Immunologist (ID 1694)

Provide scientific and technical expertise for a range of projects within the TB Workgroup. This might include work for Defra under the TB eradication program, and/or contribute to academic projects. This is laboratory-based work based at our site in Surrey., APHA are world leaders in bovine TB research and surveillance, with our work contributing to Defra’s TB eradication plan which has the aim of eradicating the disease by 2038.
Ongoing work within the TB Workgroup includes a bovine TB vaccine development programme (with field trials currently taking place) and complementary research studies of protection & pathology, alongside development of novel diagnostics for cattle and non-bovines, plus close working with, and support of, routine statutory TB testing.
This work is conducted in state-of-the-art laboratories and animal accommodation including high containment facilities. APHA is also a WOAH world reference laboratory for mammalian TB.
We are seeking keen and capable graduate scientists to contribute to the delivery of this work.
Post holders will be expected to work flexibly within the TB Workgroup, the remit of which offers a variety of relevant immune assays and diagnostic tests (development and application), investigations of cellular immunology (e.g. flow cytometry, Luminex multiplexing), microbiological culture in high (CL3) containment, and may also include some animal work, for which possession or willingness to apply for a Home Office ASPA personal license would be essential.
With appropriate training, depending upon work requirement the post holders would be expected to;
+ Contribute to current research and projects in the field of bovine TB
+ Perform experiments in the laboratory using a range of immunological assays and diagnostic tests
+ Work within in high containment (ACDP3/SAPO4) environments
+ Take part in cattle post mortem procedures
+ Take part in experimental infection of cattle procedures
+ Collate and interpret test and research data so produced, potentially to contribute to reports and other outputs
+ Provide support for the project management of cattle and non-bovine TB surveillance programmes
+ Work with laboratory management quality standards such as ISO17025 and ISO9001, If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your Experience & Behaviour Statements.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)
Where the location is ‘National’ 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.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
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.
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 post will be based at the Weybridge site due to the nature of the role.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made., 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 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 CTC residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have a minimum of 3 years continuous UK residency. If you cannot meet this criteria 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
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., + 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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

The post holder should have technical experience of:
+ Diagnostic and research immunological tests e.g. sterile cell culture techniques, ELISA, flow cytometry,
+ Expertise in other laboratory skills such as molecular biology based techniques may also be considered.
+ Preparation of data in tabular or graphical formats (using MS Excel, PowerPoint, Graphpad).
+ Working to quality (9001:2015 or UKAS 17025) and safety policies and standards.
+ Working to Standard Operating Procedures and Risk Assessments., Degree in Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology or a related discipline.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Working Together
+ Developing Self and Others
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Seeing the Big Picture, Alongside your salary of £30,827, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £8,329 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%, New entrants 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.
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.