Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare?
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 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.
As Head of Bacteriology you will provide leadership for the Department and Discipline of Veterinary Bacteriology across APHA. This includes the initiation and development of strategic partnerships to deliver our work. You will be using your in‑depth awareness of the area in which Bacteriology works to allow translation and delivery of strategic priorities. You will be planning and delivering the work for the department to time, to budget, ensuring adherence to quality and safety standards and ensuring high ethical standards are safeguarded. You will work closely with policy customers across UK government and relevant Lead Scientists to develop policy‑related projects and solutions whilst also maintaining, and leading, a scientific area of interest.
* To provide proactive and visible leadership and resource management, including strategic planning, staff and financial planning and management, safety, compliance with Specified Animal Pathogens and Animal Procedures Act legislation and quality standards (ISO17025, ISO9001) as appropriate.
* To develop the capability and resource base (skills and facilities) of the Bacteriology Department to 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, inspiring and developing staff throughout their careers to ensure that the Bacteriology discipline is maintained and developed as a strong scientific entity. This will involve liaison with other areas practising Bacteriology across the agency and identification and nurturing of important strategic collaborations for the Department and APHA.
* To represent APHA on national and international scientific and technical committees.
* To seek collaborative research opportunities across the Agency and with external collaborators and develop multidisciplinary links to provide appropriate research solutions to relevant scientific problems.
* To be proactive in ensuring a safe working environment through continual improvement to ensure performance within the department meets the required standards for safety.
* To be responsible for ensuring the business continuity plans are in place for the Bacteriology Department and liaison with other areas which the Bacteriology Department relies on to deliver services.
* 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.
* To provide input into corporate thinking and development of high‑level strategy including relationships with other institutes and departments by discussion with the Lead scientists and Science Directors and provide appropriate guidance to staff and students.
* To represent Bacteriology at several directorate/agency meetings such as the Science Directorate Operational Meeting, Biological Agents Safety Committee, Disease Emergency Response Committee, Knowledge Assets & Innovation Committee, Science Directorate Quality Committee and budgetary oversight meetings (‘Star Chambers’).
* To oversee Bacteriology estate issues and represent the Department’s interests and activities related to site redevelopment (National Biosecurity Centre) and the intermediary transition plans.
* Lead and maintain a significant programme of research, sustain an extensive track record of published research findings in appropriate research journals, enhance expert reputation in own subject area, to lead on funding bids that develop and sustain research support for the specialist area and advance the reputation of APHA, providing consultancy across the Agency and for Defra in the specific area.
Position & Key Relationships
Reports to: APHA Director of Scientific Operations & Research
Responsible for: c 110 staff.
Key Relationships
* Lead Scientists (especially Bacterial Diseases & Food Safety; Bovine TB and Surveillance)
* Heads of APHA Science Departments
* Head of Safety and Quality teams
* APHA Directors
* Workgroup leaders in the Bacteriology Department
* Policy Customers
* Strategic partners in Universities and Research Institutes nationally and internationally
Line manages Workgroup Leaders in the Bacteriology Dept., Dept. Safety Officer, and Dept. Quality Manager.
Functional management of the Departmental Business Manager (shared with Virology), National Biosecurity Centre Transformation Officers for Bacteriology, and project support officers involved in bacteriology projects. As Discipline champion, some functional management of bacteriology specialists across APHA.
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