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UK Health Security Agency
About
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will be responsible for planning, preventing and responding to external health threats, and providing intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage. UKHSA will ensure the nation can respond quickly and at greater scale to deal with pandemics and future threats.
Animal Technologist
Closed for applications on: 12-Jul-2024 00:02
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 12-Jul-2024 00:02
Key details
Location
- Site
- UKHSA Porton Down, Salisbury
- Town
- Porton Down, Sailsbury
- Postcode
- SP4 0JG
- Major / Minor Region
- London
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
Salary
- Salary
- £25,976 - £30,264 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (EO)
Specialty
- Main area
- Science
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:
- Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
- Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
- Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
- Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
- Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.
Job overview
We Are looking for an Animal technologist to join the High Containment and Biological Services team at Porton.
You will be responsible for the daily husbandry, health checking and care of Non-Human Primates at our primate breeding centre, as well as performing scientific procedures in compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
This role is key in providing high quality care and environmental enrichment for Non-Human Primates. Working with the team, you will be maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare and ensuring the animals and facilities are Home Office compliant.
This is a dynamic role that requires you to be motivated, sympathetic, and be able to work to high ethical standards. The role is physically demanding, and you will need a high degree of manual dexterity. You will also be required to be an effective communicator with the wider team including researchers, Home Office Inspectors, named Veterinary Surgeons and named Animal Care and Welfare Officers.
Weekend and Bank Holiday work (paid as overtime) is on a rota and will be introduced after a period of induction to the facility.
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.
Advert
Key Responsibilities
- Work with the colony team performing routine animal husbandry, continually striving to maintain the highest standards of care and welfare of all animals.
- To recognize, report and record ill health and welfare issues in Macaca species and be responsible for the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) duties, documenting and communicating issues to relevant team members, e.g., line manager, NACWO or NVS.
- As a Personal Licence (PIL) holder, prepare for, and contribute to, study work completed under Home Office Licence, including those using infection agents at ACDP containment level 2 and 3, undertaking associated safety precautions. Complete necessary documentation associated with study work completed.
- Support with basic necropsy examination and removal of specified tissues.
- Contribute to the process of ordering of drugs used at the colonies and maintenance of the drugs supply in line with policies and legal requirements.
- Maintain and regularly update written records and computer databases containing breeding records and duties performed, within specific guidelines. Regular submission of breeding data for ethical review.
- Assist with the supervision of junior staff and specific designated areas such as the post-mortem room, prep-room, surgical procedures room, X-ray processing room, sample receipt and storage areas.
This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties
Working for our 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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
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 Animal Technician role will provide technical and husbandry expertise in a team responsible for the delivery of the scientific and specialist technical activities within the Biological Services Group.
As an experienced animal technician, you will be providing high quality animal care and environmental enrichment for the NHPs. You will be guiding routine work, overseeing junior staff and supporting senior staff members in regulated work. Working with the wider colonies team, you will be maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare ensuring the NHPs and facilities are Home Office compliant. This role is primarily a physical role, ensuring the environment is clean and nutritional requirements for the NHPs are fulfilled. You will be expected to gain your personal licence to enable you to perform licenced procedural work under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Weekend work (paid as overtime) is on a rota and will be introduced after a period of induction to the facility.
Essential criteria
• IAT Membership, level 2 qualification (or equivalent)
• Theoretical and practical training for working in an in-vivo setting
• Educated to minimum NVQ level 2 in a relevant subject or equivalent level of qualification or significant equivalent
• Significant experience of working in an animal-based environment achieving the highest level of animal welfare and maintaining staff safety
• Detailed knowledge of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
• Working within a Quality system environment (ISO / GxP) and experience of working to SOPs, COPs, RAs etc
• Able to communicate effectively with peers, managers and scientists, both verbally and written formats
• Able to prioritise own and others work
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Willingness to undergo vaccinations as determined by project work
• Ability and willingness to undergo full UK Security Clearance
• Able to travel independently to work
• Available to work weekends / bank holiday
• Understanding of why animals are used for research purposes
Desirable criteria
• Home Office Personal Licence holder
• Study supervision i.e., taking responsibility for discrete packages of work to support research programmes
• Performing a range of regulated procedures under the authority of a Home Office licence
Success profile
Selection Process:
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of
• CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 words Statement of Suitability.
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.
The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
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
You will be invited to a face to face interview
Behaviours, technical and strengths will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be
• Working with others
• Delivering at pace
Interview date: TBC
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location information
Please note that Hybrid working is not an option at this site. The location is: Manor Farm Road, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.
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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:
- life sentences
- arson
- sexual offences
- hate and terror offences
Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available .
Starting salary
Entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.
Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ
Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.
This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.
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
For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)
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.
The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.
For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.
For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy.
Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.
Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. 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 (attached as a supporting document).
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: [email protected] 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 here.
Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.
Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.
UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.
If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Benefits of working at UKHSA include:
- Generous annual leave:
-26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service
-28 days after 5 years of continuous service
-32 days after 10 years of continuous service
-Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday - Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
- Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
- Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
- We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
- We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.
Hybrid Working
UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce.
As a hybrid worker, you will usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.
Disability Confident Scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview. If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.
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 take into account 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/
Person specification
CV
Essential criteria
- CV
Statement of Suitability
Essential criteria
- Statement of Suitability
Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Working with others
- Delivering at pace
Documents
- Job Description (PDF, 328.4KB)
- Functional Requirement (PDF, 344.6KB)
- Civil Service Recruitment Principles (PDF, 2.6MB)
- Civil Service Nationality Rules (PDF, 195.3KB)
- Application Form Guidance Notes (PDF, 77.3KB)
- Information Sheet - Starting salaries and benefits (PDF, 129.4KB)
- Information Sheet - Selection Process (PDF, 110.1KB)
- Working at UKHSA and your benefits (PDF, 219.2KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lami Olayiwola
- Job title
- Resourcing
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
For enquires about your application please contact recruitment team [email protected] , for enquiries about the role please contact vacancy holder [email protected]
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
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