Virology Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To maintain cell cultures, ensuring that they are available for the departments activities as required and that they are prepared to a high standard.
• To carry out routine quality control procedures to ensure that cell cultures are being prepared, recorded, and archived to a high standard.
• To assist scientific staff in identifying, evaluating, and adapting new technologies where appropriate and to ensure that all activities are undertaken to the highest scientific standards.
• Maintain daily records of cell culture and other activities.
• Assist in creation of new documentation (standard operating procedures, worksheets, inventories etc.) or updating of existing documentation, as required.
• To maintain equipment, including routine monitoring, calibration and safety checks and maintain records of these.
• To facilitate the day to day running of the laboratory by ensuring the availability of stock and reagents.
• To assist in the instruction and training of other staff and visitors, and to ensure compliance with safety and quality systems.

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 full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

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).

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

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This stage will involve an interview by MS Teams.

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.

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
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 2nd 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: w/c 21st February 2024

Interviews: w/c 5th March 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant biological science

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience working in a diagnostic or research microbiology laboratory
• Experience and/or aptitude for working in a microbiological safety cabinet
• Evidence of core microbiology laboratory skills (e.g. liquid handling, aseptic technique, light microscopy)
• Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures

Desirable

• Experience in cell culture
• Experience of stock management

Skills

Essential

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to re-prioritise and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload with minimal supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
• Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a small team.

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

UKHSA Porton

Salisbury

SP4 0JG

Employer's website

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