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.

UK Health Security Agency 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.

Short Summary

Are you passionate about translational research and do you want to make a difference in global health? If so, this is the perfect opportunity to join the Pre-clinical Evaluation Team. The Pre-Clinical Evaluation team sits within the Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, investigating high consequence human pathogens. The research focus within the team is to test and develop new treatments and vaccines, develop new assays to advance the testing of vaccines and investigate the use of organ-on-chip technology.

Job description

You will lead a team developing and characterising in vivo models for SARS, MERS and other pre-emergent coronaviruses. The models you develop will be used to assess the effectiveness of a new generation of Betacoronavirus vaccine candidates. These vaccines are designed to provide broad protection against existing and future variants of SARS-CoV-2, other Betacoronaviruses such as MERS, and yet-to-emerge coronaviruses that could spill over into the human population in the future.

You will be part of a larger team of scientists that work on in vivo modelling projects. You will contribute to the vaccine development pathway, from early-stage research through to pivotal studies for vaccine licensure. This team provides advice and direction to UK and international governmental bodies that make policies and guidance as well as ensuring that vaccines and therapeutics are effective against high-consequence pathogens before they progress to human clinical trials.

You will lead your own projects and contribute to other projects collaboratively, both within the team and with external collaborators (e.g. academia, industry, government, and non-governmental agencies). You will be responsible for the delivery of the scientific and technical activities within the Pre-clinical Evaluation Team, working closely with Scientific Leads and Head of Department.

You will have effective communication skills, good attention to detail, and strong documentation and organisation skills. Previous experience of managing individuals or a small team, working with external collaborators/customers and/or working at containment level 3 would be desirable although full training and support will be given.

Location

This is a Lab based role at our Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG lab.

*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, Part Time, Flexible Working.

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

• Managing projects and studies Senior Project Team Leader to meet agreed deadlines.
• Implement and utilise a range of methods/assays/techniques in supports of all activities associated with the
• Monitor direct reports objectives and performance to ensure project targets are met.
• Taking the responsibility for checking, compiling, presenting, and reporting project data sets to stakeholders including when necessary external customers.
• Lead a project team in identifying, evaluating, and adapting innovative technologies and methodologies where appropriate and to ensure that the project operates to a high scientific standard using current methods.
• Establishing links and collaborations within and outside UKHSA as necessary to benefit the project and/or department.
• Support members of the project team to meet their PDP objectives and take lead responsibility for the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the project.
• Ensuring that the project team undertakes work in accordance with UKHSA’s Code of Safety Practice and working within any Quality Systems that are applicable to the site.
• Maintaining health and safety competence to the national occupational standard ‘Make sure your actions reduce risks to health and safety’ (NOS HSS1).
• Fulfilling the requirements of UKHSA Values and Behaviours: ‘Health, Safety and Wellbeing’ commensurate with grade.
• Complying with all UKHSA policies and procedures.
• Participating in all mandatory training as required e.g., fire safety, information governance etc
• identifying, discussing, and actioning own professional performance and training / development needs with line manager
• Performing any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade.
• Undertaking risk assessor 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 authorised purposes.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential

• PhD in appropriate discipline or MSc and several years’ postgraduate experience (virology, in vivo modelling)
• Good understanding and experience of analytical methods that are relevant to the project area e.g., bioassays, immunological assays and/or virological assays to support models of infection.
• Experience of leading projects/project teams and training junior members of staff.
• Experience of complex data analysis, presentations, reports, and publications.
• Demonstrable experience of having worked within a regulated environment (e.g., GCP, ISO9001) and undergoing audits.
• Strong communicator capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences.
• Skills in networking with the ability to nurture and maintain key relationships both within the organisation and with external customers.
• Ability to prioritise the workload of the team and anticipate the needs of the projects you manage to ensure that project targets and deadlines are met.
• Ability to exercise good judgement in solving problems and making effective decisions, using knowledge, intuition, and comprehensive situational awareness.
• Excellent team working skills with the ability to motivate and support the project team to effectively complete project objectives as well as their own personal development objectives.
• Ability to cope, and help others cope, with uncertainty, change and often tight timelines. Be adaptable and work flexibly to meet deadlines.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of practices and principles of working at ADCP containment level 3.
• Demonstrable experience/knowledge of holding a named role(s) under Home Office regulations.

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. 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 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. 

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

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 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
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

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

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 21st of 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.  

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.