Senior Scientist-PTL

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will support the senior project team leader to lead a small project team responsible for the delivery of scientific and technical pseudovirus assay activities within the Clinical Evaluation Team.

- Collaborate with the Virus & Pathogenesis and High Containment Microbiology groups and external partners to establish pseudovirus production for high consequence pathogens (i.e., Lassa, Ebola) for use in PNA assays within CET

- Expand the production and testing of the SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses to ensure a rapid response to new variants and ensure pseudovirus production and assay performance meets quality requirements for clinical testing

- Implement and utilise a range of methods/assays/techniques in support of all activities associated with the project aimed to ensure project targets are met

- Provide reports through analysis of data using software and databases as necessary, to meet project targets and for preparation of presentations and publications

- Take responsibility for the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the project as required.

- Identify and implement any new technologies that will improve performance and capability for pseudovirus production and assay delivery

- Contribute to the development and implementation of related neutralisation assays into the clinical testing facility where required

- Ensure that the project team undertakes work in accordance with all UKHSA health and safety policies and procedures

- Ensure that the project team works within Good Clinical Practice guidelines and any other Quality Systems required

- Complete all mandatory training as required e.g., equality and diversity, information governance etc.

- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events

- To fulfil the requirements of UKHSA Values and Behaviours: Health, Safety and Wellbeing commensurate with grade

- To comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures

- Perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade

Key Working Relationships

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include:

InternalScientists/Project staff, Test Facility Management, Quality and Safety staff

ExternalScientists, Collaborators and suppliers

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours/ Experience/Technical skills.

Essential Criteria

Please note for this recruitment we will be assessing the below criterias, to view all criterias please see the attached job description.

PhD in appropriate discipline or MSc and several years relevant experience Experience of recombinant virology techniques, including virus like particle and/or pseudovirus systems Significant knowledge and practical and experience of other specialist areas that are relevant to the project (i.e., Knowledge and experience of general molecular biology techniques including RT-PCR, cloning and site-directed mutagenesis, neutralization assays) Recent experience in compiling scientific data, publishing results and reports Experience in evaluating, implementing and/or developing new technologies, methods or assays Evidence of leading projects/project teams and/or line management to meet project/service objectives and delivering work within set timelines Previous experience in training project staff and identifying own and direct reports training needs

Desirable Criteria

Good understanding of safe laboratory working practices and use of risk assessments and experience of implementing and monitoring these in a laboratory supervision/management role Experience of having worked within a GxP regulated environment (i.e., GxP) Experience of working at ACDP Containment Level 3

Selection Process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours / Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:

• a CV/ Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• a 1250 word Statement of Suitability

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The CV / Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

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

Please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a face to face interview at Manor Farm Road, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG.

Behaviours, experience and skills will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Interview dates TBC.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location Information

Please note that Hybrid working is not an option at this site. The location is: Manor Farm Road, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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.

Working for the Civil Service

TheCivil Service Codesets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission'srecruitment principles.

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

Its important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:

• life sentences

• arson

• sexual offences

• hate and terror offences

Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Starting salary

Entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet - Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment

Person Specification

CV & Statement of Suitability

• CV & Statement of Suitability

Behaviour

• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

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.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Manor Farm Road, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG

Salisbury

SP4 0JG

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency