Team Lead for AMR Research (ID 4587)

Job summary

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

Do you love working as part of a team, bringing an enthusiastic approach every day?

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.

We are seeking a Team Lead for the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Research Team within the Bacterial Characterisation workgroup, in the Department of Bacteriology, who will provide strategic leadership in scientific project delivery and team management. They will lead and contribute scientific expertise to multidisciplinary research and surveillance projects, including outbreak investigations, with a focus on AMR, bacterial characterisation, and bioinformatics analysis. They will also ensure the effective allocation of resources, compliance with safety and quality standards, and the development of staff and students within their Team. They will work across BAC3 and the Department of Bacteriology, as well as collaborate across the Agency in areas of interest for the Bacterial Disease and Food Safety portfolio.

Job description

• Lead bacterial isolation and characterisation projects within the workgroup, and the department when requested. Applying advanced microbiological, molecular, and bioinformatics techniques to address scientific questions and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Deliver day to day line management of a team of five staff in all areas of reporting, learning and development. Making sure they liaise closely with Defra/Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and non-Defra project leads to ensure appropriate resources are made available to deliver work in a timely manner and on budget.
• Work closely with the BAC3 Workgroup Leader to steer scientific direction, contribute to strategic planning, and identify opportunities to enhance project objectives and innovative research ideas through regular review of emerging scientific developments and literature.
• Lead AMR research team meetings, ensuring regular discussion of scientific progress, data interpretation, and management actions.
• Ensure timely, and regular, contributions are made to the BAC3 Work Group Leader for monthly SIS (Successes, Issues and Suggestions) and BDFS (Bacterial Diseases and Food Safety) Lead Scientist reports.
• Work with the Bioinformatics Team to manage Scientific Computing Environment (SCE) resources for the BAC3 workgroup, ensuring efficient access to computational tools, data storage, and pipeline functionality to support bioinformatics and microbiological research.
• Mentor and train staff, and PhD students in lab and analytical techniques, providing guidance, supervision, and technical support to promote capability building. Support managers in the supervision and direction of student projects.
• Ensure all work complies with relevant health, safety, and quality standards, including the maintenance and review of SOPs, risk assessments, and documentation for working with new organisms, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), and visitors.
• Participate in internal and external audits, ensuring timely closure of actions, and provide training in laboratory techniques and computer analysis to staff and students.
• Support career development within the workgroup and champion high research standards, reproducibility and laboratory safety.
• Lead, contribute and support the dissemination of scientific findings through leading/producing peer-reviewed publications, ensuring high-quality and impactful research outputs, including preparation of project reports for external funders.
• Oversee Room Officer responsibilities for laboratories and offices in Building 4, ensuring compliance with SHW-S-062 (Room Officer Duties). Manage the team to maintain quality standards (e.g. temperature monitoring, equipment calibration) and safety measures (e.g. chemical labelling, safe working environment, and equipment maintenance) across multiple labs.

Person specification

You will need

• Demonstrable success in the management and delivery of scientific research projects.
• Experience of writing manuscripts for publication, with a good publication profile.
• Strong communication skills to effectively work with team members and collaborators.
• Demonstrable leadership of scientific teams and/or projects.
• Demonstrable experience with Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) Category II bacteria and laboratory skills.
• Demonstrable ability to perform and analyse results generated from standard molecular techniques and genomics used for rapid bacterial characterisation e.g. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, LAMP, whole genome sequencing and metagenomics.
• To be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement of the mandatory counter terrorism checks that are required to work at the Weybridge site where the team and work is situated.

Security clearance
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.

Periodic travel within the UK and EU may be required and this could include farm or abattoir visits as part of ongoing research. The successful candidate may have to ensure that no contact is made with farmed animals for a period of 1-2 days or more before visiting livestock farms. This may preclude anyone who lives on a livestock farm.

The successful candidate should not keep pigs or poultry or live on premises where there are domestic livestock or poultry. Restrictions on outside/domestic contact with small animals, mainly rodents and rabbits, will apply.

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 to meet requirements. 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. Due to access requirements to biosecure areas, a level of physical fitness is required.

This post will 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.This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge.

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

Qualifications

A PhD or MSc with extensive relevant experience in AMR

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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

• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• The presentation will involve delivering a clear and concise overview that demonstrates your technical knowledge of the subject area and how you would apply this in the role.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,060, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £13,343 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support as the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. Our benefits include generous annual leave, a generous employer contributory pension (28.97%), staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers and in-year bonuses. We also offer additional days off if accrued extra hours (flexi-time –if accumulated), three paid volunteering day per year. We also have a social committee who run team building and fun events at the Weybridge site. Further details can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.

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.

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 500-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 250-word Behaviour Statement for the following Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions. Please use the STAR technique (Situation Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of the Behaviours 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 will progress to interview unless there is a large number of applications. In this instance, an initial sift will be conducted using the behaviour Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

The panel may agree a benchmark score higher than 4 with a rationale for the decision. Any candidates applying under the Disability Confident Scheme who scores 4 or above on all of the criteria will be offered an interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

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 Science.DirectorateHR@apha.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:

• Experience as detailed in the Person Specification section - Success Profiles: Experience - GOV.UK framework.
• Behaviours (Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together). The Behaviour criteria outlined in theSuccess Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UKframework for SEO positions. Please use the STAR technique (Situation Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of the Behaviours in your interview.
• You will also be required to give a 7-minute presentation, with slides, followed by questions and answers. This will be assessed under the Technical criteria. You will be scored on delivering a clear and concise presentation that demonstrates your technical knowledge of the subject area and how you would apply this in the role. The Technical Skill outlined in the advert following the Success Profiles: Technical - GOV.UK framework. Technical assessment will explore your technical knowledge in specific areas. Full details of the presentation will be given when you are invited for interview.

Your interview will conducted face to face at APHA Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 3NB.

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.

Near Miss
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.

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
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.

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.

This post is laboratory based and requires you to be working at the Weybridge site five days per week or less if part-time on a job share.

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

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

This post offers the successful candidate the opportunity to receive an additional pay supplement of £2,500 upon appointment. This allowance does not form part of the Terms of Employment.

Specialist Pay
A specialist pay allowance will be given under the following conditions:

• You must be carrying out a DS science role (as defined in the GSE career framework and assured by the Deputy Director of Scientific Services) in the Science Directorate within APHA, either in a permanent or FTA SSO role.
• Scientists in these posts are eligible for level 0 allowances – on appointment or from the date of implementation of this allowance.

Overview of how the Specialist Pay lead will work:

The assessment framework has three levels of capability, all levels of capability attract an allowance. The capability assessment framework has been developed based on the GSE framework to build the technical skills and capabilities required by APHA at the DS SSO grade. The allowance levels are:

• Level 0 - Emerging (£2,500) - On appointment or basic knowledge and limited relevant experience. You understand how the skill can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. Individual is developing within the role, including skills and technical ability. The postholder will be assessed after 3 months in post, and thereafter yearly, to determine whether they can move up to a Level 1 (£3500) or Level 2 (£5000) allowance.

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 full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. We may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis if continuity can be arranged.

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

Higher Security Clearance
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 (opens in a new window).

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 before taking up the post.

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. Determine your eligibility at visit the Childcare Choices website.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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 : Muna Anjum
• Email : muna.anjum@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 Opens in new window (pdf, 1869kB)Post 2147 BAC3 SSO job description April 2026 final Opens in new window (docx, 81kB)