Fish Mortality and Disease Investigations Lead, National Fisheries Laboratory - 22998

We are seeking a Technical Officer to join the National Fisheries Laboratory in Brampton, Cambridgeshire.
You will be the operational lead for our national fish disease surveillance and investigations and will provide operational support to our national incident response advisor and technical specialists. You will play a key role in shaping our service to best protect fish, fisheries, and the environment.
You will advise area-based fisheries officers in their response to fish disease investigations, championing best practice, ensuring and driving national consistency, delivering training, providing tailored fisheries management advice and guidance, and strengthening outcomes to benefit fisheries.
You will have an active leadership role in the day-to-day co-ordination of fish disease incident response and investigations within the fish health team and be a point of contact for area-based fisheries teams. Delivering through others, you will manage, develop, and improve the service we provide.
Site visits may be required, with targeted attendance at fisheries to support investigations, communicate regulatory controls, improve technical resilience of colleagues, and integrate improved management practices to help fisheries recover. Laboratory experience would be beneficial but is not essential. Incidents can often be at short notice and will involve flexibility in working patterns.

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.
Primarily an office and laboratory 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.

An interest in and experience/knowledge of freshwater fisheries and the aquatic environment.
A background in either fisheries management, fish biology, fish health or incident response.
Self-motivated and organised with excellent attention to detail, problem solving and decision-making skills.
Able to prioritise demanding seasonal workloads, be comfortable working to tight deadlines, and have a pragmatic approach to achieving objectives.
As a large part of this role will be customer focused, you will be an excellent communicator, and should have strong influencing and inter-personal skills.
A strong team ethic, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

This permanent post will be office and laboratory based, situated within the National Fisheries Laboratory, Brampton, Cambridgeshire, but may require some external travel for meetings and occasional site visits as part of incident response. A full UK driving licence would be beneficial.
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 more information, please contact Emma Nolan emma.nolan@environment-agency.gov.uk

The successful candidate will be able to work efficiently and effectively under pressure and within tight deadlines, whilst ensuring that their work and that of others is of the highest standard. Motivating, coordinating, and getting the best out of colleagues will be essential in achieving results.
Please provide an example/s of when you have demonstrated this competency.

As day-to-day lead for disease investigations, you will liaise closely with National Fisheries Laboratory colleagues and Environment Agency area officers. You may also work directly with fishery owners/managers, other parts of the Environment Agency, partner organisations and academic institutions.
You will need to be able to give clear, concise and directional instruction relating to fish disease incidents, be able to adapt communication styles accordingly whilst also being conscious of the complex and emotive nature of the work.
Please provide an example/s of when you have demonstrated this competency.

You will be responsible for advising and influencing and engaging team members and area officers in relation to fish disease incident investigations. You will develop and maintain effective working relationships and take an active lead in sharing information related to disease investigations, management practices and regulatory controls. Due to the nature of seasonal workload pressures, strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence the actions of others will be required.
Please provide an example/s of when you have demonstrated this competency.

The team is responsible for operating a number of different laboratory areas and diagnostic disciplines, and we provide technical services on a range of subjects including fish disease and fisheries management. It is important that the successful applicant has an existing understanding or an interest in developing skills in relation to these areas, with knowledge of fish biology, fisheries management or fish disease being integral to this.
Please provide an example/s of how you have demonstrated this competency.