Lead Health and Safety Advisor

Job summary

The government has committed a multi-billion-pound investment in UKHSA’s new laboratory facilities, representing the most significant upgrade to the UK’s biosecurity infrastructure in a generation. Located in Harlow, these state-of-the-art laboratories will replace existing facilities at Porton Down and Colindale,
strengthening the UK’s public health resilience and national security for decades to come.

This marks a pivotal moment for UKHSA, bringing world-class capabilities together to enable cutting-edge research, pandemic preparedness, and protection against major biological threats. We are seeking a Lead Health and Safety Advisor to support the design of this new facility, providing expert guidance on high-containment biological laboratories (CL3 and CL4) and ensuring compliance with health and safety legislation, with a focus on biosafety and biosecurity.

The role sits within the Corporate Health and Safety Team, working closely with the biosafety and biosecurity lead. It offers an excellent opportunity to develop your career while contributing to UKHSA’s work, supported through training, mentoring, and development opportunities.

The team is a well-established, collaborative group dedicated to promoting a strong health and safety culture and overseeing the organisation’s H&S Management System.

Working for your 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

Job description

• Provision of competent health and safety advise for the design of the new facility to ensure the compliance with health and safety legislation.
• Build and maintain close communication with scientific, technical, engineering, estates, maintenance, and administrative staff.
• Support development and implementation of, UKHSA health and safety policies, procedures and guidance to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation
• Provide health and safety advice and support to UKHSA employees/ managers and deputy directors.
• Support any regulatory visits for the new facility project.
• To work with colleagues across a wide variety of teams to assist in the response to and closure of actions from HSE inspections and subsequent enforcement actions.
• Contribute to the corporate health and safety system of auditing and assurance in accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures
• Support in incident investigation through participation in independent investigations and providing assurance of the adequacy of investigations on the corporate incident management system.
• Ensure that any health and safety lessons learnt, audit or inspection findings and regulatory enforcements are considered in the design and strategy of the new build facility
• Continuous professional development and actively maintain a high level of awareness of best health and safety practice and relevant legislation
• Provision of regular health and safety reports for management which outline performance and highlight any improvements and shortfalls that need to be addressed
• Managing and developing health and safety advisor/s as directed by the Head of Biosafety and Biosecurity providing mentoring and coaching, where applicable

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Degree in a microbiology or related subject within Science.
• Significant specialist knowledge of current health and safety legislation related to work with biological agents at Containment Levels (CL) 3 and CL4 including COSHH, GM, SAPO, risk assessment, waste management, and emergency arrangements.
• Evidence of using experience to assess new and existing safety systems to innovate and initiate change in safety practice, in particular those related to work with biological agents.
• Able to work in a small team but also able to work independently with confidence (self-starter)
• Problem solver dealing with complex, sensitive and sometimes contentious or conflicting information
• Broad inspection and auditing experience particularly with biosafety focus
• Creative thinker contributing ideas and suggestions suitable to a variety of circumstances
• Good communicator both written and oral, with experience in communicating complex information in an understandable and digestible way suited to a diverse audience
• Flexible and adaptable when responding to different work tasks and requests
• Good interpersonal skills including persuasive conversation, conflict resolution/mediation, active listening and building rapport

Desirable criteria:

• Health and safety qualification –degree or postgraduate equivalent or experience of working in an operational health and safety role
• Practical understanding and application of the legislation for the use of genetically modified organisms
• Experience and application of biosafety and related regulations applicable to new build and/or refurbishment programmes
• Experience of writing policies, procedure, risk assessments and other health and safety related documents

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed (10) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1,000 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 1,000 words. We will not consider any words over 1,000 words.

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

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. Meets no essential criteria

If used, the following will proceed to shortlisting:

1. Meets all essential criteria

Shortlisting:

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

• Degree in a microbiology or related subject within Science.
• Significant specialist knowledge of current health and safety legislation related to work with biological agents at Containment Levels (CL) 3 and CL4 including COSHH, GM, SAPO, risk assessment, waste management, and emergency arrangements.
• Evidence of using experience to assess new and existing safety systems to innovate and initiate change in safety practice, in particular those related to work with biological agents.

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

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communication and Influencing - Lead behaviour
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

There will be a Presentation which will assess the following:

• Communicating and Influencing (Behaviour)
• Technical skills and experience

Full topic details will be shared at the interview stage.

Interviews dates are 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 being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs or Scientific sites.

We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's scientific campus sites (Colindale, Porton or Chilton) or at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).

If you are based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of 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 standard disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.

Eligibility Criteria - External

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 to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary.

Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Grade 7
• £56,185- £66,581 (National)
• £58,340- £68,574 (Outer London)
• £60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

Future location
UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.
The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any
reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability
Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check
If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be
checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional
circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets 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's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Gurkamal Bhambra
• Email : gurkamal.bhambra@uhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the
basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's
Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment
Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should
contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can
contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for
further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk