Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) Epidemiology Vet

Are you a veterinary epidemiologist looking to influence the future of bovine TB eradication in Wales?

Do you have the expertise to turn complex epidemiological data into actionable insights that shape national animal health policy?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

This is a unique opportunity to join a highly respected team at the forefront of disease surveillance, scientific analysis, and evidence-based policy development, working with Government, academia, stakeholder groups and industry partners to support the eradication of bovine TB in Wales.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (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 Wales Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) Epidemiology Team was formed in 2013 and supports the Welsh Government's bTB Eradication Programme through epidemiological analysis, disease investigation, surveillance reporting, and evidence-based policy support. Working closely with APHA colleagues, Aberystwyth University, Wales Technical Advisory Group and the Wales TB Programme Board. The team provides scientific input to inform bTB control and eradication strategies across Wales.

Wales Technical Advisory Group for bTB was set up in April 2024, to provide independent and strategic advice on bTB eradication in Wales. A bTB Programme Board for Wales was established in December 2024. Currently a significant proportion of the Wales bTB Epi Team’s workload is providing or supporting the provision of evidence requested by these groups.

Although this is primarily an epidemiology-based role, the postholder will be required to participate in an on-call rota and provide reasonable out-of-hours cover in line with business requirements.

Key responsibilities will be as follows:

Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) Epidemiology

• Leading epidemiological analysis and evidence generation to support bTB control and eradication in Wales
• Providing specialist veterinary and epidemiological advice to inform policy, disease control and operational decision-making
• Working with scientific partners and veterinary teams to enhance surveillance, analysis and the application of epidemiological evidence
• Regularly engaging with science colleagues at Aberystwyth University and Department of Epidemiological Sciences at Weybridge on how their analytical work can be further supported and be beneficial to use in Wales
• Communicating the outcomes of reports and analyses to policy customers, risk groups, BVA specialist divisions, private veterinary surgeons, APHA colleagues and others via direct communication and written documents

Disease Investigation and Field Support

• Supporting disease investigations and complex case management through evidence-based and informed decision-making
• Providing specialist advice, training and quality assurance to veterinary and technical colleagues
• Applying relevant legislation and policy to support compliance and effective disease control
• Coaching, mentoring and training colleagues in epidemiological investigation techniques, reporting standards and quality assurance

Stakeholder Engagement

• Building and maintaining effective relationships with policy customers, industry, academia and operational partners
• Communicating complex scientific and epidemiological information to a range of audiences
• Representing APHA at regional and national forums

Learning and Continuous Improvement

• Developing and maintaining competency in data manipulation and analysis using spreadsheet and code-based statistical software
• Maintaining professional veterinary and epidemiological expertise through Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Promoting continuous improvement through the development of guidance, learning materials and in line with best practice

Veterinary degree conferring eligibility to practice as a Member or Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV and complete a 750-word Personal Statement detailing your suitability for the role based on the bullet points within the Person Specification section of the advertisement above.

CV Guidance

Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements and your main responsibilities in each role and be no longer than 2 pages. Your CV will be used to provide further context on your Personal Statement but will not be scored.

Personal Statement Guidance

When completing your Personal Statement, please read and understand the Person Specification thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Please ensure you evidence the key personal qualities and experiences that align with the criteria. Consider the Job Description and look to demonstrate how your previous experience may align with the expectations and be applicable to the role. The written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. You are free to choose a layout that works best to display your experiences and suitability.

You will also be asked to provide a 250-word statements demonstrating how you meet the following Behaviour:

Communicating and Influencing

Further details around what this will entail can be found on the application form.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, there will be an initial sift assessing the Personal Statement. Those who pass the initial sift will be progressed either to a full sift or straight to interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strength questions.

The Behaviours are as follows:.

Communicating and Influencing

Seeing the big picture

Making effective decisions

Changing and Improving

The Behaviour, Communicating and Influencing will be assessed by presentation. Details of the presentation will be sent to you prior to the interview.

During the interview, your experience will be assessed through a question.

It is intended that the interview will take place via Teams.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk using the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’

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.

For most candidates your hours of work will be a blend of working from an APHA workplace (specific to the team location) with working at home.

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.

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 organisation allocations 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.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions within Defra Group which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Salary

New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

This post offers the successful candidate an additional pay supplement of £3,000 upon appointment (pro rata). The supplement is paid per annum and divided as monthly payments. In addition to this, there is a further pay supplement of up to £3,000 (pro rata) which may be offered based on an annual competency assessment.

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.

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.

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

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.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.