Job Description

Join us as an Assistant Proficiency Analyst and make an invaluable contribution to our Food Safety & Biosecurity!
The successful post holder will organise proficiency tests for analytical laboratories participating in Fapas programmes and is given responsibility for all aspects of their proficiency testing rounds. You will organise your own workload on a daily and weekly basis. You will receive comprehensive training and active support from your line manager and other members of the group to enable you to deliver.
What you'll be doing:

• Setting up and managing proficiency tests (PTs) using round management software.
• Ensuring the procurement of suitable proficiency test materials.
• Carrying out statistical evaluation of data.
• Quality checking of own and others work.
• Preparing proficiency testing final reports.
• Risk management and working to project milestones.
• Answering general enquiries from scheme participants and prospective participants.
• Assist in the generation of new reference material products.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues as well as ad hoc support to other members of PTG as required.

What we're looking for:

• You'll ideally have 5 GCSE's or equivalent including Maths & English.
• Practical IT experience, in particular Microsoft Packages such as Word and Excel
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions efficiently
• Flexible, adaptable and "can do" approach to work with attention to detail.
• The ability to work on a number of tasks at the same time and prioritise accordingly.
• Awareness of formal quality systems (e.g. ISO accreditation).
• Self-motivated and have an ability to develop good working relationships with colleagues and other team members
• Confident and effective communication.

What's in it for you?

• ?25 days' holiday (rising to 29) with the opportunity to buy & sell extra leave.
• Flexible working hours, on-site gym, restaurant, and free parking
• The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice
• Company matched pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks' fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks...and plenty more.
• Voluntary benefits designed to suit your lifestyle - from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel and technology
• Fera operates a LTIP ( Long Term Incentive Plan) under which all employees are awarded points towards shares in the Employee Benefits Trust on an annual basis. The Employee Benefits Trust holds shares on behalf of our employee, at the point of an equity event the shares will realise a cash value.

What we hope you'll do next:
Choose 'Apply now' to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you. If you have any questions you'd like to ask before applying, you can contact
We're an equal opportunity employer, which means we recruit and develop people based on their merit and passion. We're committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process and working environment for everyone. If you need the job description or application form in an alternative format or if you'd like to discuss other changes or support you might need going forward, please email at and we'll get back to you.
At Fera, we're making the world a better, healthier and safer place. We're a joint venture partnership between Bridgepoint and Defra and we're working proactively to protect the world we live in and the food we eat. Our teams are investigating plant and bee health, crop protection and sustainable agriculture. Join us and discover better as you deliver world-class science for the future.

Skills Required