National Reference Laboratory Support for Exotic Bacterial Pathogens (ID1892)
| Posting date: | 10 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £35,857 to £38,551 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 29 July 2024 |
| Location: | KT15 3NB |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 359534/1 |
Summary
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.
More than ever before the health of our environment, plants, animals and bees matters. Do you wish to be part of are part of an amazing, diverse team on the frontline in researching, investigating, and acting to protect the UK’s animal, plant and bee health? You will be helping to make a difference to the UK and contributing to global efforts to control and eradicate disease in plants, animals and protecting global biodiversity.
The post will support a number of National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) for exotic bacterial pathogens ensuring that laboratory capability is in place with tests validated and accredited and support any legislative requirements around these laboratories.
The post also includes overseeing Brucella reagent production and diagnostic test work of a team and supporting research by undertaking both immunological and cultural work. Working to ISO 9001:2015 and, as applicable, ISO 17025:2017, quality standards will also be a vital part of your role.
This is a laboratory based post based at Weybridge, Surrey.
Ensure that APHA has the necessary capability in place, or access to capability, to detect and diagnose disease caused by bacterial agents including, but not limited to, Brucella canis, Brucella ovis, Burkholderia mallei, Francisella tularensis, and Histoplasma farciminosum.
Capability requirements for each organism varies but includes bacterial culture, agent inactivation, detection of specific DNA and serodiagnosis. The postholder will be expected to be sufficiently knowledgeable in all these disciplines.
Communication with disease consultants and international experts to ensure best practices are in place to deliver NRL functions.
Participate in the development and validation of new or improved (cultural, molecular, serological) assays in support of national / internationally funded research projects or commercial and international trade.
Develop and maintain knowledge and technical skills for the production and maintenance of APHA’s existing brucellosis serodiagnostic assays.
Execution of bacteriological culture methods for agent detection and definition (working in ACDP3/SAPO3 biological containment facilities).
Execution of PCR methods for agent detection and definition.
Write, review, and maintain Risk Assessments and SOPs specific to the role.
Oversight of methods conducted by third parties (including internal and external providers).
Obtain and maintain UKAS Accreditation status for relevant tests.
Ensure test results are reported to stakeholders in a timely and appropriate manner.
Provide reportable and notifiable disease outbreak and case management support when required.
Contribution to delivery of projects led by disease consultants.
Identifying and developing new opportunities for work/funding that enhance the capability of the APHA.
Maintain contemporary expert knowledge in laboratory detection and diagnosis of disease caused by the above pathogens.
Contributing to the groups international activities including training of visitors on site or overseas as needed.
Line management of one EO.