Job Description

Details

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Reference number

435267

Salary

33,422 - 40,731
Per annum, pro rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Animal care, Welfare, Laboratory Animal Science

Type of role

Science

Other

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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This role is being offered as lab based at the Porton Down Scientific Campus in Wiltshire.




Please note: Hybrid working is not available for this role.

About the job

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Job summary

High Containment and Biological Services operate within and supports the wider UKHSA mission to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. The Biological Services Group provides high containment in-vivo research services, with the primary aim of protecting the UK public from a range of health risks. Ongoing areas of work include vaccine batch release testing, influenza, COVID-19, tuberculosis, anthrax, and emerging human pathogens.


Based at one of the two unique Non-Human Primate (NHP) breeding colony facilities, the Colony Senior Technician will:

Provide technical and supervisory expertise in a team responsible for the delivery of high standards of animal welfare within the Biological Services Group (BSG). Manage the day-to-day care of the animals and staff supervision are central to this role.

The post holder will be required to take part in a rota system for weekend and public holiday working and covering the "on-call" (24 hours/7days) rota.


The post holder must be willing to undertake vaccinations as necessary.

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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

Job description

As a Senior Animal Technician, you will be:

Providing high quality animal care and environmental enrichment for the NHPs. Supervising routine work, training and guiding junior staff and performing regulated procedures under ASPA. Working with the wider colonies team, maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare ensuring the NHPs and facilities are Home Office compliant Serve as point of contact for staff concerns regarding animal welfare and report any issues to the relevant authorities, including the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) and the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) Perform necropsy examination and removal of specified tissue as part of a specified study plan. Support the NVS in post-mortem examinations and surgical interventions when necessary. Act as study supervisor; taking responsibility for the effective delivery of specific packages of work performed within the facility, working within the study plan and legal frameworks. Conduct a variety of specialised experimental procedures under Home Office Licence, on NHPs in the colony adhering to agreed study plans. Participate in the preparation, including drafting elements where appropriate and review of relevant Standard Operating Procedures, Codes of Practice and Risk Assessments. Assist with the delivery of the supervision and specific training of colony staff in techniques necessary for the safe care of NHPs and conduct of studies using potential infectious agents as part of study programmes. Ensuring colony documentation is completed to a high standard in line with legal requirements and best practice. Take responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of the colony, including reporting faults, and of the colony team in line with the law, UKHSA policies, Codes of Practice, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)s and other good practice and guidance

This role is a physical role, ensuring the environment is clean and nutritional requirements for the NHPs are fulfilled.


Weekend work (paid as overtime) is on a rota and will be introduced after a period of induction to the facility. You will be required to participate in the on call rota for the facility.

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Main duties of the job

Assist the Colony Team Leader to organise and deliver a high quality NHP scientific breeding colony and maintain safety across the colonies for both animals and staff. Work with the colony team to perform routine animal husbandry, actively encourage the promotion of additional enrichment and care packages for the NHPs held at the colonies to promote the highest quality animal welfare. Provide support to the animal technicians in their day-to-day duties Act as the key point of contact between animal technicians and BSG Project Team Leaders/ NVS as necessary. Carry out Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO) duties for specified areas of the BSG facility, in line with legislative requirements. Liaison with the Colonies Team Leader, Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS), Home Office Inspectors, Personal and Project Licence holders on any element of animal related issues. This will include the interpretation of health / welfare status in the context of Project Licence requirements, clear documentation and attendance at relevant meetings including AWERB meetings. Responsible for maintaining adequate stocks of frequently used items and controlled drugs and the update of the associated usage log sheets. Perform all duties within guidelines laid down by the Home Office, Health and Safety Executive, Defra and MHR

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

Educated to degree level in animal care/animal biology or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in laboratory animal science

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Home Office Personal Licence holder and Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO) certification IAT. Study supervision i.e., taking responsibility for discrete packages of work to support research programmes in a safe manner. Detailed knowledge of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. An understanding of the requirement to continually review processes with the aim to improve animal welfare through refinement of husbandry and procedural techniques and maintain staff safety. Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences. Skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks. Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend and appropriate course of action to address the issues. Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands. Able to complete physical tasks, such as pressure washing, prioritising tasks and resources and work to deadlines. Ability to keep detailed and accurate records and both written and on computer databases in relation to management systems.

Desirable criteria:

Institute of Animal Technology (IAT) Membership Supervisory management training. Familiar with the concepts surrounding the decontamination and sterilisation of facilities equipment and waste.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 33,422, UK Health Security Agency contributes 9,682 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, Experience and Technical Skills.

S

tage 1: Application & Sift

Success Profiles

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 11 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider 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

Those falling into the 'Meets

all

' and 'Meet

some

essential criteria' piles will progress to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following essential criteria:

Educated to degree level in animal care/animal biology or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in laboratory animal science

.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.


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


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


Behaviours and Technical Skillswill be tested at interview.


The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

Making Effective Decisions

(Lead behaviour)

Working Together Working at Pace

You will also be asked technical based questions during the interview. They will be based on:

Animal care Welfare Legislation

Interviews dates are yet 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.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Location

This role is being offered as lab based at the Porton Down Scientific Campus in Wiltshire.



Please note: Hybrid working is not available for this role.

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.

Salary

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.

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. The level of security needed is Security Clearance.


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 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. 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.

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

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 : Carmelita Goodwin Email : carmelita.goodwin@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