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.
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.
The Bacteriology Department is responsible for research and surveillance activity on endemic and exotic veterinary and zoonotic pathogens with UK wildlife, food-producing animals and domesticated pets. Within the department, the Field Epidemiology and Surveillance Workgroup (BAC2) has a focus on endemic zoonotic bacteria and antimicrobial resistance regarding food producing animals and minimising risks to public health.
BAC2 is seeking an experienced microbiologist for the post of Salmonella Technical Officer to support the APHA delivery of the Salmonella strategy. The work will involve technical support to the Salmonella National Reference Laboratory team, and oversight of the performance of Defra-approved Salmonella testing laboratories for the Salmonella National Control Programme. You will work alongside the APHA One Health team to deliver expert appraisal of applications for Defra-approved laboratory (DAL) status, conduct audits of laboratories, write associated reports, and provide training. The post can be based at any APHA laboratory location but requires travel to APHA Weybridge and external sites.
This post is a fixed-term contract that will end on 31st March 2028.
Provide external and internal auditing, training, and advisory services for APHA and DALs at multiple locations across the UK. Plan and conduct auditing to monitor compliance with Defra and APHA procedures for approved laboratories, relevant International Standards and to facilitate improvements in business processes.
Provide oversight of the performance of Defra-approved Salmonella testing laboratories, primarily those testing National Control Programme (NCP) samples under Control Salmonella Poultry Order (CSPO), but also those testing Poultry Health Scheme (PHS) samples under Trade in Animal Related Products (TARP).
Liaise with disease and test consultants, Department of Epidemiological Sciences, United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), proficiency testing team, APHA One Health and DALs teams to deliver expert appraisal of applications for laboratory approval.
Provide audits (and associated reports) of laboratories (located at multiple sites across the UK) which apply for Defra approval (on a 2-yearly basis) or in cases of performance issues.
Collation and analysis of approved laboratory test and quality assurance data including commentary on participant performance in the VETQAS proficiency testing (PT).
Contribution towards an annual ring trial of approved laboratories using a challenging faecal matrix with low Salmonella
Act as APHA representative, liaising with UKAS (if required), APHA Quality/ISO17025 teams and VETQAS Sutton Bonington, with regards to DAL Salmonella-related quality assurance procedures and the DAL inspection programme. Coordinate and advise on the effective response to findings raised at external and internal audits.
Maintain and develop expertise in ISO17025, ISO9001 and ISO17043.
Provide advice and summary reports on issues affecting the DAL scheme to the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) and DALs teams.
Troubleshoot and resolve quality issues/ findings.
Responsibility for establishment of effective and efficient implementation and communication of quality initiatives across the DAL network.
Identification of opportunities for efficiency gains and continual improvement through appropriate harmonisation of methods and procedures across DALs sites, through production of training material and participation in DALs meetings and training events.
Work with personnel to ensure the NCP samples that are destined for testing at the DALs, are fit for purpose (along with accompanying paperwork).
Support APHA delivery of the Salmonella strategy on behalf of Defra via APHA project FZ2000 (Surveillance of Salmonella in animals). The work will involve oversight of the performance of Defra-approved Salmonella testing laboratories, primarily those testing NCP samples under the CSPO, but also those testing PHS samples under TARP for both Salmonella and Mycoplasma.
Liaise with stakeholders including managers of DALs, disease and test consultants, DES (Department of Epidemiological Sciences) and the DALs team, UKAS. They are responsible for the collation and analysis of approved laboratory test data on an annual basis. They will work alongside the APHA One Health team to deliver expert appraisal of applications for laboratory approval. Additionally, they will conduct audits of laboratories, write associated reports, and provide training. They will also provide support to ensure the samples collected on farms, hatcheries etc. and destined for testing at the DALs, are fit for purpose, across multiple sites in the UK.
There will also be involvement with the VETQAS PTs team for both the provision of comments on participant performance in the VETQAS PTs and contribution to an annual ring trial for approved laboratories using a challenging faecal matrix with low Salmonella levels. The postholder will also contribute to future developments in EQA/PT and be involved in other general work relating to quality assurance within APHA.
There will be opportunity to contribute to relevant research projects and scientific publications.
