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Risk Modeller x 2

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)

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Weymouth, UK

Posted 6+ months ago

Location

This vacancy is based at our site in Weymouth.

About the job

Job summary

The Epidemiology and Risk Modelling team at Cefas is an internationally recognised group of risk analysts, modellers and epidemiologists providing high quality scientific evidence for policy formulation and outbreak response. The team provides modelling and quantitative risk assessment expertise to identify, manage, and control incidents and outbreaks of endemic and exotic aquatic diseases and pests, as well as non-native species incursions. We provide unique capabilities and an evidence base for UK government, alongside international reference centre responsibilities. We are committed to ensuring the sustainability and safety of aquatic ecosystems and are seeking 2 highly skilled and motivated individuals to join our team developing risk management strategies. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with national and international scientists, stakeholders, and policymakers to design, develop, and lead quantitative and qualitative risk assessment projects. This post presents an opportunity for a self-motivated individual, with excellent leadership, communication, and modelling skills.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

See us here: Welcome to Cefas (youtube.com).

Job description

Your main duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Develop and apply appropriate qualitative or quantitative risk assessment techniques and mathematical models for national and international risk of aquatic animal disease and non-native species incursion.
Lead and deliver research projects on modelling infectious disease outbreaks, evaluating ecosystem impacts, and assessing potential impacts of climate change on species and disease prevalence.
Contribute to qualitative and quantitative risk assessment for policy and trade negotiations as well as outbreak and incursion investigations. You will analyse data, interpret results to assess risks, and communicate findings through reports, presentations, and publications leading to actionable recommendations. You will disseminate our science by authoring high-impact reports, and articles in peer-reviewed journals, whilst promoting our science by representing Cefas at national and international meetings and conferences.
Stay current with advancements in risk modelling methodologies and will be encouraged to participate in professional development and training programs. Ensure risk assessment performed is at the forefront of methodological developments, particularly within the epidemiological and aquatic animal fields. Leading project proposals to attract funding from Defra, EU, UKRI and commercial customers. You will strengthen our network of expert collaborators in modelling and risk assessment across the UK and Europe.
Ensure the delivery of projects, advise policymakers on the results of these projects, and offer consultancy across national and international levels.

In addition, Cefas reserves the right to ask staff to take on additional duties and responsibilities which are commensurate with their grade. Team Leaders and management will have a discussion with staff to explain the changes that are to be made. A new job description will be issued if required.

Person specification

The following are essential criteria required for this role and you must be able to demonstrate your skills and experience in the following areas:

Strong background in mathematical modelling and statistical analysis, including use of at least one coding language, such as R or Python.
Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and policies related to animal health in aquatic environments.
Established reputation in infectious disease modelling and/or risk assessment, as demonstrated through a publication record in international journals.
Knowledge of ecological, statistical, and/or computational modelling approaches.
Development of risk management strategies and policies including qualitative risk assessments required for outbreak, incursion, or trade negotiations.
Expert knowledge and ability to advise decision-makers on risk models and offer consultancy on risk assessment.
Experience in writing successful funding applications.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Postgraduate degree in Mathematics or Biological science focussed on modelling and statistical analysis, or ability to demonstrate meeting all of the essential criteria as listed within this person specification section.

Behaviours

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

Communicating and Influencing
Managing a Quality Service
Developing Self and Others
Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Select and perform quantitative and qualitative statistical analyses for complex data, including time series, repeated measurements, and model prediction outputs.
Develop, code and oversee coding of models within R, or another coding language.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,150, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science contributes £10,571 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Generous annual leave entitlement – Cefas offers 25 days' annual leave on entry (rising to 30 days over first 5yrs) for full-time new entrants to the Civil Service. Employees receive 8 public holidays a year, plus an additional day to mark the King's birthday.
Access to learning and development tailored to your role.
A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options.
A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
Eligible to join the Civil Service Pension scheme – more information can be found on the CSP website http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/
Staff recognition vouchers.
In-year award scheme.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

Application Process

As part of the application process you are asked to provide a CV (job history, qualifications, past skills and experience), a 750-word Personal Statement on how you meet the essential criteria as stated in the person specification section, and a 250-word statement on how you meet the advertised lead behaviour – Communicating and Influencing.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

For guidance on Civil Service Success Profiles, this video tells you what you’ll need to provide throughout the assessment process with supporting guidance on each step. Link – Success Profiles (opens in a new window)
For guidance on how to construct your CV, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link - CV
For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Statement
For guidance on how to construct your lead behaviour statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Behaviours

Sift

The sift panel will use the information in your CV and Personal Statement to assess your experience and how you meet the essential criteria as stated in the person specification section. The sift panel will also assess the lead behaviour statement – Communicating and Influencing.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour – Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or, progressed straight to assessment/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 the four advertised behaviours, two advertised technical skills, your experience (as stated in the person specification section). You may also be asked to prepare a presentation or undertake an exercise. If this is the case, you will receive further information with your invitation to interview.

Please be aware that interviews will take place in person at the Weymouth laboratory.

If scores are equal following interview, an assessment of the lead behaviour – Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour), will be used by the panel.

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.

Please be aware that this role will be contractually based at Weymouth.

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Salary

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

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.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name : Cefas Resourcing Team
Email : resourcing@cefas.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact:
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/ to visit Civil Service Commission.

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