About the job

Job summary

Location

Please note this is an office-based role

This role will be based at Porton Down office.

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

INTRODUCTION

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards.  We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences, and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.

Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.

The Culture Collections is a Biological Resource Centre that provides a service maintaining and supplying strains of cultured cells and microorganisms for public health research.  It is structured as a fully integrated service, underpinning science with significant scientific, manufacturing and business activities and operates from laboratories across the UKHSA and from a specialist cryo-storage facility on the Porton site.

JOB SUMMARY

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

This Quality group has responsibility for managing and facilitating ISO 9001 compliance on the NIS Porton site, as applicable to Research, Culture Collections and applied support functions. Therefore the function also includes the management and coordination of the quality system based on ISO 9001 and supporting the Quality Assurance and Regulatory Manager in the compliance of ISO 17025, both on UKHSA sites in Porton and Colindale.

Job description

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• The supervision of staff and the delivery of the service in the most efficient manner.

• The training of staff in Quality Systems.

• The practical guidance and coordination of cross-function teams in Quality Systems.

• The supervision and organisation of the delivery of work to specification and to schedule.

• The origination of written procedures, report forms, risk assessments and all types of working documentation.

• The recording, analysis and reporting of results, data and information.

• The use of electronic quality management systems for example document control.

• The identification, recommendation and introduction of new procedures and processes.

• The maintenance of a continuous improvement plan for facilities and equipment to ensure technical competence and fitness for purpose so far as the financial budget allows.

• The supervision of work to ensure it achieves/complies with the highest standards of quality.

• To support and implement the Corporate and local Quality Management Systems.

• The design and implementation of a Safe System of Work. To ensure compliance with all policies and procedures relating to Health and Safety.

See more information in the attached JD

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 750 words (max) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential Criteria:

• HNC or equivalent in life sciences and Quality Auditing
• Experience of managing and developing a certified quality system such as ISO 9001, ISO 17025 or ISO 15189
• Communications, written and verbal
• Good interpersonal skills
• Computer literate including MS Office
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Planning and organizational skills
• Ability to train staff
• Ability to work unsupervised
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable Criteria:

• Basic auditing qualification
• Sound practical experience of working in an analytical/production/research laboratory
• Sound practical experience of auditing
• Current good scientific practice

Benefits

Working for the UKHSA

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, against the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). Your Statement of Suitability must not exceed 750 words.

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 sift selection panel will only consider relevant career history information from the last 5 years.

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW:

This competition will involve an interview  in Person at Porton Down

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.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs 07/01/2024 – 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: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

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&Cs 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/

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.