Senior Wildlife Disease Outbreak Advisor - Sand Hutton, United Kingdom - Animal and Plant Health Agency

Animal and Plant Health Agency
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Verified Company
Sand Hutton, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

Details:


Reference number:


Salary:

- £49,403 - £55,823
  • Prorata salary for job share
  • A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
    Job grade:
  • Grade 7
    Contract type:
  • Permanent
    Business area:
  • APHA
  • Science
  • Wildlife, Science Directorate
    Type of role:
  • Science
  • Senior leadership
    Working pattern:
  • Fulltime, Job share, Parttime
    Number of jobs available:
  • 1Contents
Location

About the job


Benefits:

Things you need to know

Location

  • APHA Sand Hutton, National Agri-Food Innovation Campus, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZAbout the job

Job summary:


Do you want to be part of a team protecting Great Britain from exotic notifiable diseases? If so, why not join us and make a difference


The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are seeking an experienced wildlife scientist able to undertake a diverse role focused on the disease ecology of wild species.

The principal activity is analysis, advice and consultancy supporting the NEEG (National Emergency Epidemiology Group) in the management of disease outbreaks, especially those where wildlife may play a role.

These are mainly notifiable diseases but may also be novel, emerging, or exotic diseases of policy concern. The current emphasis is on supporting policy development and operations for the ongoing outbreak of HPAIV.

However, the potential role of wildlife in the introduction, spread, or maintenance of other diseases of policy interest would require expertise in aspects of fox ecology, wild boar ecology, bat ecology as well as some knowledge of wild deer and wild rodents.

As the role sits within a research group specialising in the resolution of wildlife/human conflict and wildlife management (National Wildlife Management Centre at the


APHA:
NWMC), and the most successful and efficient interventions are likely to be those based on current research, the role may also liaise or consult on relevant research activity to ensure that the NEEG has access to authoritative evidence as it is produced.


Job description:


Wildlife is susceptible to many diseases of concern to government, and may consequently produce risks to public health, livestock and the economy, as well as companion animals.

The role of wildlife as hosts of novel or emerging diseases, in the introduction of exotic disease, the spread and maintenance of disease once established in the UK, and the issues they might cause the efficient management of disease are all issues of interest to APHA as it acts to support decision-making and fulfil government policy.

Examples include HPAIV in poultry or other captive birds, rabies in terrestrial mammals (RABV), swine fevers in pigs (ASF and CSF) as well as foot and mouth disease (FMD).


Unlike the risks to animal health produced by livestock or captive animals, where the location and population of animals are known, disease is likely to be detected in a timely fashion, and the risks of spread can be managed through regulation; the progress of disease in wildlife as well as the risks they produce are poorly understood and difficult to manage.


APHA and the NEEG require rapid expert opinion and support in all areas of wildlife disease ecology and wildlife management, where these relate to diseases of concern to government.

This includes synthesis of published and unpublished scientific evidence, analysis of existing case information and other data, as well as experience in summarizing advice into a decision-making context.

A current specific requirement is to support decision-making around the risks produced by HPAIV (disease ecology of a wide range of highly susceptible wild bird species, as well as bridge species), but the role would also require knowledge of aspects of meso-carnivore (red fox), wild boar, bat ecology, and deer ecology, as well as an understanding of their principal diseases.

Further, where wild animals may also act as mechanical vectors of disease, if you have a keen interest of the ecology of fox, rodent and mustelid behaviour, please apply.


Responsibilities will include:

  • Provide advice to the National Emergency Epidemiology Group and defra policy relating to disease outbreaks
  • Synthesis of published and unpublished scientific evidence
  • Analysis of existing case information and other data, as well as experience in summarising advice into a decisionmaking context
  • Support decisionmaking around the risks produced by HPAIV (disease ecology of a wide range of highly susceptible wild bird species, as well as bridge species)
  • Advise on aspects of mesocarnivore (red fox), wild boar, bat ecology, and deer ecology, as well as their principal diseases

Person specification:


Key wildlife host species include:


  • Birds, especially wild species likely to be involved in risks produced by HPAIV or paramyxoviruses; wildfowl (including migratory species), freeliving gamebirds, gulls, corvids, passerines
  • Wild boar, especially with respect to the ris
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