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Job summary

Main area
Science
Grade
Civil Service: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
919-JP-302239-EXT
Employer
UK Health Security Agency
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
Porton Down
Town
Porton Down
Salary
£31,997 - £39,076 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
03/12/2024 23:59

Employer heading

UK Health Security Agency logo

Cryogenics Systems Specialist

Civil Service: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

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

Culture Collections is a world leading biological resource centre, which provides authenticated reference materials to scientists globally. The department contains five operational teams which supply cell lines (ECACC), clinical specimens (COVID Biobank), bacterial strains (NCTC), viral strains (NCPV) and fungal strains (NCPF) to scientific partners to support public health. 

The collections are developed, managed, and maintained by highly trained, dedicated staff working in accordance with internationally recognized quality standards including certification to ISO 9001:2015. 

Scientists across the world use Culture Collections’ cell lines and microbial strains as controls for clinical diagnostic and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, food, water and environmental microbiology testing, quality control testing, validation studies, and in disease research and drug discovery.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will ensure the Culture Collections Cryostore is operating safely and efficiently. They will be responsible for overseeing maintenance activities with internal and external contractors and contributing to the health and safety of UKHSA staff, contractors, and maintenance personnel, working in the area.

The ideal candidate will have an understanding of ultra-low temperature storage with expertise in liquid nitrogen strongly preferred. When required they will provide support to the day to day operations including receipt, storage and dispatch of Culture Collection products.    

 

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.  

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As the Cryogenics Systems Specialist, you will be expected to provide technical expertise to facilitate the delivery of Culture Collection projects and the business plan. This will include:

  • planning and supervising maintenance and calibration activities for warehouse equipment.
  • supervising contractors working onsite.
  • working with the Warehouse Manager in identifying problems and diagnosing solutions.
  • maintaining and improving standards of health and safety, hygiene and security in the warehouse environment.
  • assisting with the training of warehouse staff.
  • the ability to motivate, organise and encourage teamwork to ensure safety and quality standards are met or exceeded.
  • assisting the planning for future capacity requirements.
  • assisting the receipt, order, picking and dispatch of goods.
  • deputising for the Logistics/Operations Manager as required.
  • maintaining effective records to meet the needs of internal and external audits.
  • having a clear understanding of Culture Collections and how the warehouse contributes to the wider business including the coordination of progress-monitoring of the business plan and risk log.
  • supporting the implementation of policies, systems and standard work for the warehouse.
  • liaising with customers, suppliers internal and external stakeholders within and outside UKHSA.
  • providing out-of-hours support when required in an on-call rota.
  • maintaining good working relationships with other UKHSA teams and departments

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 the directorate. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Essential Criteria

  • Educated to degree level in relevant subject (e.g.engineering) OR equivalent experience in a relevant industry (e.g. gases, refrigeration, pressure systems, cryostore, process plant)
  • Experience of working in a cryogenic setting
  • Clear communicator with excellent writing skills and attention to detail
  • Capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
  • Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend and appropriate course of action to address the issues
  • Attention to detail combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex analysis
  • This is a moderately physical role with the requirement for manual handling and to work in awkward positions(e.g. climbing up small ladders, bending over storage tanks, lifting dewars).

Selection Process Details: 

Stage 1: Application & Sift (Success profiles)

Success profiles will be used throughout the process, and you will be assessed against the following behaviours:

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Changing and Improving
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace

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

  • an Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
  • a 750 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 Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on TBC

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.  

Please do not exceed 750 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview. 

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (Success profiles)

You will be invited to a face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview

Behaviours, experience and strengths will be tested at interview. 

 The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Changing and Improving
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on  3rd December 2024.

Please note, these dates are subject to change.

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

Eligibility Criteria

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

Location 

This role is based at UKHSA Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG. Please note that hybrid working is not available for this role. 

Please note that this role comes with MPS increase of 10% from 01.06.2024 for 3 years.                                                                               

You will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

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 and Counter Terrorist Checks.

Person specification

Application Form

Essential criteria
  • Application Form

Statement of Suitability

Essential criteria
  • Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Changing and Improving

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

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Jonathan Payne
Job title
Resourcing Support
Email address
[email protected]
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