Animal Technologist

UK Health Security Agency

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

We Are looking for an Animal technologist to join the High Containment and Biological Services team at Porton.

You will be responsible for the daily husbandry, health checking and care of Non-Human Primates at our primate breeding centre, as well as performing scientific procedures in compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

This role is key in providing high quality care and environmental enrichment for Non-Human Primates. Working with the team, you will be maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare and ensuring the animals and facilities are Home Office compliant.

This is a dynamic role that requires you to be motivated, sympathetic, and be able to work to high ethical standards. The role is physically demanding, and you will need a high degree of manual dexterity. You will also be required to be an effective communicator with the wider team including researchers, Home Office Inspectors, named Veterinary Surgeons and named Animal Care and Welfare Officers.

Weekend and Bank Holiday work (paid as overtime) is on a rota and will be introduced after a period of induction to the facility.

High Containment and Biological Services operate within and supports the wider UKHSA mission to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities

  1. Work with the colony team performing routine animal husbandry, continually striving to maintain the highest standards of care and welfare of all animals.
  2. To recognize, report and record ill health and welfare issues in Macaca species and be responsible for the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) duties, documenting and communicating issues to relevant team members, e.g., line manager, NACWO or NVS.
  3. As a Personal Licence (PIL) holder, prepare for, and contribute to, study work completed under Home Office Licence, including those using infection agents at ACDP containment level 2 and 3, undertaking associated safety precautions. Complete necessary documentation associated with study work completed.
  4. Support with basic necropsy examination and removal of specified tissues.
  5. Contribute to the process of ordering of drugs used at the colonies and maintenance of the drugs supply in line with policies and legal requirements.
  6. Maintain and regularly update written records and computer databases containing breeding records and duties performed, within specific guidelines. Regular submission of breeding data for ethical review.
  7. Assist with the supervision of junior staff and specific designated areas such as the post-mortem room, prep-room, surgical procedures room, X-ray processing room, sample receipt and storage areas.

This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties

About us

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.

Date posted

25 June 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,976 to £30,264 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-LO-31323155-EXT

Job locations

UKHSA Porton Down, Salisbury

Porton Down, Sailsbury

SP4 0JG


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Biological Services Group provides high containment in-vivo research services, with the primary aim of protecting the UK public from a range of health risks. Ongoing areas of work include vaccine batch release testing, influenza, COVID-19, tuberculosis, anthrax, and emerging human pathogens.Based at one of the two unique Non-Human Primate (NHP) breeding colony facilities the Animal Technician role will provide technical and husbandry expertise in a team responsible for the delivery of the scientific and specialist technical activities within the Biological Services Group.As an experienced animal technician, you will be providing high quality animal care and environmental enrichment for the NHPs. You will be guiding routine work, overseeing junior staff and supporting senior staff members in regulated work. Working with the wider colonies team, you will be maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare ensuring the NHPs and facilities are Home Office compliant. This role is primarily a physical role, ensuring the environment is clean and nutritional requirements for the NHPs are fulfilled. You will be expected to gain your personal licence to enable you to perform licenced procedural work under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Weekend work (paid as overtime) is on a rota and will be introduced after a period of induction to the facility.

Essential criteria

IAT Membership, level 2 qualification (or equivalent) Theoretical and practical training for working in an in-vivo setting Educated to minimum NVQ level 2 in a relevant subject or equivalent level of qualification or significant equivalent Significant experience of working in an animal-based environment achieving the highest level of animal welfare and maintaining staff safety Detailed knowledge of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Working within a Quality system environment (ISO / GxP) and experience of working to SOPs, COPs, RAs etc Able to communicate effectively with peers, managers and scientists, both verbally and written formats Able to prioritise own and others work Commitment to continuing professional development Willingness to undergo vaccinations as determined by project work Ability and willingness to undergo full UK Security Clearance Able to travel independently to work Available to work weekends / bank holiday Understanding of why animals are used for research purposes

Desirable criteria

Home Office Personal Licence holder Study supervision i.e., taking responsibility for discrete packages of work to support research programmes Performing a range of regulated procedures under the authority of a Home Office licence

Success profile

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 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of

CV/ Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1500 words 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 and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.

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

Please do not exceed 1500 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

Behaviours, technical and strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be

Working with others Delivering at pace

Interview date: 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).Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security checkSuccessful 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

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Biological Services Group provides high containment in-vivo research services, with the primary aim of protecting the UK public from a range of health risks. Ongoing areas of work include vaccine batch release testing, influenza, COVID-19, tuberculosis, anthrax, and emerging human pathogens.Based at one of the two unique Non-Human Primate (NHP) breeding colony facilities the Animal Technician role will provide technical and husbandry expertise in a team responsible for the delivery of the scientific and specialist technical activities within the Biological Services Group.As an experienced animal technician, you will be providing high quality animal care and environmental enrichment for the NHPs. You will be guiding routine work, overseeing junior staff and supporting senior staff members in regulated work. Working with the wider colonies team, you will be maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare ensuring the NHPs and facilities are Home Office compliant. This role is primarily a physical role, ensuring the environment is clean and nutritional requirements for the NHPs are fulfilled. You will be expected to gain your personal licence to enable you to perform licenced procedural work under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Weekend work (paid as overtime) is on a rota and will be introduced after a period of induction to the facility.

Essential criteria

IAT Membership, level 2 qualification (or equivalent) Theoretical and practical training for working in an in-vivo setting Educated to minimum NVQ level 2 in a relevant subject or equivalent level of qualification or significant equivalent Significant experience of working in an animal-based environment achieving the highest level of animal welfare and maintaining staff safety Detailed knowledge of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Working within a Quality system environment (ISO / GxP) and experience of working to SOPs, COPs, RAs etc Able to communicate effectively with peers, managers and scientists, both verbally and written formats Able to prioritise own and others work Commitment to continuing professional development Willingness to undergo vaccinations as determined by project work Ability and willingness to undergo full UK Security Clearance Able to travel independently to work Available to work weekends / bank holiday Understanding of why animals are used for research purposes

Desirable criteria

Home Office Personal Licence holder Study supervision i.e., taking responsibility for discrete packages of work to support research programmes Performing a range of regulated procedures under the authority of a Home Office licence

Success profile

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 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of

CV/ Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1500 words 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 and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.

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

Please do not exceed 1500 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

Behaviours, technical and strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be

Working with others Delivering at pace

Interview date: 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).Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security checkSuccessful 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

Essential

  • CV

Statement of Suitability

Essential

  • Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • Working with others
  • Delivering at pace
Person Specification

CV

Essential

  • CV

Statement of Suitability

Essential

  • Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • Working with others
  • 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 (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, Salisbury

Porton Down, Sailsbury

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, Salisbury

Porton Down, Sailsbury

SP4 0JG


Employer's website

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

For questions about the job, contact:

Resourcing

Lami Olayiwola

recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Date posted

25 June 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,976 to £30,264 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-LO-31323155-EXT

Job locations

UKHSA Porton Down, Salisbury

Porton Down, Sailsbury

SP4 0JG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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