About the job

Job summary

Principal Toxicologist – International Regulation

Grade 7 Outer London - £53,812 - £63,252 per annum

UKHSA Chilton, Oxfordshire – Hybrid working possible.

Permanent Contract

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is seeking a highly skilled and experienced toxicologist to lead a  junior toxicologist. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing evidence-based advice in toxicology, chemical hazard assessment, and human health risk assessment. They will be expected to demonstrate autonomy and present UKHSA views authoritatively.

The post holder will provide and contribute to the toxicology and public health input to international chemical regulation programmes, specifically the OECD Test Guidelines programme, and related OECD work. They will collaborate with leading senior scientists in UKHSA, across UK government and associated agencies, to ensure the standard of oversight and UK contributions to the Test Guideline and other regulatory programmes is maintained and developed. They will also collaborate extensively with international OECD partners and develop strong links with international chemical regulatory stakeholders and key universities undertaking regulatory relevant toxicological research.

The post holder will contribute to, review, and coordinate reviews on OECD Test Guideline Programme (WNT) and Working Party on Hazard Assessment (WPHA) Programme projects. They will publish research findings in leading journals in both a lead and senior author capacity, and also collaborate on OECD publications.

The post holder will represent UKHSA at national and international scientific meetings and present the views of UKHSA at high-level government meetings. They will be expected to travel nationally and internationally to attend meetings and conferences as required.

The post holder will support and deputise for the UK Human Health National Coordinator for the OECD Chemical Testing Programme and for the Head of Group as required and will coordinate for the WPHA.

Based at UKHSA Chilton, Oxfordshire – Hybrid working available.

*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, Flexible Working, Hybrid Working,

Job description

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

Acting as the UKHSA point of reference for authoritative advice in specific areas of toxicology, specifically:

• Develop and provide expert scientific advice on testing strategies for human health hazard assessment of chemicals.
• Collaborate with senior government officials and officials in national and international bodies in particular the OECD, in the analysis and interpretation of complex scientific data in a specific area and in the provision of advice.
• Represent UKHSA at a national and international level, providing advice with respect to chemical hazards protection policy and standards, and their implementation in practice.
• Collaborating to facilitate the necessary Research and Development to underpin UKHSA’s capability to provide advice.
• Undertaking Peer Reviews of draft publications prepared by outside individuals, as required by journals and the OECD.

 

Using specialist knowledge and expertise acquired over a significant period of time working in toxicology, including a sound knowledge of (inter)national legislative requirements etc to:

• Provide highly specialised advice and communicate highly complex information on often highly contentious problems– such as management of risk, and working within challenging environments where people hold strong opposing views, such as scientific meetings, meetings with policy leads, public meetings, international governmental level meetings etc.
• Liaise between agencies, organisations and individuals involved in the management of both chemical issues and associated health hazards
• Facilitate the initiation and delivery of projects and contracts in the chemical regulatory space. Seeking external funding for projects undertaken by the Group and contributing directly to the work and leading these where appropriate.
• Ensure the work of the Group is undertaken with appropriate quality.
• Communicate the Groups scientific work in peer reviewed journals, at conferences as well as within UKHSA and relevant OECD publications.

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 responsibilities.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1500 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

 

Essential

• Relevant PhD and/or equivalent detailed specialist knowledge
• Expert detailed specialist knowledge of toxicology, in particular chemical regulation, biological effects of chemicals, human health risk assessment
• Scientific insight, originality and creativity to develop future work strategies, interpretation of complex data sets and development of advice
• Substantial peer reviewed publications
• Staff and Project Management Experience
• Negotiation skills – international in particular

Desirable

• Member of a Professional body - such as British Toxicology Society or inclusion in UK Register of Toxicologists
• International regulatory experience

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,812, UK Health Security Agency contributes £14,529 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 advertised essential criteria – 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 5–10-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.

The Competency-Based framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.  The following will be assessed at the interview which will align with the essential and desirable criteria:

1. Technical Skills
2. Knowledge
3. Experience

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 12 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: TBC

Interviews: To be confirmed

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.