UK Health Security Agency

Senior Quality Officer

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Senior Quality Officer

SEO National - £38,724 - £44,393

Based at UKHSA Porton Down - full-time on-site

Permanent Contract

Senior Quality Officer - GxP Quality Team

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding role in quality assurance? Do you have a degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field and a solid knowledge of GxP regulations? If so, you might be the perfect candidate for the Senior Quality Officer position at UKHSA, Porton.

As a Senior Quality Officer, you will join the independent Quality Assurance function that supports the GxP regulated test facilities. You will work closely with the QA Team Leader to ensure the quality and compliance of projects within the GxP Test Facility, following the Good Clinical Practice, Good Laboratory Practice, and current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations.

Main duties of the job

Your main duties will include:

  • Maintaining the GxP Quality Management System, including CAPA and non-conformance, quality risk assessment, change control, document control, supplier management, etc.
  • Delivering training on quality and compliance topics to staff and stakeholders
  • Conducting audits on facility, support functions, data, process, critical study phases, etc.
  • Reviewing validation and study documentation for accuracy and completeness
  • Providing compliance advice and guidance to project teams and management
  • Supervising and developing quality officers within the GxP Quality team

This is a varied and interesting role that requires excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills. You will also need to have a keen attention to detail, a proactive attitude, and a willingness to learn and improve.

Location

Based at UKHSA Porton Down - due to the nature of the post, you will be expected to be based on-site on a full-time basis

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

Working Pattern - Full Time

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

08 February 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£38,724 to £44,393 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

UKHSA01245

Job locations

UKHSA Porton Down

Porton Down

SP4 0JG


Job description

Job responsibilities

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

Support the QA Team Leader in the provision of leadership and QA management for projects within the GxP Test Facility in compliance with the appropriate regulations, including Good Clinical Practice, Good Laboratory Practice, and current Good Manufacturing Practice.

  1. Take a lead role in ensuring appropriate quality standards are applied in the GxP Test Facility areas.
  2. Assist in ensuring the GxP Training system meets quality, business, and regulatory requirements.
  3. Take a lead role in maintaining and improving the quality management system (QMS).
  4. Take a lead role in ensuring appropriate quality standards are applied in the GxP Test Facility areas and provide specialist GxP quality compliance advice to stakeholders.
  5. Take a lead role in setting up and executing an appropriate GxP internal audit programme. Conduct QA reviews/ audits on study data, study records, GxP laboratories, supporting areas and critical suppliers of services and materials.
  6. Write and review key quality documents e.g., Quality Reports, Quality Risk Assessments, Technical Agreements, Standard Operating Procedures and Policy documents etc.
  7. Manage, review and approve non-conformances, CAPA reports and related investigations, change controls and supplier approval questionnaires.
  8. Provide a high level of support to GxP Test Facilities areas, Test Facilities Management, and the Quality Team in preparation for, and during customer audits and regulatory inspections.
  9. Line manage junior team members in the Quality Team.
  10. Perform any other duties required by the Line Manager commensurate with grade.

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.

Please see job description attached for full list of duties and competencies associated with the post.

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential

  • Educated to MSc and several years experience or Degree and substantial relevant experience (in relevant subject area).
  • Experience of having worked within a regulated environment (GMP, GCP, GLP).
  • Good knowledge and preferably practical familiarity of laboratory techniques.
  • Good knowledge of GxP Data Integrity requirements.
  • Experience in leading, conducting and reporting GxP audits.
  • Experience in developing/ managing/ maintaining Quality Management Systems relevant to this post (e.g. CAPA, change control, quality risk assessment, training, document control).

Desirable

  • Experience of leading projects and/or teams.
  • Basic understanding of GxP equipment, computer systems and method validation requirements.

Please ensure that your statement of suitability does not contain any personal identifiers such as Name, Gender, Location, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation or Religion. The UKHSA operates a fair and open recruitment policy.

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.

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

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This competition will involve an in-person interview.

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:

  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Delivering at Pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 25th 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: 29th February 2024

Interviews: w/c 11th March 2024

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

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

Support the QA Team Leader in the provision of leadership and QA management for projects within the GxP Test Facility in compliance with the appropriate regulations, including Good Clinical Practice, Good Laboratory Practice, and current Good Manufacturing Practice.

  1. Take a lead role in ensuring appropriate quality standards are applied in the GxP Test Facility areas.
  2. Assist in ensuring the GxP Training system meets quality, business, and regulatory requirements.
  3. Take a lead role in maintaining and improving the quality management system (QMS).
  4. Take a lead role in ensuring appropriate quality standards are applied in the GxP Test Facility areas and provide specialist GxP quality compliance advice to stakeholders.
  5. Take a lead role in setting up and executing an appropriate GxP internal audit programme. Conduct QA reviews/ audits on study data, study records, GxP laboratories, supporting areas and critical suppliers of services and materials.
  6. Write and review key quality documents e.g., Quality Reports, Quality Risk Assessments, Technical Agreements, Standard Operating Procedures and Policy documents etc.
  7. Manage, review and approve non-conformances, CAPA reports and related investigations, change controls and supplier approval questionnaires.
  8. Provide a high level of support to GxP Test Facilities areas, Test Facilities Management, and the Quality Team in preparation for, and during customer audits and regulatory inspections.
  9. Line manage junior team members in the Quality Team.
  10. Perform any other duties required by the Line Manager commensurate with grade.

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.

Please see job description attached for full list of duties and competencies associated with the post.

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential

  • Educated to MSc and several years experience or Degree and substantial relevant experience (in relevant subject area).
  • Experience of having worked within a regulated environment (GMP, GCP, GLP).
  • Good knowledge and preferably practical familiarity of laboratory techniques.
  • Good knowledge of GxP Data Integrity requirements.
  • Experience in leading, conducting and reporting GxP audits.
  • Experience in developing/ managing/ maintaining Quality Management Systems relevant to this post (e.g. CAPA, change control, quality risk assessment, training, document control).

Desirable

  • Experience of leading projects and/or teams.
  • Basic understanding of GxP equipment, computer systems and method validation requirements.

Please ensure that your statement of suitability does not contain any personal identifiers such as Name, Gender, Location, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation or Religion. The UKHSA operates a fair and open recruitment policy.

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.

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

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This competition will involve an in-person interview.

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:

  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Delivering at Pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 25th 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: 29th February 2024

Interviews: w/c 11th March 2024

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.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • Educated to MSc and several years' experience or Degree and substantial relevant experience (in relevant subject area).
  • Experience of having worked within a regulated environment (GMP, GCP, GLP).
  • Good knowledge and preferably practical familiarity of laboratory techniques.
  • Good knowledge of GxP Data Integrity requirements.
  • Experience in leading, conducting and reporting GxP audits.
  • Experience in developing/ managing/ maintaining Quality Management Systems relevant to this post (e.g. CAPA, change control, quality risk assessment, training, document control).

Desirable

  • Experience of leading projects and/or teams.
  • Basic understanding of GxP equipment, computer systems and method validation requirements.
Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • Educated to MSc and several years' experience or Degree and substantial relevant experience (in relevant subject area).
  • Experience of having worked within a regulated environment (GMP, GCP, GLP).
  • Good knowledge and preferably practical familiarity of laboratory techniques.
  • Good knowledge of GxP Data Integrity requirements.
  • Experience in leading, conducting and reporting GxP audits.
  • Experience in developing/ managing/ maintaining Quality Management Systems relevant to this post (e.g. CAPA, change control, quality risk assessment, training, document control).

Desirable

  • Experience of leading projects and/or teams.
  • Basic understanding of GxP equipment, computer systems and method validation 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

UKHSA Porton Down

Porton Down

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

UKHSA Porton Down

Porton Down

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:

Lead Recruiter - UKHSA

Jess Bradley

jess.bradley@reed.com

Details

Date posted

08 February 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£38,724 to £44,393 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

UKHSA01245

Job locations

UKHSA Porton Down

Porton Down

SP4 0JG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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