Antimicrobial Resistance Disease Consultant (ID4667)

Job summary

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

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.

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 Bacteriology Department is seeking an Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Disease consultant. For this role, we are looking for a veterinarian with postgraduate qualifications or evidence of substantial relevant experience. Based within the Bacteriology Department, this role provides scientific and technical expertise to support the surveillance, diagnosis, prevention and control of bacterial diseases affecting animal and public health. The postholder will lead scientific activities, provide evidence-based advice, work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, and contribute to research, policy development and disease control programmes. Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, together with expertise in bacteriology and disease surveillance, are essential. The Lead will be an active part of the Bacterial Diseases and Food Safety (BDFS) Portfolio leadership team, contributing to set the direction of the portfolio, with particular emphasis on AMR.

Job description

• Provide joint leadership/consultancy for all AMR activities across the Bacteriology Department (as well as the wider agency), bringing AMR team together, driving strategic developments, and seeking/supporting relevant new funding opportunities.
• Provide joint consultancy and expertise to Defra/Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and other external bodies - notably World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Food Standards Agency (FSA)/Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF), British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) on antimicrobial resistance. Responsibilities include provision of consultancy, outbreak investigations, advice and expertise to policy makers, risk managers, public health authorities, local authorities, veterinary surgeons and the farming industry on the occurrence, control, microbiology and epidemiology of AMR and relevant bacterial zoonotic diseases, as directed by APHA, VMD and Defra.
• Jointly lead and manage the UK National Reference Laboratory for AMR in the veterinary sector.
• Support APHA’s WOAH reference laboratory status in antimicrobial resistance, contribute to the annual report and other support to WOAH in this area.
• Deliver and manage surveillance projects OM0190 and sub- projects and research project VM0533A within the core AMR project on time and within budget.
• Delegated responsibility from lead scientist to ensure that APHA science on antimicrobial resistance is delivered to appropriate quality standards and uses relevant and optimal scientific approaches. Review project proposals before submission and assist in their development.
• Delegated responsibility from Bacterial Diseases and Food Safety (BDFS) Lead Scientist for reviewing all published AMR outputs from APHA. Review papers, posters, presentations, and publications prior to submission according to AP004 to ensure scientific robustness.
• Provide advice and antimicrobial resistance surveillance summaries to the Defra Antimicrobial Resistance Co-ordination Group.
• Work collaboratively with public health institutes (e.g. UKHSA, PHW, PHS) to advance One Health AMR work
• Oversee the delivery of AMR summary data for publication/provide annual susceptibility reports on veterinary bacteria to Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Be responsible for the delivery of surveillance datasets and commentary to be delivered to VMD annually for the publication of the VARRS report.
• Horizon scan to identify and investigate AMR hazards detected through research and surveillance and suggest possible control options to policy lead organisations.
• Contribute to the Salmonella Steering Group (SSG) and provide antimicrobial resistance expertise for the annual Salmonella report “Salmonella in Livestock”. Attend SSG meetings in person or by teleconference.
• Review the suitability of the test portfolio and proficiency tests for APHA purposes and rectify any omissions.
• Review and update VISI and VISION AMR surveillance documents for Veterinary Investigation Officers (VIOs)/APHA Regional Laboratories.
• Disseminate research results through scientific publications, reports, and presentations both nationally and internationally.
• Formulate new research project proposals, according to developing expertise and experience, and policy needs. These should be agreed with relevant parties, opportunities for leverage exploited and progressed through Commercial and Science Project Approval (CASPA).
• Support the Regional Laboratories in their susceptibility testing and provide consultancy to ensure that testing is appropriate and relevant to practising veterinary surgeons.
• Support Surveillance and Laboratory Services (SLSD) in development and provision of scanning surveillance for AMR in veterinary bacteria.
• Contributing to strategic direction in the AMR area. Contribute to horizon scanning, discussions, planning, outputs and interpretation of other antimicrobial resistance and other strategic activities to ensure APHA preparedness to respond to AMR emergencies.
• The post holder contributes to the management of the Bacterial Diseases and Food Safety programme and the Department of Bacteriology and attends regular management and other meetings

Person specification

You will need to demonstrate the following:

• Experience in scientific research and in field based epidemiological investigations.
• Demonstrable in-depth knowledge of AMR, particularly in relation to bacterial diseases of animals and bacterial zoonoses, and phenotypic and genotypic methods of detection of AMR.
• Demonstrable experience of working with a range of stakeholders
• Knowledge of farming and food production.
• Working knowledge of ISO9001 and understanding of IS17025 principles.
• Evidence of good communication and team working
• Good written and spoken English

Security clearance - for Weybridge-based staff only

The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Government’s response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason, all postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicantsmust be currently resident in the UKhave at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement to work at the Weybridge site where the team and work is situated.

Health clearance

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 skin sensitisers & tetanus. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment

Qualifications

Degree in Veterinary Medicine.
Postgraduate qualification or evidence of significant experience in the field.

Memberships

Registered to the Royal Veterinary College.

Languages

Must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to enable effective communication about veterinary topics with customers and colleagues and meet one of the following:

have undertaken undergraduate veterinary training in English; or
having a sufficient command of spoken and written English to effectively perform the role being undertaken by a public sector worker in a customer-facing role; or
have achieved the following scores in the academic international English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application – Overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 7

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Technical skills will be assessed through a structured set of questions. The questions will explore your technical knowledge required to meet the person specification.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,207, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £16,862 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Our benefits include:

• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities tailored to your role.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• Staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
• Three days special leave with pay, per year, for volunteering (pro-rata for part time employees).
• Making it work for you - With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances
• We also have a social club at Weybridge with various activities.

These are just a few of our benefits we offer. To find out the full range of what we offer refer to the Information Pack attached for more detail.

Learning and Development

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role. This can include a variety of courses, Apprenticeships, paid Masters and PhD and on-the-job training specific to your role.

In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

You will be required to complete the following as part of your application:

• A CV-style application submitted through an online tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobs website. There is no requirement to upload your personal CV.
• A 1000-word Personal Statement of how you match the details in the Person Specification – the written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. We encourage you to use the full word allowance of the Personal Statement but not to exceed it.
• A Behaviour statement of 250-words for the following Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture, following the Behaviour criteria outlined in the Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK framework for the grade of the role. Please use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of the Behaviours in your application.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

CV Guidance

Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements and your main responsibilities in each role and be no longer than 2 pages. Your CV will be used to provide further context on your Personal Statement and scored against the essential criteria.

Personal Statement Guidance

When completing your Personal Statement, please read and understand the Person Specification thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Please ensure you evidence the key personal qualities and experiences that align with the criteria. Consider the Job Description and look to demonstrate how your previous experience may align with the expectations and be applicable to the role. The written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc.

Scoring for all criteria of the application is from 1 to 7 – A score of 4 and above will progress to interview unless there is a large number of applications. In this instance, an initial sift will be conducted using the CV-style template. The panel may agree a benchmark score higher than 4 with a rationale for the decision. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

For further guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV style application, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website. How to write your CV , Civil Service Careers

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via DefraRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk with the vacancy reference number, your applicant reference number, and the closing date.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on

• Your previous experiences relevant to the role requirements outlined in the advert following the Success Profiles: Experience - GOV.UK
• Behaviours (Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace), following the Behaviour criteria outlined in theSuccess Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UKframework for Grade 7 positions. Please use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of the Behaviours in your interview.
• Technical skills, as outlined in the job description and advert, following the Success Profiles: Technical - GOV.UKframework. These will be assessed through a structured set of questions. The questions will explore your technical knowledge required to meet the person specification.

If you are selected for interview, you will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.

Upon receiving the interview invitation, please log into the system to schedule your interview slot in advance.

Your interview will be conducted on-line & you will be given a link to the on-line interview..

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

The interview will follow a blended approach and will last approximately 60 minutes.

A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation at interview, offering a more inclusive approach.

The Behaviour based questioning explores what the candidate can and has done, but also their potential.

Behavioural questions will explore what you have done in previous jobs or experiences as well as what you have achieved and/or learned.

Technical questions assess the specific professional skills, knowledge or qualifications required for the role.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

After the interview

Once all the interviews have been conducted, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are successful at the interview stage, we will be in touch to offer you a role. Offers will be made in merit order. Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location (excluding Northern Ireland) and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Where multiple locations are listed, the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes. Please note that all listed locations are subject to desk availability.

Candidates intending to be based at Weybridge must undergo additional checks. The level of security needed to be based at Weybridge is Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC). Please note that these checks can take up to 6 months to complete and may delay your start date. See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations. For most candidates your hours of work will be a blend of working from an APHA workplace (specific to the team location) with working at home.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Salary

New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to DEFRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Higher Security Clearance

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to Weybridge may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Governments response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason, all staff based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance. 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 required before taking up the post.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an