Technical and Scientific Officer, Histology Lead, National Fisheries Laboratory

1

East of England

Brampton

Brampton Office

Staff Grade 4

Permanent

Full Time

Environment & Sustainability, Operational Delivery, Science

£29,706

We are seeking a Grade 4 Technical and Scientific Officer to join the National Fisheries Laboratory in Brampton, Cambridgeshire, a high achieving national team that contributes to the protection and development of freshwater fisheries across England.
While the primary focus of this role will be related to the development and implementation of our histology service in support of fish disease diagnostic investigations, you will also work across range of other laboratory and core disciplines as necessary to ensure delivery of our services to area operational teams and external fishery customers.
You will manage our histology laboratory, from processing, training, quality control, interpretation, organisation and prioritisation of workloads, sample management, report writing and record keeping. You will be responsible for: overseeing the processing of samples, ensuring standards, the maintenance of equipment through service contracts, writing COSHH and Risk Assessments, maintaining laboratory supplies and more.
Other duties are likely to include fish dissection and the collection, management, and preparation of samples for analysis and processing across our laboratories, as well as reporting elements. You will actively embody the highest standards of health, safety, and wellbeing, in line with EA guidance

The National Fisheries Laboratory team act as a single point of expertise to identify, monitor and limit the impact of current and future threats to fisheries and the aquatic environment from fish disease, parasites, pathogens, non-native species and ageing.
A laboratory and office-based team, our work consists of the delivery of post-mortem and laboratory diagnostics (parasitology, bacteriology, histology, molecular, ageing) and the provision of technical advice and guidance to inform our regulation.

Experience working in laboratory teams, a scientific background, leading people or areas of work and management of a laboratory is essential. Knowledge of disease diagnostic principles, freshwater fish diseases and freshwater fisheries is preferable but not essential. Practical experience of histological processes would be beneficial in this role.
As the successful candidate, you will be self-motivated, inquisitive, organised with great team skills and excellent attention to detail. You should be able to prioritise demanding seasonal workloads, be comfortable working to tight deadlines, and have a clear pragmatic approach to achieving objectives. You will also be an excellent communicator and have strong influencing and inter-personal skills. A strong team ethic is essential, as is an ability to work independently as well as part of a highly motivated technical team.

This permanent post will be office and laboratory based, situated within the National Fisheries Laboratory, Brampton, Cambridgeshire. Occasional travel for meetings, events and site visits may be required.
The Environment Agency offers a generous employee offer, including access to a Local Government Pension scheme as well as a host of other employee benefits. For further information on this role, the employee benefits and work of the Environment Agency, please download the candidate pack.
If you have any other questions, please contact the hiring manager
Emma Nolan at emma.nolan@environment-agency.gov.uk