UK Health Security Agency

Scientist – Electron Microscopy & Microbiology

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The post holder will be primarily working in the electron microscopy (EM) department at UKHSA Porton with occasional work in the EM facility at Colindale. They will be registered with The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Clinical Scientist or Biomedical Scientist or will be eligible to apply for registration in the near term. The successful candidate will also be expected to undertake support work in associated virology and microbiology laboratories. They should have a science or biomedical science degree or equivalent academic qualification. Ideally, they would have experience of working with electron microscopes, but full training and support will be provided.

The post holder would be expected to undergo training to operate the transmission and scanning electron microscopes for research and clinical needs.

The successful applicant will also work as part of the high containment microbiology team, providing a high level of microbiological skills to deliver the needs of the department.

The post holder would be expected to assist in any UKHSA co-ordinated response or activity of a national/international nature, e.g., a Bioterrorism incident or a major disease outbreak, e.g., SARS.

The successful candidate is expected to take part in the provision of out-of-hours services.

Location

Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG - on site working

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Main duties of the job

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

  • Implement and utilise a range of techniques in support of clinical analysis and research activities undertaken by EM within High Containment and Biological Services Department.
  • Liaise with departmental staff and customers to plan the most appropriate methods of EM sample preparation and imaging that are likely to provide meaningful and useful data. Assist the team to identify, evaluate and adapt new technologies where appropriate and to ensure that the project operates to a high scientific standard using current methods in accordance with the quality systems relevant to the work (e.g., ISO, GMP, etc).
  • Carry out the necessary risk assessments to ensure the work can be performed safely and take responsibility for the provision of reagents and consumables required for the work.
  • Operate both transmission and scanning electron microscopes (TEM and SEM) and associated equipment.
  • Supply and analyse data to agreed timescales to meet requirements of audit, preparation of reports, presentations, and publications.
  • Participate in cross-site working as and when required (i.e., work in EM facilities at Porton and Colindale).

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

About us

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

  • 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 average employer contribution of 27%
  • Range of health and wellbeing support

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 Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

Details

Date posted

31 August 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£29,160 to £35,612 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

UKHSA00413

Job locations

Porton Down

Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Job description

Job responsibilities

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet these.

Your Statement of Suitability of no more than 1000 words should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

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

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This stage will involve an interview in person on site at Porton Down.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 17th September 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interviews: w/c 2nd October 2023

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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 Standard Security Clearance (UK SC). People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

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.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

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:Complaints1@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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet these.

Your Statement of Suitability of no more than 1000 words should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

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

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This stage will involve an interview in person on site at Porton Down.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 17th September 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interviews: w/c 2nd October 2023

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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 Standard Security Clearance (UK SC). People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

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.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

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:Complaints1@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.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Biomedical Science (BMS) degree or equivalent academic achievement
  • Registration as a biomedical or clinical scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or prepared to apply for registration within 18 months of appointment.
  • Good understanding and experience of safe working practices
  • Specialist training/experience in specific methods required for the post
  • Experience of having worked within a regulated environment. (e.g., CPA, ISO, GMP, GLP, NAMAS, etc)
  • 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
  • Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend appropriate course of action to address the issues
  • Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
  • Willing to undertake security clearance (UK SC)
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable

  • MSc/MPhil in a closely related subject
  • Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) e.g., HCPC, Science Council CSci / RSci, or equivalent
  • Good knowledge and practical familiarity with electron microscopy.
  • Good knowledge and practical familiarity with working in high containment, ACDP containment level 3 experience is desirable for this post
  • Breadth of experience covering all aspects of post requirements
Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Biomedical Science (BMS) degree or equivalent academic achievement
  • Registration as a biomedical or clinical scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or prepared to apply for registration within 18 months of appointment.
  • Good understanding and experience of safe working practices
  • Specialist training/experience in specific methods required for the post
  • Experience of having worked within a regulated environment. (e.g., CPA, ISO, GMP, GLP, NAMAS, etc)
  • 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
  • Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend appropriate course of action to address the issues
  • Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
  • Willing to undertake security clearance (UK SC)
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable

  • MSc/MPhil in a closely related subject
  • Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) e.g., HCPC, Science Council CSci / RSci, or equivalent
  • Good knowledge and practical familiarity with electron microscopy.
  • Good knowledge and practical familiarity with working in high containment, ACDP containment level 3 experience is desirable for this post
  • Breadth of experience covering all aspects of post requirements

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Porton Down

Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Porton Down

Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

RPO Talent Specialist

Hannah Burton

hannah.burton@reed.com

Details

Date posted

31 August 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£29,160 to £35,612 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

UKHSA00413

Job locations

Porton Down

Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)