About the job

Job summary

The Culture Collections Department operates a Biological Resource Centre that acquires, maintains, and distributes cultured human and animal cells, as well as microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, and fungi) for public health research and diagnostic testing.

Primarily located at Porton Down, this department comprises approximately 80 staff members who engage in diverse activities. Within this context, the European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC) stands out, featuring over 2000 authenticated cell lines together with associated QC testing services. The ECACC Cell Banking supervisor oversees all aspects of ECACC cell banking, from lab-based cell culture duties to staff supervision, reporting to senior management, and ensuring adherence to quality and safety procedures.

This role will be based at UKHSA Porton Down (Manor Farm Road, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG)

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

Working Pattern – Full Time, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working

Job description

• Plan, implement and utilise a range of methods and techniques in support of all activities associated within the operation of ECACC to ensure cell banking and quality control targets are met.
• Provide overarching day-to-day management for the work of the ECACC cell banking team, ensuring all parts of the processes are documented on either the electronic manufacturing batch record or paper records. This will include working in the cell banking labs performing cell banking, including stem cells.
• Take responsibility for the provision of laboratory reagents and consumables required for ECACC
• Support the ECACC Operations Lead in in identifying, evaluating and adapting new technologies where appropriate and to ensure that the ECACC operations meet high scientific and quality standards
• Co-ordinate staff training and ensure adequate supervision for junior staff
• Provide the ECACC Operational Lead with reports and KPIs through the interpretation and analysis of data using software and databases as necessary
• Assist in the organisation and participate in external training courses provided by Culture Collections
• Define training needs and design training programmes to improve safety and performance and document the training delivered
• Ensure that the team undertakes work in accordance with Work within UKHSA and Laboratory policies, codes of practice and guidelines and proactively promote excellent safety practice within the ECACC Operational Team
• Work within relevant departmental and UKHSA Quality Systems
• Achieve and maintain health and safety competence as a laboratory supervisor, in line with UKHSA policies and guidance
• Comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures and maintain up to date trading records
• Fulfil the requirements of UKHSA Values and Behaviours: ‘Health, Safety and Wellbeing’ commensurate with grade
• Perform any other duties required by the line manager commensurate with grade

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 review the Job Description for more detailed list of responsibilities.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 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

• Educated to degree level in a relevant life science subject with several years relevant postgraduate experience.
• Good knowledge and practical familiarity with cell culture techniques.
• Good understanding and experience of safe working practices
• Previous experience in training cell culture staff
• Several years’ experience in area relevant to cell banking
• Experience of working within a regulated environment (e.g. ISO9001)
• Experience of managing a team
• Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to a broad range of stakeholders as required
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to analyze very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources.

Please review the Job Description for full list of criteria.

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 an interview held at our UKHSA Porton Down site.

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 10-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.

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.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 6th of May 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: From the 7th of May 2024

Interviews: TBC

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)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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.