Senior Animal Technologist - New Haw, United Kingdom - Animal and Plant Health Agency

Animal and Plant Health Agency

Verified Company

New Haw, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

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Description

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 2,000 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.

Provide specialist expertise, leadership and management to APHA's Animal Science Technical team. To include biocontainment and livestock management and the advancement of animal sciences. Leadership and implementation of APHA's Animal Welfare and Biosecurity Standards.

As part of a team provide input into the operation of ACDP CL2, CL3 and SAPO CL2, CL3, CL4 biosecure animal facilities.

Develop and drive APHA Animal Science capability and provide specialist support to the APHA Weybridge Masterplan development (animal facility requirements).

Job description

Animal Science Specialism:

The jobholder will be specialist with regards to the species in their area. They will advise on and oversee housing and husbandry. They will liaise with the Named Information Officer if new species or housing changes are being discussed. They will actively advance animal sciences and are expected to further science capability within the department.

They will acquire an E2PPL certificate and may be required to hold their own Project Licence.

They will be a Personal Licence holder and develop a wide range of skills in regulated procedures including animal euthanasia and assist with necropsy and sampling procedures as appropriate.

They will oversee a range of livestock and disease biocontainment facilities and will develop specialist containment expertise for farmed livestock and animal models up to ACDP 3 and SAPO 4 classification - working on a wide range of zoonotic pathogens.

Daily Husbandry and care of animals and poultry as required.

BioEthics, Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB):

Livestock Facilities Management
Ensure compliance with ACDP/SAPO legislation. Attend Biological Safety Committee as Animal Sciences representative.

Liaison with Estates, Facilities management and sub-contractors as required to ensure animal facilities are maintained as fit for purpose and future-proofed.

Stakeholder oversight and input in the design and planning of animal facility refurbishments, new builds and equipment installation/maintenance. They will offer advice and support to the site re-development (Science capability for Animal Health) project as required.

Fulfilling Building/Facility Officer duties in a high disease biocontainment (up to and included ACDP3/SAPO4) facility including liaising with the maintenance providers to ensure the appropriate monitoring and maintenance of plant including generators, water testing, alarm systems, Building Management Systems and biocontainment controls.

Safety, Health and Wellbeing:

They will ensure that adequate training and planning for response to emergency scenarios is in place within teams; actively participate in safety inspections and audits with Department Safety Officer, and ensure timely closure of safety audit actions.

Ensure that appropriate documentation [e.g. Risk assessments, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and log books] are in place.

Work closely with the Department Safety Officer (DSO), the SHaW (Safety, Health and Wellbeing) department, in respect of these duties.

Carry out ad-hoc monitoring and regularly visit the animal facilities to monitor adherence to procedures. This might include non-compliance with APHA H&S Policy, SOPs and Risk Assessments.

Study and Contract leadership and Management:

The jobholder will work closely with animal tech team supervisors and scientists in the planning and conduct of studies being carried out in their area assuring compliance, staffing and timely execution.

They will interact with scientists and be proactive in raising any concerns. They will participate in pre-start meetings and ensure the appropriate meeting forms are completed and submitted.

The jobholder will be required to oversee the implementation of commercial contracts that involve the facilities under their management, acting as the named manager and liaising with APHA Commercial Unit Business Development Manager.

They will take part in meetings with the suppliers and liaise with the APHA contract team on compliance concerns and other issues.

Communication:

The jobholder will be required to have excellent communication skills liaising with a diverse range of people in writing, verbally and using a range of IT platforms.

Confidently deliver training, instruction, Toolbox Talks, and Team Briefings, actively contribute to ASU Management meetings and chair meetings as required.

They will be part of study pre-start meetings.

They will write and participate in peer reviews of SOPs, Risk Assessments, Toolbox Talks, and