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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.
Cryogenics Systems Specialist
Accepting applications until: 03-Dec-2024 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 03-Dec-2024 23:59
Key details
Location
- Site
- Porton Down
- Town
- Porton Down
- Postcode
- SP4 0JG
- Major / Minor Region
- London
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
Salary
- Salary
- £31,997 - £39,076 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (Civil Service: Higher Executive Officer (HEO))
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
Culture Collections is a world leading biological resource centre, which provides authenticated reference materials to scientists globally. The department contains five operational teams which supply cell lines (ECACC), clinical specimens (COVID Biobank), bacterial strains (NCTC), viral strains (NCPV) and fungal strains (NCPF) to scientific partners to support public health.
The collections are developed, managed, and maintained by highly trained, dedicated staff working in accordance with internationally recognized quality standards including certification to ISO 9001:2015.
Scientists across the world use Culture Collections’ cell lines and microbial strains as controls for clinical diagnostic and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, food, water and environmental microbiology testing, quality control testing, validation studies, and in disease research and drug discovery.
Advert
The post holder will ensure the Culture Collections Cryostore is operating safely and efficiently. They will be responsible for overseeing maintenance activities with internal and external contractors and contributing to the health and safety of UKHSA staff, contractors, and maintenance personnel, working in the area.
The ideal candidate will have an understanding of ultra-low temperature storage with expertise in liquid nitrogen strongly preferred. When required they will provide support to the day to day operations including receipt, storage and dispatch of Culture Collection products.
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. Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As the Cryogenics Systems Specialist, you will be expected to provide technical expertise to facilitate the delivery of Culture Collection projects and the business plan. This will include:
- planning and supervising maintenance and calibration activities for warehouse equipment.
- supervising contractors working onsite.
- working with the Warehouse Manager in identifying problems and diagnosing solutions.
- maintaining and improving standards of health and safety, hygiene and security in the warehouse environment.
- assisting with the training of warehouse staff.
- the ability to motivate, organise and encourage teamwork to ensure safety and quality standards are met or exceeded.
- assisting the planning for future capacity requirements.
- assisting the receipt, order, picking and dispatch of goods.
- deputising for the Logistics/Operations Manager as required.
- maintaining effective records to meet the needs of internal and external audits.
- having a clear understanding of Culture Collections and how the warehouse contributes to the wider business including the coordination of progress-monitoring of the business plan and risk log.
- supporting the implementation of policies, systems and standard work for the warehouse.
- liaising with customers, suppliers internal and external stakeholders within and outside UKHSA.
- providing out-of-hours support when required in an on-call rota.
- maintaining good working relationships with other UKHSA teams and departments
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 the directorate. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
Essential Criteria
- Educated to degree level in relevant subject (e.g.engineering) OR equivalent experience in a relevant industry (e.g. gases, refrigeration, pressure systems, cryostore, process plant)
- Experience of working in a cryogenic setting
- Clear communicator with excellent writing skills and attention to detail
- Capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
- Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend and appropriate course of action to address the issues
- Attention to detail combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex analysis
- This is a moderately physical role with the requirement for manual handling and to work in awkward positions(e.g. climbing up small ladders, bending over storage tanks, lifting dewars).
Selection Process Details:
Stage 1: Application & Sift (Success profiles)
Success profiles will be used throughout the process, and you will be assessed against the following behaviours:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:
- an Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- a 750 word 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 Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on TBC
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.
Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.
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, experience and strengths will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 3rd December 2024.
Please note, these dates are 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.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is based at UKHSA Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG. Please note that hybrid working is not available for this role.
Please note that this role comes with MPS increase of 10% from 01.06.2024 for 3 years.
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.
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 Basic Personnel Security Standard and Counter Terrorist Checks.
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 which you will need your department to agree. You can not take the post up as a fixed term. 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.
Working for the Civil Service
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 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.
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/
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 could be time accrued over that period.
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Person specification
Application Form
Essential criteria
- Application Form
Statement of Suitability
Essential criteria
- Statement of Suitability
Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Changing and Improving
Documents
- Job Description (PDF, 464.4KB)
- 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
- Jonathan Payne
- Job title
- Resourcing Support
- Email address
- [email protected]
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