and financial planning and management, safety, compliance with the animals procedures act and dangerous pathogens legislation and quality standards (including Agency Procedures, ISO17025, Good Laboratory Practice - GLP, Good Clinical Practice - GCP, ISO9001).
• To be proactive in ensuring a safe working environment through continual improvement to ensure performance within the department meets the required safety and quality standards.
• To develop the resource base in support of virological delivery (diagnostic, surveillance and research) in line with APHA strategy. Leadership in ensuring appropriate skill sets are developed and maintained to support delivery and maintenance of facilities through strategic engagement with internal and external delivery bodies.
• To meet/support the needs of key activities ensuring risks are identified at an early stage and addressed.
• The post holder is responsible for succession plans and staff development to ensure that the Virology discipline is maintained and developed as a rigorous scientific entity. This will involve liaison with other areas practicing or requiring virological input across the agency and identification and nurturing of important strategic collaborations for the department.
• Ensure resource pressures are strategically managed to ensure delivery on time within realistic expectations. Oversee growth where in support of agency/portfolio strategy but balance against reduction in science activity to manage workload of all staff.
• To create an environment where all (scientific, veterinary, administrative and technical) staff can and do contribute effectively and in which different perspectives are heard and channelled towards achieving agency objectives. Be a role model for equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Ensure proactive management of performance, conduct and attendance, role modelling effective behaviour and providing feedback and coaching to direct reports, and its cascade within their teams.
• Responsible for ensuring the business continuity plans are in place for the Virology department and liaison with other areas which the department relies on to deliver services.
• Provide input into corporate thinking and development of high-level strategy including relationships with other institutes and departments by discussion with the senior scientists and policy customer leads.
• Representing Virology at a number of directorate/agency meetings such as SD operations, Campus management board; Laboratory safety committee; finance science group and others as required.
• Manage change across the department and ensure engagement in the development of the National Biosecurity Centre programme is taken on personally or delegated to the most relevant individual(s)/team.
• Support embedding new corporate policy and procedures and ensure team/contribute to the development of the Animal and Zoonotic Viral Disease Portfolio (AZVDP) and APHA strategies.
• In collaboration with the Lead Scientist (LS) AZVDP, ensure innovation is strategically encouraged and embraced to future proof our science
• Initiate and deliver multi-disciplinary programmes of science in liaison with the LS, sustain an extensive track record of published research findings in appropriate research journals, enhance expert reputation in own subject area, and advance the reputation of APHA, providing consultancy across the Agency and for Defra in the specific area.

You will need to demonstrate the following:

• Evidence of leading a large scientific team of multi-skilled staff across disciplines.
• Experience in delivering complex scientific projects at agency, national and international scale.
• Experience of delivering high impact scientific communications. You will be comfortable with communicating across people and groups with a range of scientific knowledge, including lay audiences.
• Demonstrable planning, organisation, delegation and prioritisation skills.
• Strong evidence of logistical aptitude in bringing people on board to deliver across diverse disciplines.
• Ability to develop and maintain high and consistent performance and delivery in teams and individuals.
• Ensure a climate of continuous improvement and learning for all.
• Record of achievement in research at a national and international level.
• A significant publication track record in virology and/or veterinary virology research applications/approaches with evidence of income generation.
• Knowledge of biocontainment levels 2 and 3. Demonstrable track record in safety management and performance.
• Ability to establish and work within an auditable framework of systems and procedures, including staff competence/training, research integrity, quality assurance/quality control standards and third-party accreditation.
• Develop, work personally within and provide leadership/role model for EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion), the health, safety and well-being of staff.
• Ability to maintain calm under pressure, with strong inner resilience.
• Flexibility to work out of hours.
• To be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement of the mandatory Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) required to work at the Weybridge site where the team and work is situated. Once in post, Security Check (SC) clearance is needed and the UK residency requirement for this clearance is five years.

Ways of Working

Periodic travel within the UK and Europe may be required to attend training courses, conferences and scientific meetings and could involve time away including weekends. A valid full driving licence is necessary or access to an alternative means of transport.

Out of hours work may be required during an outbreak, for example. When overtime or out-of-hours work is required, APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment.

The post will also require Health clearance. You will be expected to complete a questionnaire on your general health and have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance, including influenza A, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, respiratory and skin sensitisers, tickborne encephalitis, and zoonotic viruses. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment. You will need to wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required. The work of the post can be physically demanding, and due to access requirements to biosecure areas (laboratory and animal facilities), a level of physical fitness is required.