Serology Office Manager (CR2321)

Posting date:	31 March 2026
Salary:	£33,350 per year
Additional salary information:	Pro-rata for job share
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	13 April 2026
Location:	KT15 3NB
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Temporary
Job reference:	452475/1

Summary

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 Serology Office Manager is based in the Surveillance and Laboratory Services Department (SLSD). In this department we perform serological testing, reagent production and DNA sequencing for international trade, diagnostic and surveillance purposes for farm and companion animals. This role is focused on managing the sample receipt and reporting of rabies serology. The role of Serology Office Manager is to lead the administrative team within SLSD. This team provides support to the rabies scientific work that is performed by communicating with customers via the phone and email, checking and reporting laboratory test results, filing and archiving. This role is on a fixed-term basis for 2 years.

Your responsibilities may include, but will not be limited to:

• Line managing a team of ~4 Administrative Officers (AOs).
• Managing staff performance reviews, absence, occupational health referrals and disciplinary actions
• Reviewing and updating administrative procedural documentation
• Responsibility for your team's ISO17025 accreditation
• Overseeing administration tasks including customer interactions
• Covering for other SLSD managers in their absence.
• Investigating non-conformances and documenting findings
• Communicating essential information to the admin team for discussion and feedback by regular minuted meetings
• Complying with all safety procedures including wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and reporting incidents and near misses
• Responding to animal disease outbreaks which may involve working weekends and shifts
• Participating in all the necessary training to allow you to perform your role correctly and safely

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.