Job Description

Details

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Reference number

428937
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Salary

70,797 - 81,450
per annum, pro rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
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Job grade

Grade 6###

Contract type

Permanent###

Type of role

Science###

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time###

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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UKHSA Porton Down (Office/Lab)

About the job

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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 Division (CDEP). This role provides specialist, scientific leadership to activities within CDEC's Pre-Clinical Evaluation Team, and across CDEP and other divisions as required.


The Head of Pre-Clinical Evaluation is responsible for establishment and leadership of vaccine and therapeutic pre-clinical evaluation activities in the CDEP.


The Head of Pre-Clinical Evaluation will work with the Deputy Director of Countermeasures Development, Evaluation & Preparedness to deliver pre-clinical elements of the UKHSA Vaccines Strategy working across UKHSA and with HMG.

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Working for your organisation

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.


Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

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Job description

The Head of Pre-clinical Evaluation will also work with Academia, Industry, other government and non-profit organisations including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and World Health Organisation (WHO) to support the vaccine and therapeutic development and approval.


This will be delivered by provision of animal model testing to support the analysis and evaluation of vaccines and therapeutics in studies performed on behalf of HMG, non-UK government, commercial and academic parties.


This may include working with national and international vaccine developers to establish well characterised pre-clinical model and associated assays to provide support to vaccine and therapeutic development. It may also include implementation of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) compliant testing and testing that meets the requirements of the FDA Animal Rule.


The function requires development and maintenance of staffing, expertise and capabilities to deliver these activities as well as working with other groups in the division, across Science Group and within UKHSA. Externally the function will work with HMG, academia, vaccine developers, pharmaceutical Industry, CEPI, WHO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), USG and other bodies to support the development, regulatory approval and deployment of vaccines and therapeutics. Close engagement with internal and external stakeholders will be critical for success.


Main duties will include:

To provide scientific direction to CDEP on development and implementation of pre-clinical, infectious disease models to meet VDEC, Science group and UKHSA strategic goals. To take the lead in maintaining and enhancing a research capability for pre-clinical infectious diseases modelling and countermeasure evaluation, including those requiring enhanced QMS, and to ensure projects can be resourced and accommodated properly. To drive innovation and foster collaborations within and outside of UKHSA leading to grant applications and/ or new business proposals in order to establish an annual income and expenditure budget. To co-ordinate commercial negotiations with customers in order to achieve project aims ensuring appropriate protection of IPR where necessary and to act as a key point of contact with customers to ensure establishment, operation and completion of projects to customer's satisfaction. To develop and maintain a strong national and international profile and networks through presentations, high impact publications, membership of committees and boards. To contribute to the quality of science and scientific strategy at UKHSA by promoting and enabling collaboration within CDEP/Science Group and across UKHSA to enhance the science base and capability development. To take responsibility for all people management issues, including to lead, train, mentor and support the development of scientists within CDEP. To perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade. To interact appropriately with regulatory authorities (e.g. HSE, HO, MHRA) and to ensure that the project team undertakes work in accordance with UKHSA's Code of Safety Practice and any applicable Quality Systems. To comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures ###

Person specification

Degree qualification and/or on the job experience in relevant field (e.g. Biology/Microbiology) PhD in appropriate discipline (e.g. Biology/Microbiology) and extensive experience in a research environment Internationally recognised expert with publication record in high impact journals, membership of expert panels and strong national and international collaborations and networks Experience of working with in vivo models for infectious disease agents and the use of different analysis methods including molecular biology, immunology and transcriptomics to characterise them In-depth knowledge and experience of operational management within a multi-disciplinary organisation working on vaccine development and licensure from within HMG, Industry, academia and other organisations including CEPI. In-depth knowledge and wide, recent experience of pre-clinical testing for the research & development, characterisation and deployment of vaccines Extensive experience of research with models for ACDP HG3/HG4 pathogens Experience with ISO 9001 and GMP/GLP compliance. Able to present information at internal/external meetings Ability to recognise and materialise scientific innovations into new business, experience with staff and budget management Experience of dealing with external and internal customers, negotiating and agreeing work programmes, reporting progress, dealing with any issues to ensure delivery and customer Strong leadership skills, extensive experience of project management and leading teams Able to exercise sound judgement and clear about priorities Experience in a wide range of techniques within laboratory-based biological research Experience of working practices within high containment environments Experience of networking internally and externally to gain information, contacts, commitment, expertise to better ensure project outcomes. Experience of generation of innovative/creative solutions to scientific and experimental problems/etc

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 70,797, UK Health Security Agency contributes 20,509 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%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Strengths.

Stage 1: Application & Sift


You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 17 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:

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.


The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.


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

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.



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

Experience of working with in vivo models for infectious disease agents and the use of different analysis methods including molecular biology, immunology and transcriptomics to characterise them Extensive experience of research with models for ACDP HG3/HG4 pathogen

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


Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.


Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)


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


Behaviours and strengths will be tested at interview.


You will be required to prepare a 5-10 minute presentation as part of the interview. The details of this will be sent to you prior to the interview.


The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

Seeing the bigger picture Making Effective Decisions Leadership Communicating and Influencing

Interviews are planned for the week commencing 10th November. Please note these dates may be subject to change.


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

Location

This role is office / lab based at our Porton Down facilities. Please note that hybrid working is not available with this role.

Selection Process

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.

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 meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. If based at one of our labs, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For this role, successful candidates will require Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Security Check (SC) clearance.


You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years to obtain Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) and 5 years to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.


The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

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 below:


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.###

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 security check .



See our vetting charter .
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) 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
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Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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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

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Job contact :

Name : Jon Payne Email : jonathan.payne@ukhsa.gov.uk
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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


http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7490888