Job responsibilities
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties:
- 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 in order to meet the business requirements of BSG.
- Working with the colony team in performing routine animal husbandry, actively encouraging the promotion of additional enrichment and care packages for the NHPs held at the colonies to promote the highest quality animal welfare.
- Providing support to the animal technicians in their day-to-day duties and acting 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.
- Perform necropsy examination and removal of specified tissue as part of a specified study plan. To 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.
- Conducting 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, SOPs and other good practice and guidance.
- 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 MHRA.
- Take part in rota system for weekend and public holiday working and covering the on-call (24 hours/7days) rota as requested.
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.
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 in your statement of suitability (750 words max).
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 INTERVIEW
This competition will involve an in-person interview at our Porton Down site.
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 Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 1st of February 2024 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: from the 5th of Febuary 2024
Interviews: TBC
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality requirements
Site access requirements stipulate that our employees must be able to gain a high level of security clearance. This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years.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.
Security clearance level requirement
Successful candidates must pass an enhanced disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is an enhanced security check.
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.
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.
