Cattle TB Vaccine Deputy Project Leader (ID 1869)
| Posting date: | 19 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £39,439 to £47,039 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £42,577 - £47,039 (Weybridge) £39,439 - £43,569 (National) |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 08 May 2024 |
| Location: | Shrewsbury |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 348963/7 |
Summary
This post is full-time, but we may consider two part-time staff on a job-share basis if continuity can be arranged. The post will ideally be based at APHA Weybridge although an alternative laboratory location may be considered if compatible with business needs.
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 at 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 at least 3 years continuous UK residency.
The Deputy Project Leader (DPL) role is a full-time role to facilitate and support the Project Lead (PL) in the coordination, oversight and delivery of one of Defra’s top priority Research and Development projects “Programme of work leading to licencing of a deployable CattleBCG vaccine and associated DIVA-skin test reagent (DST-F)”. The programme is working towards marketing authorisation of Cattle BCG and associated DIVA Skin Test by 2027.
The DPL will work closely with the PL in the following areas:
Assist in Project Management of one of Defra’s top priority Research and Development projects “Programme of work leading to licencing of a deployable CattleBCG vaccine and associated DIVA-skin test reagent (DST-F)”.
The DPL will assist the PL including in:
- Project management and primary interface with a Contracts Research Organisation (CRO)
- Co-ordination of contracts with multiple manufacturers for provision of Cattle BCG, the DST reagent, and other commercial providers
- Working with the Defra contracts management team and APHA Contract Management Team to issue open tenders for commercial services
- The trial must conform to Good Clinical Practice (veterinary) standard which needs to be coordinated with internal and external auditors and stakeholders
Sub-Programme Coordination of a portfolio of studies and requirements leading to the marketing authorisation for Cattle BCG and DST. A range of scientific studies (DST sensitivity and Cattle BCG reversion to virulence) need to be completed and other key dependencies addressed leading to the marketing authorisation of Cattle BCG and DST by 2027. Excellent communication skills with diplomacy will be required between stakeholders who will include APHA scientists, policy customers and sub-contractors.
Decision making. Working with the PL the DPL will facilitate and co-ordinate decision making within the Vaccine Programme Senior team, welcoming challenge and agreeing decisions by consensus with relevant stakeholders including the TB lead scientist. Although the clinical trials are coming to an end, there are likely to be further critical decision points on the journey to the marketing authorisation for Cattle BCG and DST.
Communication of the field trial to Defra and the wider public when required. The DPL will be a central member of the team and work closely with the PL on all aspects of the work. This will include chairing meetings with Defra, contractors (e.g. BCG, DST and field trial CRO) as well as promoting and highlighting the field trial and science around cattle vaccination to both internal and external stakeholders. Progress of the field trial and sub-programme will need to be presented to Defra and their advisory panels, which includes leading experts in the field, on a regular basis. The DPL will be expected to support this requirement in the absence of the PL.
Specifically, the post-holder will be expected to:
- Build experience to act as a fully empowered Deputy in the absence of the PL able to lead meetings and discussions and take decisions/feedback based on sound judgement
- Quickly establish a holistic oversight of the work to ensure they can effectively link multi-disciplinary aspects of the project. They must establish working relationships with a wide variety of colleagues and stakeholders including:
- APHA Departments (various)
- APHA/Defra Communications and Contract Management Teams
- Cross agency APHA; Science, Veterinary and Field Services Directorates
- GB policy customers (Defra, Scottish and Welsh Governments)
- External commercial organisations (Clinical Research Organisation (CRO), monitor, external auditor, consultants, and commercial providers)
and
- Development and review of documentation for the project e.g., over-arching documentation, SOP writing etc
- The DPL will need to review all relevant documentation and ensure they are processed in accordance with expectations to deliver milestones
- Quality Control – the DPL will need to act as primary reviewer of the GCP data received by APHA to ensure it is of sufficient quality to meet GCP guidelines This will include liaising with the Monitor and critically reviewing their reports
- Work with the PL to write and submit relevant annual project documentation
- Work with PL to have financial oversight – ensuring contracts and expenditure align
- Maintain sufficient consumable and reagent stock levels e.g., DIVA and BCG batches
- Lead on update and review of the Risk Register
The intensity of the project can by its nature be variable and uncertain. If and when workflows dictate, the postholder may be asked to contribute to appropriate research science projects within the bovine TB team to develop/maintain expertise. Hence a sound scientific background consistent with SSO grade is critical.
General oversight and management of responsibilities associated with the Science Strategy and Planning team such as meeting agenda and planning, meeting actions, management of SharePoint platform, communication requirements and project task management