This role is being offered as a lab based role at our Scientific Campus in Porton location.
If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
This role is based at Porton. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.
Job Summary
The Countermeasures Development, Evaluation, and Preparedness Division (CDEP), along with other divisions within the Public Health Microbiology Directorate, provide the laboratory-based capability for UKHSA’s Countermeasures Development, Evaluation, and Preparedness programme.
The Pre-clinical Evaluation Team is a translational research group within the CDEP at UKHSA Porton Down, investigating high consequence human pathogens. Research undertaken includes the pre-clinical evaluation of countermeasures and in vivo model development to support this work, development of assays to advance the testing of vaccines, and investigation of organ-on-chip technology as an adjunct to our existing capabilities.
Job Description
- To participate in the provision of a range of laboratory methods/assays/techniques in support of all activities associated with the projects aimed to ensure project targets are met
- To participate in research and/or development work in collaboration with senior staff as required
- Take responsibility for the provision of laboratory reagents and consumables required for the project and document storage of materials
- Take responsibility laboratory housekeeping and supervision of laboratory maintenance
- Ensure accurate documentation and tracking of samples and data and laboratory records and correctly follow protocols
- Performing any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade
- 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
- 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
Please be aware this list is not exhaustive.
- To participate in the provision of a range of laboratory methods/assays/techniques in support of all activities associated with the projects aimed to ensure project targets are met
- To participate in research and/or development work in collaboration with senior staff as required
- Take responsibility for the provision of laboratory reagents and consumables required for the project and document storage of materials
- Take responsibility laboratory housekeeping and supervision of laboratory maintenance
- Ensure accurate documentation and tracking of samples and data and laboratory records and correctly follow protocols
- Performing any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade
- 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
- 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
Please be aware this list is not exhaustive.
Person specification
The post holder will help support work to develop in vivo and ex vivo models of a range of pathogens. The role would suit a candidate with experience in virology, molecular biology and/or immunology. The post holder will be expected to be flexible and adaptable to assist with the requirements of the project, maintain records in relation to laboratory activities and be able to collaborate with lab users from other teams.
The postholder will have relevant degree (or equivalent and/or experience) in a biological science and the ability to assist in a broad range of standard laboratory techniques or tasks. The post holder will have good communication skills, good attention to detail, and strong documentation and organisation skills.
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.
The main responsibilities of the post holder are outlined below:
- To participate in the provision of a range of laboratory methods/assays/techniques in support of all activities associated with the projects aimed to ensure project targets are met
- To participate in research and/or development work in collaboration with senior staff as required
- Take responsibility for the provision of laboratory reagents and consumables required for the project and document storage of materials
- Take responsibility laboratory housekeeping and supervision of laboratory maintenance
- Ensure accurate documentation and tracking of samples and data and laboratory records and correctly follow protocols
- Performing any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade
- 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
Please be aware this list is not exhaustive.
Essential Role Criteria (including Qualifications, Licenses And Registrations)
- Educated to degree level in Biological science / Virology / Immunology or equivalent qualification / or equivalent experience
- Good knowledge and practical familiarity with techniques for Project including standard microbiology, molecular biology and/or virology techniques, cell culture and working at containment level 2/containment level 3
- Good understanding and experience of safe working practices
- Excellent team working skills with the ability understand the importance of team work to achieve overall team goals
- Ability to work using own initiative and organise own workload without supervision, working to tight and often changing deadlines
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
Desirable Role Criteria
- Experience in some of specific methods required for the post and their applications e.g. neutralization assays, ELISA, immune cell isolation, flow cytometry, ELISpot, RT-qPCR, primary ex vivo and differentiated cell culture systems
- Demonstrable experience of having worked within a regulated environment (e.g. GCP, ISO9001) and undergoing audits
- Clear communicator with excellent writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
- Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem solving, critical thinking and analytical skills
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Alongside your salary of £28,547, UK Health Security Agency contributes £8,270 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours and experience.
At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the job advert.
You Will Be Required To Complete An
- Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- A 1000 word supporting statement
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.
Longlisting
In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
We will take piles "meets all essential criteria" through to shortlisting.
Shortlisting
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
- Educated to degree level in Biological science / Virology / Immunology or equivalent qualification / or equivalent experience
- Good knowledge and practical familiarity with techniques for Project including standard microbiology, molecular biology and/or virology techniques, cell culture and working at containment level 2/containment level 3.
- Good understanding and experience of safe working practices
Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)
You will be invited to a face-to-face interview. If a face-to-face interview is planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess you against the below:
The Behaviours Tested During The Interview Stage Will Be
- Changing and improving
- Making effective decisions
- Communicating and influencing
- Working together
Strengths
Previous Skills And Experience
Technical Skills & Ability
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Additional Information
Location
This role is being offered as a lab based role at our Scientific Campus in Porton location.
If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
This role is based at Porton. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.
Eligibility to work in the Civil Service
External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).
Salary Information
If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.
Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/
International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Link: Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers
Internal Fraud check
If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.
Careers website
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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.
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : Tom Geldeard
- Email : tom.geldeard@ukhsa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
Further information
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: Complaints@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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
