About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Biosecurity Manager to join our Culture Collections department. You will be the go-to person for all biosecurity and dispatch matters, ensuring the safe and compliant handling and delivery of restricted products. You will also manage the inventory and stock of these products within our collections.

The Culture Collections is a Biological Resource Centre that provides a service maintaining and supplying strains of cultured cells and microorganisms for public health research.  It is structured as a fully integrated service, underpinning science with significant scientific, manufacturing and business activities and operates from laboratories across UKHSA  and from a specialist cryo-storage facility on the Porton site

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A high level of expertise and knowledge in biosecurity and dispatch issues, protocols and regulations
• A certification in IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
• Experience in working with a variety of international dispatches and applying the relevant regulatory requirements
• Excellent communication and organisational skills

Location

This will be a lab-based role located at UKHSA Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Job description

The postholder will primarily be responsible for organising the day-to-day dispatch of restricted products including but not limited to; booking couriers, applying for export licences for strains listed under the UK Strategic Export Control Lists, collecting and packing goods, organising the appropriate paperwork and liaising with the internal and external customers.

As the Biosecurity Manager your main responsibilities will include:

• Manage the complex day-to-day functions of dispatching restricted Culture Collections products.
• Maintain relevant and appropriate knowledge in all aspects of biosecurity and to represent culture collections at all relevant meetings and committees.
• Manage and support junior staff in all their activities and ensure they are adequately trained in all operational process’s requirements.
• To be responsible for maintaining the inventory control of transactable restricted products within 237A.
• To be responsible for maintain the inventory for strains listed under the Special Animal Pathogens Order within 237A.
• To ensure that the inventory is maintained in a compliant state and stock is stored to appropriate regulatory standards.
• To be reasonable for carrying out audit and inspections around the transactable restricted products (SAPO agents, Schedule 5 agents; Hazard Group 3 agents).
• To be responsible for performing annual stock checks of transactable restricted products.
• Undertake all work in accordance with PHE Codes of Safety Practice, Quality System and all other regulatory requirements.
• To manage staff involved in the dispatch to restricted products.
• Follow all Procedures, Policies, Rules, Regulations and Guidelines for all activities to ensure products meet the required standard.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Please see job description attached for full list of duties and competencies.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1200 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential

• Suitable NVQ 6 or equivalent work experience through demonstrable employment history in relevant field
• IATA certification
• Experience in a dispatch/stores environment
• Experience of a customer-based work environment
• Knowledge and experience of managing and shipping of bacterial and viral strains which are regulated by the Special Animal Pathogens Order
• Evidence of working at Containment Level 3 laboratory

Desirable

• Educated to degree level or suitable equivalent
• Experience of shipping restricted pathogens
• Experience of organising and managing complex inventories
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word and Excel

Benefits

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve a face-to-face interview. 

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. 

Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 5-minute presentation to the panel.  This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment.  The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role.  Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:

• Changing and improving
• Making effective decisions
• Leading and communicating
• Achieving commercial outcomes
• Managing a quality service

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 4th February 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: 9th February 2024

Interviews: w/c 19th February 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

 

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.  Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.