Salmonella Typing Lead (ID 4668)

Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare? 

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 benefit of the environment and economy. 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 Bacteriology Department is seeking a Lead for Salmonella serotyping which sits within the Field epidemiology & Surveillance (BAC2) workgroup. The Lead will ensure that Salmonella typing capability is maintained to the highest standards, supporting surveillance activities and the work of the National and International Reference Laboratory for Salmonella in animals. The Lead will manage and develop a group of scientists and staff within the workgroup. The Lead will be responsible for the serotyping of Salmonella cultures under the National Control Programmes, the Zoonosis Order, and the Animal by-products regulations (ABPR) and for commercial activity. The Lead will oversee classical serotyping methodologies, including microagglutination, and tube and slide agglutination, alongside biochemical techniques. Identification of vaccine strains and AMR patterns are also key aspects of the work. The Lead will also oversee DNA extraction and will be responsible for scrutinising, documenting and reporting whole genome sequencing serotype results.

The Lead will participate in the senior management team for BAC2 workgroup, supporting the Team Leader and Workgroup Leader. The post-holder will support the National Biosecurity Centre (NBC) programme through active engagement with delivery partners to ensure provision of laboratory facilities to support the activities needed for Salmonella serotyping and associated testing.

Provide leadership and tactical oversight to ensure APHA delivery of the statutory Salmonella serotyping functions to support the National Control Programme for Salmonella and other surveillance and research activities.

• Develop expertise in the Salmonella serotyping test portfolio to become a test consultant.
• Lead the delivery and reporting of typing results in a timely manner.
• Develop the skills and knowledge to support the testing of Hazard Group 3 Salmonella.
• Maintain ISO 17025 accreditation for the serotyping test portfolio and maintain records that adhere to ISO 9001 standards.
• You will lead a large team (ca.9), with responsibility for recruitment, succession planning, training, development and line management.
• Oversee the day-to-day running of the serotyping team, including the maintenance and repairs of critical equipment, including the Kingfisher, Beeline and BIOMIC.
• Maintain SOPs and risk assessments relevant to the team.
• You will work in multidisciplinary teams including microbiologists, epidemiologists, veterinarians, risk managers in the APHA and other collaborating organisations.
• Make decisions on how to progress Salmonella isolates to ensure the timely reporting of all results in line with the legislative responsibility of the team.
• Participate in the Field Epidemiology Workgroup (BAC2) senior leadership team to manage, organise and support workgroup functions.
• Develop an understanding of antimicrobial resistances which are of concern in Salmonella isolates.
• Work with colleagues from the National Science Capability and Animal Health (NSCAH) Department and the wider NBC programme to ensure the provision of laboratory facilities for essential Salmonella testing.
• Read, understand and implement Team Leader responsibilities as stated in the current APHA Health & Safety and quality policies.
• Ensure health and safety standards are followed and that risk assessments are read and understood by you and the team.

You will need to demonstrate the following:

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with team members and collaborators.
• Demonstrable project management skills and experience in developing teams.
• Demonstrable experience of leading scientific teams and/or projects.
• Significant expertise and experience in managing in a working ACDP Category 2 microbiology laboratory in accordance with required safety standards.
• Knowledge of how Salmonella serotyping functions support veterinary and public health, animal welfare and the UK economy.
• Working knowledge of a results reporting system (e.g. LIMS).
• Working knowledge of quality assurance methods e.g. technical standard ISO 17025 and ISO 9001.

The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required. Due to access requirements to biosecure areas, a level of physical fitness is required. The post will also require Health clearance. You will be expected to complete a questionnaire on your general health (this is applicable to all roles) and have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance, including Skin Sensitisers. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment.

A valid full driving licence is necessary or access to an alternative means of transport.

Applicants must be currently resident in the UK and have at least three years continuous UK residency in order to start the mandatory Counter Terrorist Check security checks that are required to work at APHA Weybridge. If you cannot meet this criterion, CTC clearance will not be possible as this is part of pre-employment checks before taking up the post.