Job summary
You will be providing business, science, and people leadership driving science excellence, innovation and transformative change for APHA.
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.
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. Surveillance and Laboratory Services Department (SLSD) is one of the departments that makes up the Science Directorate.
As the Head of SLSD you will be in a senior scientific and strategic delivery role who can successfully lead a geographically dispersed, multi-disciplinary team, which is responsible for delivering a range of scientific services. This includes diagnostics, surveillance, investigations and laboratory services across GB. The post requires considerable time in Weybridge but could be based at any of our current SLSD sites and will require frequent travel in GB.
You will provide management and leadership for the Department, including the initiation and development of strategic partnerships to deliver our work. You will be responsible for all resource issues such as people, skills, quality, safety and estate.
You will provide strong managerial and leadership skills, have an in depth awareness of the area in which SLSD works to allow translation and delivery of strategic priorities in a changing environment. Be responsible for the planning, costing, pricing and delivery of the work of the SLSD to time, quality and safety standards, determining value for money and for driving efficiencies. In addition, you will need to maintain a scientific area of interest.
Job description
Providing leadership and resource management including strategic planning, staff management and financial planning, compliance with Health and Safety legislation, dangerous pathogens legislation and quality standards (ISO17025) as appropriate.
To be proactive in ensuring a safe working environment through continual improvement to ensure performance within the department meets the required standards for safety and quality.
To ensure the right standards of customer service are adhered to, including turnaround times, quality products and customer centric administration.
To oversee the maintenance and continual improvement of the ISO17025 quality management system.
To develop the resource base (skills and facilities) and ensure the provision of appropriately trained staff and resources/ facilities to meet/ support the needs of key activities, ensuring risks are identified at an early stage and addressed. You will be responsible for succession plans and staff development to ensure that SLSD is maintained and developed as a strong scientific entity. This will involve liaison with other areas undertaking surveillance and laboratory testing across the agency and identification and nurturing of important strategic collaborations for the Department.
To create an environment where all (scientific, veterinary, administrative and technical) staff can and do contribute effectively and in which different perspectives are heard and channelled towards achieving agency objectives.
Ensure proactive management of performance, conduct and attendance, role modelling effective behaviour and providing feedback and coaching to direct reports.
Responsible for ensuring the business continuity plans are in place for the SLSD in conjunction with Head of (Science Strategy and Planning (SSP) and liaison with other areas which SLSD relies on to deliver services.
To provide input into corporate thinking and the development of high-level strategy including relationships with other institutes and departments by discussion with the Director of Science and Lead Scientists.
To represent SLSD at a number of directorate/agency governance meetings such as the Biological Agents Safety Committee, Finance meetings and Science Operations Meetings etc.
Accountable for meeting the agreed performance targets for SLSD (financial, delivery, safety and quality)
Responsible for driving efficiency and value for money by effective budgetary management and the use of innovative delivery and resourcing solutions.
Responsible for oversight and coordinating the APHA test portfolio, and test pricing.
Responsible for developing robust and effective contract management, driving value for money.
Responsible for continually monitoring, evaluating, and improving SLSD�s offer.
To lead and maintain an area of scientific interest and specialist expertise relevant to the laboratory testing discipline. This could involve, preparation of test development proposals and papers, consultancy across the agency and for Defra and other key stakeholders in the specific area, representation on national or international committees.
Person specification
Skills and Experience
1. Extensive leadership and management experience in a scientific area, with proven experience in complex change management.
2. Extensive direct work experience in a laboratory area with experience of working to quality systems and implementing H&S requirements in containment (ACDP3 and SAPO) laboratories handling pathogens.
3. Experience of delivering a range of laboratory testing procedures to time and quality standards.
4. Experience of preparing and delivering proposals, presentations and publications.
5. Experience of pricing and costing.
6. Experience in preparation of business cases.
A Degree in area of Biological or Veterinary Sciences. In addition a relevant scientific post graduate qualification (or job base comparable experience).
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. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement to work at the Weybridge site only
Once in post you will be required to undertake higher security clearance called SC. To meet the criteria applicants must have continuous UK residency of 5 years in order to meet the residency criteria.
Qualifications
A Degree in area of Biological or Veterinary Sciences
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
7. Leadership
8. Communicating and Influencing
9. Making Effective Decisions
10. Changing and Improving
11. Delivering at Pace
12. Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
13. Leadership
14. Making Effective Decisions
15. Changing and Improving
16. Delivering at Pace
17. Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training, inclusion, support and the development as our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. �Our benefits include generous annual leave, flexible working,, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
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.�