About the job

Job summary

Senior Scientist

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

UKHSA Porton Down

FTC – until 31st May 2025

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Research Department!. We play a pivotal role in anticipating and coordinating responses to potential healthcare emergencies, including deliberate acts of release. Our multifaceted department engages in both foundational and applied research to deepen our understanding of infectious diseases. Our key aspects of research focus on are: High-Containment Research, Emergency Preparedness, Innovative Solutions.

As a Senior Scientist, you’ll be an integral part of our collaborative team, specializing in in vivo aerobiology and bacteriology techniques. Your work will directly impact the evaluation of vaccines and therapeutics within the ACDP Containment Level 3 environment. You will be hands-on work in the development, optimisation and application of aerobiology assays. You will engage with pathogens such as tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Your expertise will contribute to our ongoing research efforts in understanding and combating infectious diseases.

UKHSA Porton Down – On-Site

*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

Job description

Responsibilities section:

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

• Implement and utilise a range of methods, assays and techniques at ACDP
• containment level 3 in support of all activities associated within the Aerosol Infection Microbiology (AIM) group’s projects and to ensure project targets are met.
• Apply specialised aerobiology and bacteriology techniques in in vivo assays to evaluate
• vaccines and therapeutics against TB and other mycobacteria.
• Lead the provision of laboratory space, equipment reagents and consumables required for project area, including within the Biological Investigations Group unit.
• Assist the project team to identify, evaluate and adapt new technologies were appropriate and to ensure that the project operates to a high scientific standard.
• Take responsibility for the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the project 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.
• To work independently and within a team assisting with in vivo studies using good communication with staff, collaborators, and essential department services.
• To perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade.
• To ensure that the project team undertakes work in accordance with UKHSA’s Code of Safety Practice and to work within any Quality Systems that are applicable to the site.
• To comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures.

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 job description attached for full list of duties and competencies associated with the post.

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

• BSc or equivalent qualification or suitable experience
• Experience of working independently on projects within the laboratory environment
• Demonstrable experience of developing and applying bacteriology and immunology assays.
• Security clearance and willingness for vaccinations as required.
• Experience of data analysis, presentations, and reports.
• Good communication skills. Able to work flexibly to meet deadlines. Ability to work in teams and independently. self-motivated, organised, and meticulous. Willing to undertake further training and able to train junior staff.

Desirable

• MSc or equivalent qualification or suitable experience
• High level of competency working at ACDP containment level 3, including class III cabinets and/or isolators.
• Experience of working in projects that use in vivo models of disease, and a knowledge of respiratory infections, bacteriology, vaccines, and therapeutics.
• Experience in scientific writing e.g., creating reports. Experience in creating and giving presentations.

Please ensure that your statement of suitability does not contain any personal identifiers such as Name, Gender, Location, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation or Religion. The UKHSA operates a fair and open recruitment policy.

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. 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 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:

• Making Effective decisions
• Working Together
• Managing a quality service
• Delivery at pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 24th 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: 27th March 2024

Interviews: w/c 8th April 2024

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.

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/

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.