Animal Technologist (ID4140 &ID4153)

You will be expected to cover the following duties. Training and supervision will be provided.
+ Daily animal care, health checks and husbandry (including rearing from birth), of both stock and experimental livestock, poultry species and small laboratory animals. Liaising with the Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer and Named Veterinary Surgeons regarding the welfare of animals under your care.
+ Observations and monitoring of experimental animals, recording of clinical signs and other data and ensuring information is passed to the relevant people.
+ Video surveillance monitoring of animals and recording data associated with observation and ensuring information is passed onto the relevant people.
+ Unloading, collection, transport and storage of animal bedding, feed, consumables and equipment.
+ Assist with veterinary and technical procedures associated with animal identification, weighing, restraint, sample collection, feed preparations and experimental work.
+ Operation of heavy duty and agricultural machinery, including but not limited to tractors, forklifts, telehandlers, Quadbikes, and Skidsteer loaders.
+ The use of specialist equipment as required, including but not limited to autoclaves, animal weigh scales, hot air ovens, bottle washers and water pressure washers.
+ Undertake experimental Home Office procedures (under licence), including Schedule 1 Techniques, and the management of associated records. Full training will be provided.
+ Contribute to refinement of animal procedures or studies.
+ Maintaining disease security in animal facilities, cleaning and decontamination of animal accommodation, equipment, storage and support accommodation.
+ To comply with APHA Health and Safety policy.
+ The postholder is required to achieve appropriate competence, write and review SOPs and take part in quality audits.
Communication
+ The jobholder will demonstrate very good interpersonal and communication skills, and be well organised.
+ Requirement to communicate effectively with a wide range of staff including study leaders, vets, welfare officers, and their own team.
+ The jobholder is expected to use electronic communication tools (email, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, SharePoint etc) and respond to queries or discussions in a timely manner.
+ To organise, delegate, and prioritise duties to your team.
Quality
+ The jobholder is required to work according to the GLP and GMP standards, write and review SOP's and ensure quality compliance. APHA is certified to BS ISO 9001 by Bureau Veritas UK Ltd for the provision of a range of specialist veterinary scientific services and products to the Government and other interested parties worldwide., You will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.
The work of the post can be physically demanding, and due to access requirements to biosecure areas, individuals must be physically able.
Depending on the areas of work involved you will be expected to have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance.
Restrictions on outside/domestic contact with small animals, mainly rodents and rabbits, will/may apply. You should not keep pigs or poultry or live on premises where there are domestic livestock or poultry.
Staff will be required to work rostered on-call duties, weekends, Bank Holidays and occasional evenings. APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment.
A valid full driving licence is necessary. Periodic travel within the UK may be required to attend training courses and this could include farm or abattoir visits as part of ongoing research or other postmortem facilities. You may have to ensure that no contact is made with farmed animals for a period of 1-2 days or more before visiting these premises, and may therefore preclude anyone who lives on a livestock farm.
Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident. They may be required to facilitate as an Animal Sciences On Call Officer on a duty rota for out of working hours support response to the Department.
The post will require Health clearance.

Licences
A valid full driving licence is necessary.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Working Together
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Working Together, Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Application Process
You will be required to complete the following as part of your application:
+ A CV-style application submitted through an online tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobs website
+ A 500-word Personal Statement of how you match the details in the Personal Specification - the written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. We encourage you to use the full word allowance of the Personal Statement but not to exceed it
+ A 250-word Behaviour Statement for the following Behaviour: Working Together. Please use the STAR technique (Situation Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of the Behaviours in your application.
Scoring for all criteria on the application is from 1 to 7 - A score of 4 and above will progress to interview unless there is a large number of applications. In this instance, an initial sift will be conducted using the CV style Application form, or Personal Statement or the Lead Behaviour. The panel may agree a benchmark score higher than 4 with a rationale for the decision. Any candidates applying under the Disability Confident Scheme who scores 4 or above on all of the criteria will be offered an interview.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
For further guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV style application, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website. How to write your CV , Civil Service Careers
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on
+ Experience as detailed in the Person Specification section - Success Profiles: Experience - GOV.UK framework.
+ Behaviours (Working Together, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace) The Behaviour criteria outlined in the Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK for EO positions. Please use the STAR technique (Situation Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of the Behaviours in your interview.
Your interview will be conducted face to face or on-line. You will be notified of the date and location of the interview when you are invited to interview.
Reserves
In the event of more than one candidate meeting the criteria we may maintain a reserve list should a similar role become available in the subsequent 12 months following interview.
After the interview
Once all the interviews have been conducted, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are successful at the interview stage, we will be in touch to offer you a role. Offers will be made in merit order.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Location
Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location (excluding Northern Ireland) and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
This role is based at Weybridge only where the team is located and due to the nature of the role and duties required. Flexibility in working hours is required if called upon to finish a particular urgent task or call upon in an event of an outbreak.
This post requires you to be working onsite at APHA Weybridge five days per week or less if part-time., This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
We may consider two part-time staff on a job-share basis if continuity can be arranged. Part-time hours will only be considered as part of a job share.
Flexibility in working hours is required if called upon to finish a particular urgent task or call upon in an event of an outbreak.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to DEFRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the 'Assistance required' section in the 'Additional requirements' page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

+ Experience of contact with small animals e.g. mice, rabbits.
+ Good Written and Spoken English
A valid full driving licence is necessary.
This is a permanent post, and we will provide you with an extensive training and development programme to support you in your role and achieving your career ambitions. Part of this training and development programme will be to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a fully funded Personal Licensee and Institute of Animal Technology training courses as required/relevant to your role. This will give you the opportunity to increase your knowledge and experience which will assist in your development and possibly promotion.

Play a vital role in protecting the UK's animal and plant health - and help make a difference!
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.

Alongside your salary of £33,350, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £9,661 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training as inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.
Our benefits include generous annual leave, a generous employer contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers and in-year bonuses. We also offer additional days off if accrued extra hours (flexi-time -if accumulated), three paid volunteering day per year. We also have a social committee who run team building and fun events at the Weybridge site. Further details can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.
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., New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.