About the job

Job summary

High Containment and Biological Services operate within and supports the wider UKHSA mission to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards.  The Biological Services Group provides high containment in-vivo research services, with the primary aim of protecting the UK public from a range of health risks. Ongoing areas of work include vaccine batch release testing, influenza, COVID-19, tuberculosis, anthrax, and emerging human pathogens.

Based at one of the two unique Non-Human Primate (NHP) breeding colony facilities, the Colony Senior Technician will provide technical and supervisory expertise in a team responsible for the delivery of high standards of animal welfare within the Biological Services Group (BSG). Managing the day-to-day care of the animals and staff supervision are central to this role.  Situated near Salisbury, site access requirements stipulate that our employees must be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years.

This will be a Lab based role at our Porton Down Site (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

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties:

• Assist the Colony Team Leader to organise and deliver a high quality NHP scientific breeding colony and maintain safety across the colonies for both animals and staff in order to meet the business requirements of BSG.
• Working with the colony team in performing routine animal husbandry, actively encouraging the promotion of additional enrichment and care packages for the NHPs held at the colonies to promote the highest quality animal welfare.
• Providing support to the animal technicians in their day-to-day duties and acting as the key point of contact between animal technicians and BSG Project Team Leaders/ NVS as necessary.
• Carry out Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO) duties for specified areas of the BSG facility, in line with legislative requirements. Liaison with the Colonies Team Leader, Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS), Home Office Inspectors, Personal and Project Licence holders on any element of animal related issues. This will include the interpretation of health / welfare status in the context of Project Licence requirements, clear documentation and attendance at relevant meetings including AWERB meetings.
• Perform necropsy examination and removal of specified tissue as part of a specified study plan. To support the NVS in post-mortem examinations and surgical interventions when necessary.
• Act as study supervisor; taking responsibility for the effective delivery of specific packages of work performed within the facility, working within the study plan and legal frameworks.
• Conducting a variety of specialised experimental procedures under Home Office Licence, on NHPs in the colony adhering to agreed study plans.
• Participate in the preparation, including drafting elements where appropriate and review of relevant Standard Operating Procedures, Codes of Practice and Risk Assessments.
• Assist with the delivery of the supervision and specific training of colony staff in techniques necessary for the safe care of NHPs and conduct of studies using potential infectious agents as part of study programmes. Ensuring colony documentation is completed to a high standard in line with legal requirements and best practice.
• Take responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of the colony, including reporting faults, and of the colony team in line with the law, UKHSA policies, Codes of Practice, SOPs and other good practice and guidance.
• Responsible for maintaining adequate stocks of frequently used items and controlled drugs and the update of the associated usage log sheets.
• Perform all duties within guidelines laid down by the Home Office, Health and Safety Executive, Defra and MHRA.
• Take part in rota system for weekend and public holiday working and covering the “on-call” (24 hours/7days) rota as requested.

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.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 750 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the outlined criteria (please see attached job description for full list):

Essential

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
• IAT Membership, including HND in Animal Technology (or equivalent)
• Home Office Personal Licence holder and NACWO certification
• Study supervision i.e., taking responsibility for discrete packages of work to support research programmes in a safe manner.
• Detailed knowledge of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
• Skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend and appropriate course of action to address the issues
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Able to complete physical tasks, such as pressure washing, prioritising tasks and resources and work to deadlines.
• Willing to undertake UK security clearance and vaccinations as necessary
• Able to travel to work independently and be available to work at weekends/bank holidays

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 advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this in your statement of suitability (750 words max).   

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an in-person interview at our 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. 

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
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 25th of January 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 29th of January 2024

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality requirements

Site access requirements stipulate that our employees must be able to gain a high level of security clearance. This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. 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.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass an enhanced disclosure and barring security check.  Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is an enhanced security check. 

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.

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.