About the job

Job summary

Quality Officer

Grade HEO (National) - £30,473 to £37,215

UKHSA Porton Down – Hybrid Working

Permanent Contract

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding role in quality management? Do you have experience in document control and internal auditing? If so, you might be the perfect candidate for the Quality Officer position at the HCBS Division of UKHSA.

The Hight and Containment Biological Services Division works with the highest risk level pathogens, supporting both, clinical and research needs in the UK and abroad. The Division follows strict regulations from various external authorities, is certified to ISO 9001 and is working towards ISO15189:2022 accreditation.

As a Quality Officer, you will support the HCBS Quality Lead in maintaining the Quality Management System. You will manage and maintain the Q-Pulse Document Control systems for the HCBS Division and provide training on its use. You will also conduct internal audits to ISO standards and provide support for external audits. You will also undertake special projects as agreed with the HCBS Quality Lead.

Porton Down – Hybrid Working

*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, Hybrid Working,

Job description

Responsibilities section:

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

• Support the HCBS Quality Lead to ensure that the quality management system meets appropriate accreditation requirements e.g. ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 15189:2022 when implemented.
• To maintain the Q-Pulse Quality Management System by carrying out administration of all controlled documents on the Q-Pulse Quality Management System e.g., SOP’s, Forms and Work Instructions, Manuals and Risk Assessments.
• Uploading and management of audits, non-conformances, quality improvements and change controls on the Q-Pulse Quality Management System.
• Deliver training to HCBS staff on the use of the Q-Pulse Quality Management System and provide relevant support as required.
• Confidentially manage controlled documents which contain sensitive information. Ensuring the security, confidentiality and appropriateness of storage, access, and retrieval of records in accordance with legislation and UKHSA policies.
• Conduct internal ISO-based quality audits according to a defined audit schedule and at senior manager request.

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 full duties and responsibilities attached

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

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 following criteria:

Essential

• HNC or equivalent in life sciences, or demonstrable experience gained working in a Quality Assurance role.
• Knowledge or experience working with electronic Quality Management Systems, e.g. Q-Pulse
• To be able to work to tight deadlines and prioritise time and resources as well as ability to multi-task, have good organisational and interpersonal skills, e.g. able to work collaboratively
• Excellent computer literacy skills with good knowledge of MS office and ability to produce accurate documentation and manipulate and present information effectively

Desirable

•  Basic auditing qualification or willingness to complete a qualification within 1 year.
• Practical auditing experience
• Practical experience working in a clinical/research laboratory

• Knowledge of quality standards such as ISO 9001:2015 or ISO 15189:2022

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,473, UK Health Security Agency contributes £8,227 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

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability (up to 1000 words) This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role.

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.

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve a face-to-face 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. 

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
• Collaborating and partnering
• Building capacity for all

 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs 16th 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: 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.