About the job

Job summary

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.   

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.  

This postholder will primarily be responsible for the delivery of immunoassay laboratory assays, laboratory housekeeping and maintenance, recording and reporting of results and ensuring the work is carried out to high scientific, safety and quality standards. 

This post sits within the Immunoassay Group (IAG). The postholder will have a degree in a relevant subject area (e.g., microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, or virology) or equivalent experience.  The role requires prior knowledge and practical familiarity with techniques used for serological assays, primarily ELISA. Experience of multiplexed assays, e.g., Luminex and MSD would be an advantage, as would assay development experience. This role requires an understanding of the application of serological assays to support clinical trials and/or product characterisation. Experience of working within a GXP environment is essential.

The post holder will require good written and verbal communication skills, ability to work in a team and be flexible and adaptable to the demands of the project

This post is not suitable for biomedical scientist accreditation.

Job description

Your main duties include:

• Implement and utilise a range of methods/assays/techniques in support of all activities associated with the area projects aimed at ensuring that projects targets are met
• Take responsibility for the provision of reagents and consumables required for area projects
• Assist the project team to identify, evaluate and adapt new technologies where appropriate and to ensure that the area projects operate to a high scientific standard using current methods
• Take responsibility for the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to projects as required
• Provide reports through analysis of data using software and databases as necessary, to meet project targets and for preparation of presentations and publications

Please read all the information on this page carefully - The main duties and responsibilities for the role are displayed below

Your detailed responsibilities include: 

• Utilise a range of methods/assays/techniques in support of all activities associated with the area projects aimed at ensuring that projects targets are met
• Take responsibility for the provision of reagents and consumables required for area projects
• Assist the project team to identify, evaluate and adapt new technologies where appropriate and to ensure that the area projects operate to a high scientific standard using current methods
• Take responsibility for the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to projects as required
• Contribute to reports through analysis of data using software and databases as necessary, to meet project targets and for preparation of presentations and publications
• Perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade.
• Ensure that the project team undertakes work in accordance with safety regulations.
• Work in accordance with GxP (GCP/GMP/GLP) and ISO Quality Systems (ISO 9001:2015) applicable to the work and site.
• Maintain health and safety competence to the national occupational standard ‘Make sure your actions reduce risks to health and safety’ (NOS HSS1).
• Fulfil the requirements of UKHSA Values and Behaviours commensurate with grade.
• Comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures

Optional Duties

•    Undertaking risk assessor role, with associated training and ongoing competency
•    Undertaking lab supervisor role, with associated training and ongoing competency

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.  You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division and UKHSA.

It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorized purposes.

Person specification

Essential criteria

You will be assessed on the below 8 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description 

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject (e.g., Immunology, Virology) or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in a relevant specialist area
• Good knowledge and practical familiarity with immunoassay techniques for project (i.e., ELISA, Luminex, MSD)
• Experience of having worked within a regulated environment (e.g., GCP, GLP, GMP)
• Follow processes, operating firmly within set standards, rules, and guidelines.
• Understands the importance of team work to achieve overall team goals.
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders and high degree of written accuracy and attention to detail. Effective written and verbal communication skills - experience of communicating verbally (face to face and by phone) and in writing with external and internal stakeholders. 
• Willing to undertake further training and able to train junior staff
• An understanding of, and commitment to, equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable criteria

• MSc in relevant area
• Experience in working with pathogens in biological containment facility (CL2), cell culture, virology, molecular biology)
• Development of immunoassays. Validation of immunoassays for clinical trials.
• Good understanding and experience of safe working practices
• Experience of laboratory maintenance and supervision
• Uses time effectively to prepare for subsequent tasks
• Detailed focused, ensuring all their work is accurate and error free
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Problem solving and trouble shooting skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Demonstrated skills in lab safety including preparation of risk assessments
• An understanding of, and commitment to, equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift   

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed (8) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of   

• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
• a Statement of Suitability of no more than 1250 words

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.  

The CV / Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together 

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist. 

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Good knowledge and practical familiarity with immunoassay techniques for project (i.e., ELISA, Luminex, MSD)

Please do not exceed 1250 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number. 

Feedback will not be provided at this stage. 

Stage 2: Interview 

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. Since face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, technical, and experience will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be 

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
•  Delivering at Pace.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. 

Location information   

This role is lab -based working at Porton Down, Wiltshire.

Eligibility Criteria 

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).  

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.

Disability Confident scheme  

 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.  

Reserve List clause  

Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.   

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.   

Starting salary  

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.    

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.    

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.   

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.