Quantitative Ecologist / Project Manager ID:1877

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, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We are looking for compassionate, dedicated individuals who strive for excellence and integrity and who put animal health and welfare at the heart of everything they do.
We currently have an exciting opportunity for a manager of scientific projects and fieldwork in the wildlife disease research team within the Wildlife Team. This is a great opportunity to gain new skills in applied ecology and valuable experience of wildlife-related fieldwork and project management.
The Wildlife Team are based at two locations (Sand Hutton, York and Woodchester Park, Gloucestershire). This post will be contractually based at Woodchester Park where the team delivers a range of mainly badger-related wildlife research, scientific, technical and field-based services, and projects for TB policy teams in Defra and Welsh Government. The team comprises of scientists with expertise in ecology, epidemiology, veterinary science and wildlife management, and highly skilled fieldworkers. Principal areas of research activity include a well-established long-term field study on TB and badger ecology and field projects monitoring vaccinated badger populations.
The purpose of the job is to support ongoing research activity on badger ecology and wildlife disease management; to provide project management/delivery; and to assist in providing expert advice on related subject areas to Defra and the Welsh Government., The postholder will contribute significantly to research across a range of wildlife projects, in particular work that supports government policy on managing TB in badgers. This includes being involved in the design and delivery of research projects, managing large datasets and providing technical advice to Defra or Welsh Government in support of policy development.
In particular, the post-holder will play a key role in the delivery of an established study of badger ecology and TB at Woodchester Park. This includes collating and managing data collected over several years, data analysis, managing the logistics and budget of the project, collecting data in the field. The current programme of work is focused on analysis of trapping, GPS, contact network and disease status data relating to the long-term study population. You will be expected to lead on elements of these analyses with support from other scientists.
The job may also allow you to be involved in ongoing surveillance for other diseases in wildlife species. You will work within an integrated and dynamic team environment where several work programmes often require the sharing of resources or team skill sets, and so you will need to be adaptable and flexible to changing requirements.
+ Conduct analysis of demographic, behavioural and epidemiological data. You will be required to lead on specific work packages involving the analysis of complex data, and to draft related papers for publication and reports to policy customers.
+ Managing research projects, including an established study of badger movements and social behaviour using radio/GPS collars. This includes project planning, monitoring delivery against milestones, monitoring the budget, equipment procurement, co-ordinating staffing, landowner liaison, organising equipment and arranging logistics.
+ Provide practical support to research projects on TB in badgers, e.g. an on-going trap and release programme involving field-work and taking biological samples. Undertaking field work when required including surveying, radio-tracking and deploying wildlife cameras.
+ Lead on data collation and management for certain projects including responsibility for data on badger movements and contact behaviour. This involves developing expertise in programming collars and downloading data from them, collating data collected over several years, cleaning and extracting data for analysis and reporting.
+ Provide support to projects for policy customers (Defra and devolved administrations), requiring coordination of data collection by remote field teams, laboratory staff and external stakeholders, data checking, trouble shooting and subsequent reporting.
+ Support delivery of training within APHA and externally (e.g. to APHA vets or visiting students), in the field and in the classroom, as part of a training package on badgers and TB.
+ Be an adaptable team member, able to undertake a variety of other functions and tasks as required. These may be desk- or field-based, e.g. supporting wildlife biosecurity work or collection of biological samples from wildlife in support of a range of projects.
+ Undertake line management of staff., The interview will include questions about your experience and technical skills relevant to the role described.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Should you be successful at interview you will be required to undertake security checks including a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check. This includes: identity, employment status, nationality and immigration status, criminal records and any other essential pre-employment checks.
The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.
Depending on the areas of work involved you will be expected to have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment.
Periodic travel within the UK and EU may be required and this could include farm visits as part of ongoing research. The successful candidate may have to ensure that no contact is made with farmed animals for a period of 1-2 days or more before visiting livestock farms.
Out of hours work may be required (eg. for fieldwork) and Travel will be required to attend training courses and undertake field visits.
You must have a valid driving licence, or be able to call upon suitable alternate means of transport.
Staff may 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.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
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.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made., 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.
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.
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.
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.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
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+ Experience in the analysis of complex ecological/epidemiological data showing competence in applying a range of statistical techniques.
+ Experience of data management, eg. using bespoke databases to collate and manipulate data.
+ Experience of scientific project management including planning, monitoring delivery against milestones, monitoring a budget, organising logistics etc.
+ Good practical understanding of field-based wildlife research and/or management, and preferably some experience of handling animals in that context.
+ Willingness to undertake laboratory and field-work (on occasion away from base/home).
+ Experience of communicating technical and/or scientific knowledge to expert or laypersons.
+ Comfortable with both field and desk-based work as a large proportion of time will be office based.
+ Practical, with a flexible attitude and be able to adapt to changing priorities.
+ Computer-literate and proficient in a range of Microsoft Office applications (including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, Powerpoint)., Biology/ecology-related PhD or equivalent wildlife management/research experience.

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Some evidence of advanced skills in data handling, statistical analysis or GIS, eg. using software packages such as Microsoft Access, R or ArcGIS.
+ An understanding of vertebrate ecology, and of the principles and practice of wildlife management for disease control.
+ Ability to work effectively within a team, and ensure good relations with project stakeholders and customers.

Alongside your salary of £32,136, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £8,676 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and privilege days
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%, New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.