Assistant Scientific Officer ID5050

Job summary

Do you want a role that helps safeguard animal and plant health and welfare?

Are you looking to apply your communication, organisational and problem-solving skills in a varied and rewarding laboratory environment?

If so, we'd love to hear from you.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Working on behalf of the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments, our 3,000+ staff provide research, surveillance, scientific advice and operational support to protect animal, plant and public health, supporting the environment, food security and the economy.

APHA is a great place to work, where people feel valued, have a voice, and can be their authentic selves. We recognise that diversity of thought, experience and background helps us make better decisions and deliver better outcomes. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities.

The Science Directorate within the APHA delivers high-quality, high-impact and internationally recognised science. Our people are talented, collaborative and committed to delivering innovative solutions to some of the UK's most important animal and plant health challenges.

Proficiency testing (PT) is a critical component of laboratory quality assurance. It enables laboratories to monitor performance, maintain confidence in diagnostic testing and meet accreditation requirements under ISO 17025. APHA's Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) delivers a comprehensive portfolio of PT schemes that support APHA, Defra and laboratories worldwide. The Unit also manages VETQAS, APHA's internationally recognised proficiency testing brand. VETQAS is a global leader in veterinary proficiency testing, supporting laboratories across a wide range of diseases, animal species and diagnostic methods.

Reporting to a Scheme Manager, the post holder will undertake a range of laboratory and administrative activities that support the delivery of proficiency testing schemes. Working both independently and as part of a team, you will help ensure that products and services are delivered to the highest standards and in compliance with ISO/IEC 17043, the international standard for proficiency testing providers.

The role offers a varied workload and the opportunity to develop expertise across multiple areas of the business. Responsibilities will include managing assigned tasks and projects, contributing to continuous improvement activities, and providing cover for colleagues when required.

Development Opportunities

Subject to eligibility and business requirements, successful candidates may also be considered for a fully funded apprenticeship programme, including:

• Level 6 Biological Science Degree Apprenticeship
• Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship

Job description

Scientific and Administrative Duties

The post holder will undertake a range of scientific and administrative activities to support the delivery of proficiency testing schemes and associated quality assurance services. Duties may include:

• Preparation, dispensing and freeze-drying of biological materials.
• Quality control testing of samples using microbiological and related laboratory techniques.
• Preparation of sample dilutions and working materials.
• Preparation, labelling, packaging and distribution of proficiency testing samples.
• Preparation of shipping documentation, including customs declarations and import/export paperwork.
• Stock management and tracking of biological materials and laboratory consumables.
• Operation, maintenance and routine checks of laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
• Monitoring stock levels and raising orders for consumables and equipment as required.
• Writing, reviewing and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and associated documentation.
• Supporting continuous improvement and project-based activities within the Unit.
• More experienced ASOs may assist with the coordination of a small number of proficiency testing schemes under supervision.

Personnel

• Work effectively as part of a team and contribute to a positive working environment.
• More experienced ASOs may provide training, guidance and day-to-day support to less experienced colleagues.

Safety

• Carry out all duties in accordance with relevant health, safety and wellbeing legislation, policies and procedures.
• Ensure safe handling of biological materials and laboratory equipment.

Quality

• Work in accordance with approved Standard Operating Procedures and quality management requirements.
• Contribute to compliance with ISO/IEC 17043 and other relevant quality standards.

Other Duties

• Undertake additional responsibilities as agreed with managers, for example First Aider, Fire Warden or other designated roles.
• Support wider Quality Assurance Unit activities as required.

Workplace Arrangements

This role is laboratory-based at APHA's Sutton Bonington site and cannot be carried out remotely. Attendance on site is required.

The role involves handling and moving laboratory materials, consumables and equipment and may require periods of standing, lifting, carrying and working within biosecure laboratory environments.

The Quality Assurance Unit is located within a building that spans three floors and does not have lift access. The post holder must therefore be able to access all required work areas, including by using stairs where necessary.

Person specification

You will be able to demonstrate the following:

Skills and Experience

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a laboratory environment.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organise, prioritise and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to work.
• Good attention to detail and accurate record-keeping skills.
• Ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures and work to defined quality standards.

Previous laboratory experience is not required, as full training will be provided.

If you wish to undertake a Level 6 Biological Degree Apprenticeship you will require:

• Science “A” levels or equivalent

• GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent) OR be willing to complete Functional Skills modules in working level Maths and English as part of the apprenticeship pathway.

For Level 3 you will not require A Levels in Science or equivalent but will require GCSEs Maths and English (or equivalent).

Government apprenticeship requirements state that the apprenticeship will provide “substantive new skills and learning” and that the apprenticeship programme it is “materially different to any other training undertaken or qualification held”. For this reason, applicants who already have a science degree cannot be accepted.

Ways of Working

This is a laboratory-based role and requires regular attendance at the Sutton Bonington site. The successful candidate will normally be expected to work on site five days per week, or pro rata for part-time staff on a job share.

Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations for meetings for example.

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

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. The work involved in this post can be physically demanding, therefore a level of physical fitness is required. The department occupies a building on three levels and as there is no lift, you will need to be able to use two flights of stairs and thus be reasonably physically fit.

Restrictions on outside/domestic contact with small animals, mainly rodents and rabbits, may apply.

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

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,001, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £7,822 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).

• 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 committee who run team building and fun events at the Weybridge site

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, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 2nd November 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

For more guidance about the online Civil Service tests, please see the GOV.UK website: Civil Service online tests - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Online Test maintenance

You will be directed to the Talogy - True Talent – Scheduled Maintenance Window Webpage for online tests during an outage.

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 12.00pm to 1.00pm on 25th October and 4.00pm to midnight on 1st November 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

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 500-word Personal Statement of how you match the details in the Personal 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 250-word Behaviour Statement for the following Behaviour: Working Together, 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 Behaviour in your application.

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 in each area will progress to interview unless there is a large number of applications. In this instance, an initial sift will be conducted using the Personal Statement. 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
• You will be assessed on three Behaviours:
  • Working Together (assessed at application and interview)
  • Communicating and Influencing (assessed at interview only)
  • Delivering at Pace (assessed at interview only)

The Behaviour criteria are outlined in theSuccess Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UKframework. Please use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of the Behaviours in your interview.

• Strength based questions related to the role requirements. Strengths are the things that we do regularly, do well and that motivate us. The full list of Civil Service Strengths is available at Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK. There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.

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 face to face at APHA Quality Assurance Unit, The Elms, College Road, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, UK, LE12 5RB

• The interview will follow a blended approach and will last approximately 45 minutes
• A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation at interview, offering a more inclusive approach.
• The Strength and 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.
• Strength questions will explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role.
• This is an example of a strengths-based question: “It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?”

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

Further information

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

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.

Location
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.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

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

This role is based at APHA's Sutton Bonington site only due to the nature of the role and the duties required. This post requires you to be working in the Laboratory five days per week or less if part-time on a job share.

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

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.

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.

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.

Working Pattern
This role is available on a full-time basis. We may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis, where continuity can be arranged.

We welcome applications from individuals seeking alternative working patterns; however, preferred arrangements may not always be possible. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their preferences with the vacancy holder at interview or offer stage.

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

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 unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Science Recruitment Team
• Email : Science.RecruitmentHR@apha.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here

Attachments

APHA Information Pack Jul2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 1959kB)ASO SB Job Description (Lab) Opens in new window (doc, 198kB)