Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Convey technical and operational information to diverse groups and individuals, both within and outside the organisation.
- Responsible for day-to-day Team Management of NCTC Operations Team
- Actively participate in annual performance and development review.
- Ensure that health, safety, and welfare is an afforded priority over other issues and demonstrate a commitment to health, safety and welfare regarding self, staff and visitors
- Continually strive to improve service and set high standards
- Co-ordinate collection maintenance and provide technical support, as necessary
- Organise and carry out freeze-drying and QC of bacterial strains in the culture collection, including all Hazard Group 3 pathogens, to ensure adequate stock levels
- Responsible for equipment maintenance, including regular checks and maintenance of freeze-dryers
- Prepare, review and update SOPs accordingly to accrediting bodies as required
- Contribute to the development of new procedures for methods
- Assist compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 and other accreditation and certification standards.
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.
Essential Criteria:
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential
- Hold a MSC in the microbiology field, as well as a BSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent
- Evidence of several years experience in clinical diagnostic or bacteriology field e.g. Food or pharmaceutical.
- Previous experience in working with Hazard Group 2 and 3 organisms
- Experience in a supervisory/management of staff
- Evidence of success in efficient and effective project and programme management
- Keen interest in laboratory safety and in the future developments in microbiology
Desirable
- Relevant management training and/or qualification
- NEBOSH or equivalent Health and Safety experience e.g., Safety Officer role
- Experience of freeze drying techniques
- Evidence of interest in developments in microbial preservation
Selection process details
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 this.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 INTERVIEW
This competition will involve an interview by video.
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.
Your Statement of Suitability 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.
The Competency based framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following technical skills and experience will be used at the interview:
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leading and Communicating
- Collaborating and partnering
- Delivery at Pace
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 22nd October 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.
Shortlist: 27th October 2023
Interviews: w/c 6th November 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 Basic Personnel Security Standard. 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.
