About the job

Job summary

The Quality Systems Manager will report directly to the Lead Quality Assurance Manager to ensure the application of the quality systems.

 

The Quality Systems team has responsibility for managing and facilitating ISO 9001 compliance on the UKHSA Porton site (and one team based at UKHSA Colindale), as applicable to Research, Culture Collections and applied support functions. The function also includes the management and coordination of the quality system based on ISO 9001 and supporting the Lead Quality Assurance Manager in the compliance of ISO17025.

 

You may be required to travel to UKHSA Colindale, but this will be very occasional.

 

As Quality systems manager, you will lead on the delivery of ISO 9001 accreditation for the Porton and Colindale Site for Culture Collections, High Containment, Standards Unit, Support Services and Research.

You will support and lead on the scoping, planning, design, delivery, and handover of your initiatives, working collaboratively with stakeholders from around the business to ensure successful delivery.

This role offers the opportunity to take a lead role in delivery of ISO 9001 accreditation. As such, our ideal candidate thrives in a challenging environment, is motivated by making an impact and delivering results, and is comfortable with at times, working under pressure as well as working to strict timelines. The role requires an individual with good auditing and organizational skills, with an eye for detail, who has the confidence to navigate, with support, complex stakeholders and solution environment, to deliver compliance.

 

Location

This role will be based from the UKHSA Porton office in Down, Manor Farm, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow.  This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).  Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.* 

Job description

As the Quality Systems Manager your main responsibilities will include:

• The organisation and management of the ISO 9001 quality system for the UKHSA Porton site.
• The management of ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 compliance on the UKHSA Porton site and its interaction with the certifying bodies.
• The recruitment  and  management  of  staff  including  the  organisation,  supervision  and  conduct  of staff appraisals. The management of staff attendance and performance.
• The design, implementation and supervision of team and personal training plans.
  Staff deployment and work prioritization including the planning of work, its scheduling and prioritisation.
• The design  of  processes,  procedures,  and  work  organisation  to  deliver  Quality  Assurance  efficiently,  making appropriate use of state-of-the-art science and technology where possible.
  
  
• The setting of quality objectives that are consistent with the Business Plans.
• The supervision of work and the management of work quality.
• The planning, procurement, and deployment of resources within budget constraints and the authorisation and control of expenditure to defined limits.
• The maintenance of a continuous improvement plan for facilities and equipment to ensure technical competitiveness and fitness for purpose so far as the financial budget allows.
• Oversee the installation and validation of new equipment and / or technologies to ensure compliance with the quality system

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 essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

 

Essential

• Degree or equivalent in life sciences
• Significant experience of managing processes such as quality assurance in a science-based organization
• Experience of managing and developing a certified quality system such as ISO 9001, ISO 17025 or ISO 15189
• Experience of internal, supplier or third-party auditing
• Familiar with electronic document management systems and electronic quality management software systems

 

Desirable

• Qualification in Quality Auditing
• Member of the Chartered Quality Institute

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 post will involve an interview which will be based at the UKHSA Porton Down office.

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.

 

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 26th July 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.

Interviews: w/c 12th August 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

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.