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Job summary

Main area
Toxicologist
Grade
Civil Service: Executive Officer (EO)
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
919-HH-18985363-External
Employer
UK Health Security Agency
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
UKHSA Chilton
Town
Didcot
Salary
£27,722 - £32,505 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
08/09/2024 23:59

Employer heading

UK Health Security Agency logo

Toxicologist

Civil Service: Executive Officer (EO)

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

  • Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
  • Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
  • Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
  • Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
  • Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

Job overview

The Experimental Toxicology programme within the Toxicology Department of the Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards Directorate of UKHSA undertakes experimental research using in vitro and in vivo models to investigate the impacts of exposures to chemicals and other environmental pollutants (e.g. air pollutants, bioaerosols, microplastics) on human health, including to those with pre-existing conditions (e.g. asthma).

This lab-based role involves the provision of specialised scientific services and technical support for research and development work to support the work of the Toxicology Department. The post is within the Bioaerosols Team.

Main duties of the job

  • Laboratory work and scientific functions. These will involve cell culture maintenance and treatment protocols, specialist biological endpoint assays, data reporting and general laboratory work. 
  • Assistance in sequencing and genomic analysis activities together with computational analysis of data from high throughput assays.
  • Maintenance of laboratory supplies including the ordering of reagents and equipment.
  • Responsibility for maintaining risk assessment documentation in accordance with health and safety regulations.
  • Routine maintenance checks on specialised laboratory equipment.

The postholder may also be responsible for the use and maintenance of complex scientific equipment and will use a range of IT software including databases and software developed in house. These may be used for record keeping and the calculation of scientific information.

Working for our organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.   

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.  

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide support for the Bioaerosols Team. Bioaerosols are airborne particles of biological origin, such as bacteria, viruses, pollen, fungal spores and/or their component parts. The Bioaerosols Team undertake research into the potential impacts of inhaled bioaerosols, in particular fungal spores, on human health in collaboration with a number of Universities and other Research organisations. They also routinely monitor fungal spores in the air. The post holder will be involved in culturing airway cells at the air-liquid interface, exposing them to bioaerosols and undertaking molecular endpoint assays, including quantitative PCR, ELISAs, cytochemistry, microscopy and high content imaging. They will also provide assistance in sequencing and genomic analysis and computational analysis of data. We are particularly interested in candidates with practical laboratory experience, including ALI cell culture, microbiology and/or high throughput sequencing, metabarcoding and associated bioinformatic analysis. The successful candidate will also be involved in maintenance of laboratory supplies and play a role in relation to laboratory health and safety requirements.

Essential criteria

  • Science degree (or its equivalent) in a biological science discipline.
  • Technical competence in taking measurements coupled with good numerate ability.
  • Capable of working accurately and consistently in setting up equipment and in making complex measurements.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, formally, informally, orally and in writing to suppliers, customers, UKHSA staff and representatives from other organizations.
  • Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines, also able to prioritise the workload and work autonomously with reference to line management when required.

Desirable criteria

  • Laboratory practical experience to include cell culture and general biological endpoint assessment.
  • Experience of sequencing, genomic methods, bioinformatics or animal models.
  • Laboratory management and organizational experience.
  • Ability to observe and question to gather information and sift it to disregard the irrelevant and identify key issues

Selection Process.

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and /or skills and capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 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 above 5 essential criteria.

The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist.

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

 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 (competency based) 

 You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview   

There will be a 10 minute Presentation - details will be sent prior to interview. 

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

This role is based at Chilton (lab based). Please note hybrid working is not available for this role. 

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.

 Face to Face interviews.

 If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview 

Person specification

Application Form

Essential criteria
  • Science degree (or its equivalent) in a biological science discipline.
  • Technical competence in taking measurements coupled with good numerate ability.
  • Capable of working accurately and consistently in setting up equipment and in making complex measurements.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, formally, informally, orally and in writing to suppliers, customers, UKHSA staff and representatives from other organizations.
  • Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines, also able to prioritise the workload and work autonomously with reference to line management when required.
Desirable criteria
  • Laboratory practical experience to include cell culture and general biological endpoint assessment.
  • Experience of sequencing, genomic methods, bioinformatics or animal models.
  • Laboratory management and organizational experience.
  • Ability to observe and question to gather information and sift it to disregard the irrelevant and identify key issues.

Interview

Essential criteria
  • 10 minute presentation

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Purple SpaceApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerThe Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Carer Confident -AccomplishedHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Helen Higgins
Job title
Resource Support
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

For queries regarding the role please contact [email protected], for queries regarding the application please contact [email protected].

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