Senior Scientific Officer in the Biologicals Team

About the VMD

The VMD is the regulatory and policy lead responsible for issues concerning the authorisation, use, and manufacture of veterinary medicines in the UK.

Our aim is to protect public health, animal health, and the environment, and promote animal welfare by assuring the safety, quality and effectiveness of veterinary medicines.

Find out more at: About us - Veterinary Medicines Directorate - GOV.UK

About the Job

These exciting and interesting roles put you at the heart of the important work of the VMD’s Biologicals Section and the authorisation in the UK of biological/immunological veterinary products, including vaccines and novel therapy veterinary medicinal products.

Your primary role will be to assess the quality, safety and efficacy data submitted by pharmaceutical companies in support of their applications of marketing authorisations for biological/immunological veterinary medicinal products. These applications will include complex variations to existing marketing authorisations and sections of applications for new marketing authorisations. You will also support other scientists and veterinarians in the assessment of more complex applications.

You will work within a peer-reviewed environment and contribute to ensure that the applications are determined in accordance with the defined targets, contributing to the VMD meeting its published standards. Your work will also play a major role in helping to ensure the continuing quality, safety and efficacy of veterinary medicines.

The VMD is a leading regulator of veterinary medicines and has an active international profile. Your work will support the VMD’s aim to protect public health, animal health, and the environment and promote animal welfare by assuring the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines.

You will be responsible for:

• assessment of quality, safety and efficacy data of applications for variations to existing marketing authorisations for biological/immunological veterinary medicines, including novel therapy veterinary medicinal products.
• assessment of sections of quality, safety and efficacy data of applications for new marketing authorisations for biological/immunological veterinary medicines in collaboration with the lead assessor.
• contributing to other application activities of the Biologicals Section including batch release of immunological veterinary medicinal products.
• control of Biologicals Section Quality Management System (QMS).

Your main duties will be :

• scientifically assess quality, safety and efficacy data submitted by marketing authorisation holders in support of applications for variations (primarily complex Type II variations) to current marketing authorisations in line with legislative timelines and relevant guidance documents.
• scientifically assess sections of quality, safety and efficacy data of applications for new marketing authorisations in line with legislative timelines and relevant guidance documents, in collaboration with the lead assessor.
• undertake a detailed evaluation of the data and in liaison with senior assessors in the Biologicals Team to formulate recommendations to accept or refuse the applications based on the benefits and risks you identify during the assessment. prepare written assessment reports.
• communicate your assessments clearly to internal decision-making groups – to enable them to decide whether the data satisfy regulatory requirements and to decide on a course of action.
• advise applicants on technical and regulatory aspects of potential and ongoing applications.
• deal with enquiries and represent the Biologicals Section at meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• undertake lead role in batch release activities for immunological veterinary medicinal products, supporting peers and junior assessors.
• contribute to capability within the Biologicals Section through provision of relevant training to peers and in the development of junior assessors.
• peer review of assessment reports prepared by junior assessors.
• control documents of the Biologicals Team Quality Management Systems (QMS), act as QMS representative for the Team and participate in internal and external audits and ensure team reference documents are up to date.
• maintain awareness of current developments and legislation affecting biological/immunological veterinary medicinal products.
• participate in 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) initiatives at National and International level.
• comply with ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 27001 (information security) standards, and GDPR and Information management requirements.
• act corporately – meeting, role-modelling, embedding, and championing the corporate objectives set by the VMD.

Though these are not part of your main duties, we may also ask you to:

• line manage, supervise and develop Higher Scientific Officers within the Biologicals Section.
• contribute to development and revision of scientific and regulatory guidelines.
• contribute to the delivery of the VMD International Strategy (which may involve foreign travel).
• contribute to the VMD Regulatory Science Strategy.
• contribute to work to ensure the continued availability of veterinary vaccines.
• contribute to assessment of applications for manufacturing authorisations for inactivated autogenous vaccines
• contribute to assessment of applications for Animal Test Certificates to conduct clinical field trials.

You must have a degree in microbiology, immunology or other relevant biological or science-based discipline.

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 and Experience.

Further information about success profiles with guidance on how to complete your application form is available here - About the application process , Civil Service Careers

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be assessed on your experience and will be asked to complete:

• A CV. This should include your job history, qualifications, skills and experience.
• A 500-word personal statement: "Referring to the 'Job Description' and 'Person specification' sections of the job advert, please demonstrate how you are suitable for the role by providing relevant examples."

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Success Profiles: Experience - GOV.UK

• You will also be asked to give examples of behaviours, which is one element of success profiles - Behaviours , Civil Service Careers When giving examples of behaviours, please use the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) format – see A brief guide to competencies - GOV.UK

For further guidance and information on how to complete your application CV application, Personal Statement, and Behaviours, you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website About the application process , Civil Service Careers

Sift

Scoring for all criteria for 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, if so an initial sift will be conducted using the CV and Personal Statement . Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview. 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.

Interview

If successful at the application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on experience, behaviours and presentation.

For experience, we will ask you to tell us – in your own words – about your relevant experience against the requirements set out in the job advert. You are asked to keep this to 10 minutes.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the interview process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

When giving examples of behaviours, please use the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) format – see A brief guide to competencies - GOV.UK

Presentation : If selected for interview we will require you to make a short presentation. The details will be provided to candidates who progress through the sift.

Sift and Interview dates

The sift will be conducted week commencing 21 September 2026.

Interviews are currently scheduled to take place in person at the VMD the week commencing 19 October 2026.

Please note, this timeline is indicative at this stage and could be subject to change.

You cannot claim back any expenses incurred during the recruitment process.

Contract

This role isn’t suited to a home-working contract.

Salary

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

If you are new to the civil service, or coming back into the civil service, you will start on the advertised starting salary. You must be in post by 1st April to qualify for that year’s pay rise.

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Working Pattern

This is a full-time post. It may be possible for individuals to fill these roles on an 80% FTE basis, but no less due to the tight time constraints of the work commitments.

Job shares could be possible, although a degree of flexibility would be required so that the job holder(s) could take full responsibility for all aspects of their own work, including attendance at relevant meetings. For a job share to be considered, there must be two people who are successful at interview who want to work in this way.

Location and travel

This role will be contractually based at the VMD in Weybridge, KT15 3LS. This is a fixed location; the VMD does not use hubs located elsewhere in the UK.

You will be expected to spend at least 60% of your working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Organisation workplace includes the VMD office as well as time spent at other locations for meetings, conferences, and field-based activities. 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 will be required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location unless they have permission to do so.

Residency Requirements and security vetting

All posts require the successful candidate to hold Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance. Job offers are based on merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer. Candidates will need to meet the residency requirements of residing in the UK for 3 years prior to the CTC application being submitted.

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 in Defra which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Passport

You must have a valid passport

International work forms part of this role. Therefore, the successful candidate should be prepared to travel overseas if necessary.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to VMD 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.

Please note tests on this vacancy are timed, therefore if due to the need for a reasonable adjustment such as additional time is required please contact us as below.

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.

NSV

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

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

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