Job Description

Details

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Reference number

440588

Salary

32,624 - 37,737
per annum, pro rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Health Professionals

Science

Other

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

2

Contents

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

Location

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Colindale (Scientific Campus)

About the job

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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.


The Respiratory Virus Unit (RVU) sits within the Virus Reference Department (VRD) at UKHSA Reference Services Colindale, London. RVU is the WHO National Influenza Centre (NIC) for the UK and is the National Reference Laboratory for a range of respiratory virus pathogens. The unit is one of four WHO global respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Reference Laboratories, and as such collaborates with WHO, providing technical support and advice to national laboratories, and a WHO Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) Reference Laboratory, providing confirmatory and reference services for MERS CoV.

Job description

The post holder will take delegated responsibility from the Unit Head / Scientific Leads and Technical Manager for:

Provide laboratory support for the detection and genetic characterisation of influenza viruses (human, avian and mammalian), respiratory syncytial viruses and coronaviruses. Provide laboratory support for the identification, growth and characterisation of clinical influenza and other respiratory virus isolates. Provide laboratory support for antiviral susceptibility surveillance by genotypic and phenotypic methods.
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Extraction of viral nucleic acid from clinical samples by manual and automated methods. Performance of RT-PCR for surveillance and diagnosis of influenza and other respiratory viruses. Propagation of respiratory viruses and quantitation by methods such as determination of titre by plaque assay. Support for serological analysis using neutralization, ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition. Growth and maintenance of mammalian cell culture lines. Growth, amplification, and characterization of clinical virus isolates. Genetic characterisation of respiratory viruses. To be responsible for the reading and analysis of test results generated and entry of results onto the LIMS system. Collate and present data for discussion. Adhering to external and internal quality control practices. Attend meetings, plan and implement project plans. Monitor safety cabinets and carry out routine quality control procedures in order to maintain set standards.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

BSc or equivalent in a biological science. Confident in presentation of ideas and information with excellent analytical skills. Good organisation skills with particular attention to detail. Self-motivating, organized and meticulous, and able to problem solve in a calm and efficient manner. Highly developed physical skills, accuracy important in manipulation of fine tools e.g pipettes. Have good hand eye co-ordination when performing tests.

Desirable criteria:

Post-qualification laboratory experience in microbiology or virology, cell culture and virus isolation and characterization. Knowledge of emerging and zoonotic respiratory virus threats, influenza virology, therapeutics and vaccines. Experience in the use of automated platforms for extraction and PCR and automated liquid handlers.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 32,624, UK Health Security Agency contributes 9,451 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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Artificial intelligence

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.

Selection process details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Competency-based assessments


You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 4 essential criteria and the 3 desirable criteria and this will be in the form of a:

Application form (?Employer/ Activity history? section on the application) 1500 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.


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:

1. Meets all essential criteria

2. Meets some essential criteria

3. Meets no essential criteria

Those falling into the ?Meets all essential criteria? pile will progress to shortlisting.



Shortlisting:


In the event of a large number of applications we will conduct an initial sift on the following essential criteria:

BSc or equivalent in a biological science. Highly developed physical skills, accuracy important in manipulation of fine tools e.g pipettes. Have good hand eye co-ordination when performing tests.

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


Please do not exceed 1500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.


Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Competency Based


You will be invited to a single face to face interview.


Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.


Interview dates to be confirmed.


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

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.

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-terrorist Check. 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.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Face to Face Interviews

In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

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.

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.

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 counter-terrorist 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

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 : Charlene Gwekwerere Email : Charlene.Gwekwerere@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/7657408