About the job

Job summary

Human Genetic Services Supervisor

SEO National - £38,724 - £44,393 per annum

Based at UKHSA Porton Down – full-time on-site

Permanent Contract

ECACCs Human Genetic Services (HGS) operation offers a variety of products and services for life science researchers, such as DNA extraction, PBL preparation, and cell line generation.

We are looking for an HGS supervisor who will oversee all aspects of HGS operations, including products, services, and projects. The projects involve large scale studies on various diseases, such as Parkinson’s, childhood diabetes, and Motor Neurone Disease. The HGS supervisor will be responsible for receiving, processing, storing, and despatching samples from external sources, as well as ensuring compliance with the Human Tissue Act (HTA) and quality standards. The HGS supervisor will also use databases and LIMS systems to record and report on the activities and outcomes of HGS operations.

If you have experience in human genetic services, supervisory skills, and a keen interest in life science research, we would love to hear from you.

Location

Based at UKHSA Porton Down – due to the nature of the role, you will be expected to be based on-site on a full-time basis

 

*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

Job description

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

• Provide overarching day to day management for the work of HGS and NA team, ensuring all parts of the process are documented on electronic manufacturing records, this will include working in the HGS labs and NA labs.
• Generation of DNA for catalogue DNA orders.
• Generation of DNA for bespoke customer orders.
• Processing of blood (PBLs and DNA) for bespoke customer orders and projects.
• Ensure all relevant products adhere to the requirements of the HTA licence.
• Ensure all relevant projects have the correct ethical approval on place and have documented evidence of this.
• Ensure all databases are maintained and are accurate.
• Provide the ECACC operation lead with reports and KPI’s through interpretation analysis of data using software and databases.
• Ensure all samples stored in the biobank are correctly managed and depositors are updated on their stock levels.
• Complete monthly reports for depositors.
• Ensure the Business team are provided with timely information to support quarterly invoicing.
• Working with colleagues in Inventory, to ensure the safe storage of samples together with regular inventory checks as required for audit purposes.
• Take responsibility for provision of consumables and laboratory reagents for HGS and NA laboratories.
• Support the ECACC operation lead in identifying, evaluating and adaption of new technologies where appropriate to ensure HGS and NA groups meet high scientific and quality standards.
• Coordinate bloods on call weekend rota.
• Manage all customer enquires relating to samples, orders and any general communication.
• Achieve and maintain health and safety competence as a laboratory supervisor.

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 job description attached for full list of duties and competencies

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

• Degree or equivalent in biological sciences or >5 years laboratory experience in management of sample reception/biobanking.
• Experience with processing bloods and cells for DNA extraction.
• Experience in managing samples that need to comply with the Human Tissue Act
• Previously managed samples for clinical trials, research projects or commercial testing laboratories
• Evidence of presenting data in a number of presentations, and or reports
• Developing collaborations with internal/external partners

 

Desirable

• Experience working with databases and LIMS systems.
• Supporting the appropriation of new equipment, consumables, and resources to support laboratory receipt and day-day operation
• Experience assisting junior staff development through supervision and training
• Prior experience in working within a team involved in public health incident and responses

 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,724, UK Health Security Agency contributes £10,455 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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 in-person 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. 

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.

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on their technical experience and a blended interview against a mixture of Behaviours and Technical Skills elements of Success Profiles.

 

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others

 

Technical skills:

1. Laboratory research
2. Serology assay research, implementation, and development
3. Management of laboratories and testing
4. Supporting incident responses

 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 11th 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: 16th January 2024

Interviews:  23rd January 2024 onwards

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.