Cryostore Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

As the Cryostore Technician, you will be expected to:

• Undertake all work in accordance with the UKHSA Code of Safety Practice and Risk Assessments. This is mandatory regarding safety requirements for working with liquid nitrogen and potentially hazardous biological material (potential hazards include asphyxiation, cold burns and biological infection therefore operatives must have a high level of astuteness to be considered for this safety critical role)
• Undertake all work in accordance with UK Legislation e.g. Health & Safety at Work Act, IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and Pressure Systems Safety Regulations
• Monitor and maintain the liquid nitrogen volume in all Culture Collections facilities cryo-tanks and Pressure Vessels as outlined by the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
• Responsible for the freezing, monitoring, transfer and storage of manufactured stock into cryo-storage
• Act as banksman for liquid nitrogen deliveries ensuring safe systems of work are adhered to by both UKHSA staff members and on-site contractors
• Deliver safety inductions for contractors & visitors prior to them entering the liquid nitrogen storage areas
• Assist with safety critical maintenance checks & cleaning rotas
• Assist with recording and monitoring of the cryo-tank data through electronic monitoring systems upholding ISO 9001 Quality Management System compliance
• Assist with stock takes maintaining stock level accuracy
• Ensure correct packaging, labelling and documentation is used for specific products and destinations
• Maintain the dispatch consumables inventory ensuring no stock-outs.
• Assist Inventory Control and Order Processing teams with general duties such as maintenance of inventory records, arrangement of shipping documents, administration of the picking and dispatch function and liaison with customer or shipping agents
• To contribute to a 24 hour on-call rota and, where required, to attend site (with a secondary back-up) out of hours.

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

• GCSE in English and Mathematics
• Post GCSE qualification such as A Level or HND in a STEM-related subject such as science, technology, engineering or mathematics or equivalent experience.
• Experience of working with cryogens or in a warehouse setting
• Clear communicator with excellent writing skills and attention to detail
• Intermediate computer literacy with experience of using MS Office
• Methodical, neat, and accurate record keeping
• 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
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above 7 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:

• an Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• a 500 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

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Please do not exceed 500 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.

Behaviours, experience and strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

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

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 (includingby 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.

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.

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

• Application Form

Statement of Suitability

Essential

• Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• 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 (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

Porton Down

Porton Down

SP4 0JG

Employer's website

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