Animal Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Recognise, report and record ill health and welfare issues. Communicate and document issues to relevant team members, e.g. NACWO, NVS, Study Director.
• Work in RPE/PPE in high containment directional flow labs, Flexible Film Isolators, at ACDP level 3 and SAPO 4, involving animals infected with dangerous pathogens.
• Hold a Home Office Procedural Individual License Module A/B in required species.
• Carry out regulated and non-regulated procedures within a high containment environment.
• To ensure all assistants and self are wearing suitable protective personal equipment in accordance with departmental and UK Health Security Agency Protective Personal Equipment policy

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

It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.

You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.

Essential criteria

• Good general education with GCSE (or equivalent) certification in Science/English/Maths
• Can demonstrate reliability & the ability to work as part of a team and communicate effectively with peers, managers, and scientists.
• Ability to keep detailed and accurate records.
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office programmes.
• Available to work weekends / bank holidays.
• Willingness to undergo vaccinations as determined by work.
• Ability and willingness to undergo, and maintain, DoH SC level security clearance.
• Able to travel independently to work.
• Understanding of why animals are used for research purposes.

Desirable role criteria

• Experience of working in a high containment facility

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Strengths.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 9 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 750 word supporting statement.

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. You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 750 words. We will not consider any words over 750 words.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the piles Meets all essential criteria and Meets some essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Good general education with GCSE (or equivalent) certification in Science/English/Maths
• Can demonstrate reliability & the ability to work as part of a team and communicate effectively with peers, managers, and scientists.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a single face to face interview.If face to face interviews are planned, 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:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Working at Pace

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

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

Location

This role is based at Porton. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

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 Security Clearance.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficientperiod of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for thelast5years as the role requiresSecurity Check (SC) clearance.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.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able todemonstrateyou are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Person Specification

Application form and supporting statement

Essential

• Application form and supporting statement

Behaviours

Essential

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Working 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

Lab

Porton

SP4 0JG

Employer's website

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