Associate Risk Analyst (ID4842)

Job summary

Are you interested in understanding diseases and their risk to the UK?

Would you like a role where you can apply your communication and problem-solving skills to help prevent the spread of infectious animal and plant diseases?

If so, we would like to hear from you! 

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.

This post offers the opportunity to build and develop expertise in risk assessment for animal and plant disease and food safety.

As an Associate Risk Analyst, you will learn to undertake literature reviews, data gathering and risk assessment to understand the likelihood and consequence of disease import and spread. Working independently and in teams with other risk analysts, you will apply your skills to inform policy and aid in controlling exotic notifiable diseases.

This post sits within the Biomathematics & Risk Research (BRR) Workgroup within the Department for Epidemiological Sciences (DES). BRR is a nationally & internationally recognised group of risk analysts, modellers and statisticians providing high-quality scientific evidence for policy formulation and outbreak response, as well as specialist support to research and operations in the area of animal and public health.

Job description

You will primarily be involved in developing qualitative risk assessments and supporting data collection for quantitative risk assessments. With appropriate training, you will work on projects for policy and trade, assessing the risk to animal health due to trade in various commodities. You will also work on research projects and reactive projects in response to perceived threats from incursions of pathogens relevant to livestock, pets and wildlife. This post provides an opportunity for an enthusiastic individual to gain a deep understanding of qualitative risk assessment, and some knowledge of quantitative risk assessment

The responsibilities of the Associate Risk Analyst will involve:

• Producing qualitative risk assessments and simple quantitative risk assessments
• Liaising with national and international disease and risk assessment experts in the veterinary and public health fields and colleagues within the APHA providing and collating data or information for use in current risk assessments and other mathematical modelling projects.
• Carrying out literature searches on specific pathogens and topics.
• Contributing to or leading on writing of project reports and scientific papers. Writing and giving scientific presentations where appropriate.
• Keeping up to date with developments in selected areas of the risk analysis discipline with relevance to animal health policy.
• Seeking opportunities to assist in the writing of project proposals to obtain funding.

Person specification

• A methodical approach to data collection with the capability to summarise large amounts of information into essential elements.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, including scientific writing skills, to be able to communicate with people at all levels.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team across different projects and to work independently.
• Ability to pay attention to detail to ensure that project reports and papers are of the highest quality.

Technical Skills:

• Competence with Microsoft office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Applying scientific and technical knowledge (Government Science & Engineering Professional Framework): Understands, applies and critically assesses relevant scientific and technical information with rigour and integrity. Able to communicate findings effectively.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have a degree in a quantitative or biological/disease-related subject.

Security clearance - Weybridge only

The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Government’s response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason all postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement to work at the Weybridge site where the team and work is situated.

Workplace arrangements

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.

The post holder must work from one of the locations listed in the Location section of the advert. Subject to office capacity, the specific location can be discussed during the interview process.

Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations for meetings for example. 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.

Ways of Working

Periodic travel within the UK and Europe may be required to attend training courses, conferences and scientific meetings. If not based at the Weybridge site, regular visits to the site will be required, (travel costs will be covered by the department). A valid full driving licence is necessary or access to an alternative means of transport.

Out of hours work may be required. When overtime or out-of-hours work is required, APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment.

Health Surveillance

The post will require Health clearance. You will be expected to complete a questionnaire on your general health. This will be arranged by the Health Team at Weybridge.

Behaviours

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

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

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

• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Applying scientific and technical knowledge. Understands, applies and critically assesses relevant scientific and technical information with rigour and integrity. Able to communicate findings effectively.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,715, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes

£8,608 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Benefits offered include:

• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities tailored to your role.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• Staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
• Three days special leave with pay, per year, for volunteering (pro-rata for part time employees).
• Making it work for you - With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances.

These are just a few of our benefits we offer. To find out the full range of what we offer refer to the Information Pack attached for more detail.

Learning and Development

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role. This can include a variety of courses, Apprenticeships, paid Masters and PhD and on-the-job training specific to your role.

In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Application Process

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 9th September 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours and after 2pm on the closing date of 9th September 2026.

While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.

It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.

Please note that online tests associated with this vacancy are not subject to time limits; for further information visit the Reasonable adjustments for online tests - a candidate guide

You will be directed to the Talogy - True Talent – Scheduled Maintenance Window Webpage for online tests during an outage.

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4pm and Midnight on Sunday 30th August 2026. You will be unable to access t