About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Lab Services Engineering Manager to join our Site Engineering and Security team and oversee the Compliance Integrity testing of our high-containment laboratories and safety cabinets. You will ensure that our labs meet the highest standards of safety and quality, in accordance with COSHH, ACDP, ISO 9001, British Standards, and other relevant regulations. You will also maintain all the necessary documentation for inspection and audit purposes.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Leading the maintenance, testing, support, and coordination of the Compliance Integrity testing of Microbiological Containment Level 3 and 4 Laboratory Safety Cabinets and Laboratory Filters
• Monitoring and evaluating the regulatory requirements and ensuring their alignment with our Compliance Integrity testing procedures
• Participating in team projects related to regulatory requirement development, compliance testing plan development, and test execution
• Completing all the Compliance Integrity testing reports and resolving any issues in a timely and effective manner
• Communicating proactively and professionally with internal and external stakeholders

 To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A degree in engineering, microbiology, or a related field
• Experience in working with high-containment laboratories and safety cabinets
• Knowledge of COSHH, ACDP, ISO 9001, British Standards, and other applicable regulations
• Excellent attention to detail, problem-solving, and analytical skills
• Strong communication, teamwork, and leadership skills

 

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:

• Ensuring that Compliance Testing reports are reviewed, completed effectively and in a timely manner
• Ensuring Compliance testing is carried out on schedule and any issues found are closed out in a timely manner, both adequately and effectively
• Ensuring that all Compliance Testing Reports are fed into Lab Shutdown reports in a timely manner
• Monitor and evaluate maintenance and improvement strategies of Lab safety cabinets and High Containment Labs
• Participate in team projects regarding regulatory requirement development, compliance testing plan development, and test execution
• Ensuring the High Containment Lab sealability testing is completed in a timely manner where necessary
• Developing and overseeing departmental compliance control systems to prevent or deal with violations of legal guidelines and internal policies
• Evaluate the efficiency of these controls and improve them continuously
• Collaborate closely with the Engineering Health and Safety Manager to revise procedures, reports, etc. to identify hidden risks or non-conformity issues within maintenance and engineering procedures in relation to compliance testing
• Prepare reports for senior management and external regulatory bodies where appropriate
• Assess the department’s future engineering and construction projects to identify possible compliance testing risks

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 associated with the post.

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 in Engineering, Engineering Management, or an equivalent qualification in the same, or similar qualification in Mechanics or another subject relevant to the role (NVQ /C&G or HNC/ONC)
• Relevant experience in a similar supervisory/support role
• Proven track record of a career in an engineering field
• Engineering experience in rotating, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation discipline, and an understanding of equipment and dominant failures for this discipline
• Sound experience in Reliability/Maintenance engineering
• A first-class advocate and communicator, excellent facilitation and IT skills (like Excel and Word), with a strong focus on Production, Technical Integrity, and Cost

 Desirable

• Knowledge of Microbiological Containment Level 3 and 4 Laboratories Engineering and Operations
• Knowledge of Compliance Integrity Testing to COSHH Regulations and ACDP guidelines including DOP & Biological testing and Sealability
• Good knowledge of methodologies RCM, FMEA, PMO and CBM

 Please ensure that your statement of suitability does not contain any personal identifiers such as Name, Gender, Location, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation or Religion. The UKHSA operates a fair and open recruitment policy.

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. 

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:

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 9th June 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: TBC

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

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.