The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera)
Job Description
Introduction
The Food and Environment Research Agency’s over arching purpose is to support and develop a
sustainable food chain, a healthy natural environment, and to protect the global community from
biological and chemical risks. Our role within that is to provide robust evidence, rigorous analysis and
professional advice to Government, international organisations and the private sector.
Post details
Job title:
Research Co-ordinator
CSP ref:
4007
Closing date:
13 June 2014
Band:
5
Location:
Sand Hutton
Status:
Permanent
This vacancy is within National Bee Unit, which is part of the Fera Inspectorates Programme. Bee
Health is a Defra responsibility supported by the National Bee Unit and it’s Fera based Bees
Inspectorate.
The National Bee Unit (NBU) comprises specialists concerned with all aspects of the husbandry and
protection of bees in the UK. This covers:
 Support to policy groups within the Defra Plant Health Division, Welsh Assembly Government,
Department for the Environment, Planning and the Countryside, and the Veterinary Medicines
Directorate.
 Provision of advice and training for the beekeeping industry.
 Research and development on matters concerning the health and husbandry of bees.
 The inspection of colonies for bee diseases and diagnosis of suspect diseased hive samples as
well as investigation of poisoning of bees by pesticides.
 The inspection of colonies for exotic bee pests and diagnosis of suspect hive samples
 Services for tests of the toxicity of chemicals to bees and involvement in the development of new
protocols for testing.
 Services for the beekeeping industry and appliance manufacturers, e.g. testing potential veterinary
medicines.
All of the work of NBU staff directly contributes to and builds upon the 5 elements of the Defra and
Welsh Government 10-year Healthy Bees Plan policy:
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To keep pests, diseases and other hazards to the lowest levels achievable;
To promote good standards of husbandry to minimise pest and diseases risks and
contribute to sustaining honey bee populations – prevention is better than cure;
To encourage effective biosecurity to minimise risks from pests, diseases and
undesirable species;
To ensure that sound science underpins bee health policy and its implementation; and
To get everyone to work together on bee health.
Organisation Chart
Head of
National Bee Unit
National Bee
Inspector
Science
coordinator
Regional Bee
Inspectors
NBU Office
Manager/ BeeBase
Co-ordinator
Seasonal Bee
Inspectors
Head of Science
(Sustainable
Agriculture)
Research coordinator
Vacancy
Laboratory
Manager
Technical
Advisor &
Admin support
Research
Scientists
2 posts
Principal
Apiarist
Administration
assistants
2 posts
Laboratory
Technicians
2 posts
Student
Interns
2 posts
Apiary
Technician
Student
Beekeepers
2 posts
PhD
Student(s)
Purpose of job
To provide research, development and advisory expertise to a variety of research projects in support
of the National Bee Unit (NBU) activities supporting UK bee health.
The post holder will:
• Coordinate all laboratory and field activities that underpin the research portfolio of the National Bee
Unit: plan, organise, supervise, conduct and interpret field and laboratory research and development
studies in support of the statutory and research work conducted by the National Bee Unit.
• Manage and deliver existing research contracts and report progress to the Head of the National
Bee Unit and the Head of Science.
• Prepare concept notes and grant applications to request funding from appropriate calls as they
become apparent.
• Engage with academic and applied institutes, at national and international levels, to extend NBU
science to the benefit of UK bee health.
• Transfer knowledge from the R&D programme to a wide range of end users including scientists,
beekeepers, policy representatives, industrial partners and Fera colleagues in the form of talks, project
reports, grey literature articles and peer-reviewed scientific papers.
• Provide impartial and quality advice in support of the Healthy Bees Plan on the key issues in
support of the programme objectives including disease control programmes and exotic pest
contingencies.
• To assist with training for and supervising visiting workers and students.
• Act as an effective ambassador for Fera when conducting business with Policy divisions, the public
and commercial customers.
Benefits of working at The Food and Environment Research Agency
The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) offers an attractive benefits and salary package.
This includes a minimum of 25 days leave plus 8 bank holidays an additional day off for the Queen’s
Birthday, generous maternity and paternity entitlements, flexible working hours and a pension
package.
Starting salaries depend on the skills, experience and qualifications that you bring to the post.
The following are some of the benefits that our employees enjoy:
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Competitive salaries.
Pension: A choice of a Civil Service defined benefit scheme or stakeholder defined contribution
arrangement.
25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days with five years service. A further eight days of Bank
Holidays and an additional day off for the Queen’s Birthday.
Generous maternity and paternity leave
Salary sacrifice: childcare vouchers and cycle to work scheme.
On-site nursery (Sand Hutton, York site only).
Learning and development opportunities.
Flexible working practices.
Flexible working patterns: Fera encourages flexible working patterns, such as part time, job share,
term time working and working from home where appropriate.
Subsidised staff restaurant: There is a subsidised staff restaurant serving high quality breakfast,
snacks and lunches on the Sand Hutton site.
Welfare and Health & Wellbeing service.
Subsidised Sports and Social Club, including on site gym (Sand Hutton, York site only).
An extensive Information Centre (Sand Hutton, York site only).
For more detailed information on the Fera benefits package, please see information pack provided or
visit our website.
Research Co-ordinator (Band 5), Person specification
Shortlist criteria
Essential
Desirable
How assessed
Education and qualifications
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Relevant research or
teaching at a high level.
Formal project management
qualification.
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Application
Form/Interview/References
Writing research
proposals/grant applications
Experience and grounding in
apiculture and pollinator
ecology, including knowledge
of the UK beekeeping
industry.
Producing grey literature
publications e.g. industry
journals
Working within formal Quality
Systems, eg ISO and GLP

Application
Form/Interview/References
PhD in apiculture or related
scientific discipline. These
include entomology, insect
pathology, microbiology
molecular biology or
pollination ecology.
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Or
 A degree in one of the above
named disciplines.
 Candidates without this level
of qualifications will need to
demonstrate relevant
experience.
Experience
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Proven track record in writing
project reports and peerreviewed scientific papers.
Demonstrable oral
communication skills
including an experience of
presenting information
effectively to a wide range of
audiences from scientists to
lay persons. .
Proven ability to manage
research projects.
Experience of organising,
prioritising and meeting of
work to tight dead-lines.
Experience of supervising
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Knowledge/key skills
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Competencies
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visiting workers and/or
students or line management
experience.
Working in both a team
environment and
independently.
Demonstrable interpersonal
skills and aptitude for
consultancy and teamworking.
Self-motivated and the ability
to work unsupervised
Flexible approach to working
in a busy and often varied
work environment
Be able interpret the facts
accurately, concisely and in
a balanced manner.
The ability to deal
successfully with politically
sensitive issues such as
disease control and
enforcement under the
legislation, and to deal
diplomatically and tactfully
with a wide range of people.
Excellent planning and
organisational skills.
Setting Direction: Seeing the
Big Picture and Making
Effective Decisions
Engaging People: Leading
and Communicating and
Collaborating and Partnering
Delivering results: Delivering
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An in depth knowledge of
bee diseases and their
control including exotic bee
pests.
GIS and spatial analysis
skills
Knowledge of the application
of import risk analysis
Statistical analysis of
datasets

Application
Form/Interview/References
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Application
Form/Interview/References
at Pace
Additional requirements
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There will be a requirement for occasional short duration work
away from the NBU, York for project meetings and conferences.
You must hold a valid driving licence or be able to call upon
alternative means of transport.

Application
Form/Interview/References
Level 3, Band 5 Competency Profile
The Civil service Competency Framework outlines ten competencies which are grouped into three clusters. Below are the three clusters,
competencies and some behaviours and skills of particular importance to the role.
Cluster
Competency
How assessed
Setting
Direction
Seeing the Big Picture
 Be alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit own and
team’s work
 Develop an understanding of own area’s strategy and how this contributes to
Departmental priorities
 Ensure own area/team activities are aligned to Departmental priorities
 Actively seek out and share experience to develop understanding and
knowledge of own work and of team’s business area
 Seek to understand how the services, activities and strategies in the area work
together to create value for the customer/end user
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Application
Form/Interview
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Application
Form/Interview
Making Effective Decisions
 Make decisions when they are needed, even if they prove difficult or unpopular
 Identify a range of relevant and credible information sources and recognise the
need to collect new data when necessary from internal and external sources
 Recognise patterns and trends in a wide range of evidence/data and draw key
conclusions
 Explore different options outlining costs, benefits, risks and potential responses
to each
 Recognise scope of own authority for decision making and empower team
members to make decisions
 Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making to help
build engagement and present robust recommendations
Engaging
People
Leading and Communicating
 Take opportunities to regularly communicate and interact with staff, helping to
clarify goals and activities and the links between these and Departmental
strategy
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Recognise, respect and reward the contribution and achievements of others
Communicate in a succinct, engaging manner and stand ground when needed
Communicate using appropriate styles, methods and timing, including digital
channels, to maximise understanding and impact
 Promote the work of the Department and play an active part in supporting the
Civil Service values and culture
 Convey enthusiasm and energy about their work and encourage others to do the
same
Collaborating and Partnering
 Establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of
business outcomes
 Invest time to generate a common focus and genuine team spirit
 Actively seek input from a diverse range of people
 Readily share resources to support higher priority work, showing pragmatism
and support for the shared goals of the organisation
 Deal with conflict in a prompt, calm and constructive manner
 Encourage collaborative team working within own team and across the
Department
Delivering
Results
Delivering at Pace
 Successfully manage, support and stretch self and team to deliver agreed goals
and objectives
 Show a positive approach in keeping their own and the team’s efforts focused on
the goals that really matter
 Take responsibility for delivering expected outcomes on time and to standard,
giving credit to teams and individuals as appropriate
 Plan ahead but reassess workloads and priorities if situations change or people
are facing conflicting demands
 Regularly monitor own and team’s work against milestones or targets and act
promptly to keep work on track and maintain performance
 Coach and support others to set and achieve challenging goals for themselves
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Application
Form/Interview
For full details please refer to the full Civil Service competency framework which can be located at
www.fera.defra.gov.uk/careers/ or by contacting the Fera HR Team.