Media Services Team Manager

Job summary

The Media Services Colindale comprises of two sections:
Production and Dispatch is responsible for the production of ready-to-use culture media and ancillary reagents and its distribution to on, and off-site laboratories for application in public health, clinical microbiology, food microbiology or for industrial uses. The team also provides a distributor function for the ordering, receipt and distribution of commercial pre-poured media plates required by laboratories on-site.

In addition, Media Services Colindale is responsible for the provision of a full service for the destruction of all contaminated waste produced on the Colindale site. This service includes the collection of contaminated waste from agreed locations throughout the building, its transportation to the Media Services central autoclave suite and its thermal destruction. The service is for Category 2 and 3 waste. The resulting material is then processed; glass and other re-cyclable material is washed in the department’s wash-up area and waste material for disposal off-site is processed and/or packaged appropriately. A central site-wide autoclave sterilisation service is provided from the media production area autoclaves.

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.

Job description

This role is responsible for the management of both supervisors, the staff and facilities in the Media Production and Glass Preparation areas of Media Services Colindale. Provide support in the manufacture of microbiological growth media, the safe handling and disposal of microbiological waste and the supply of clean sterile glassware and equipment within the ISO 9001 environment. The post-holder is responsible for ensuring the designated facilities are compliant with the appropriate regulatory and safety regulations.

To provide both a specialised and general Media and Glass Preparation service to the Colindale site, this also includes the management and control of the Central Technical Discard and Sterilization Autoclaving Service. To be fully trained and conversant in all the appropriate regulatory protocols and regulations.

Main duties include:

• Manage supervisors, staff and the facilities of the department to provide a high level of customer focus and output, to meet the needs and requirements of the Unit’s customers in a timely and efficient manner
• Plan, manage and schedule complex, and on occasion, unpredictable workload, ensuring appropriate staff and equipment will be available so that routine and project timelines are met
• In collaboration with the Health & Safety Lead, to take delegated responsibility in ensuring the department meets UKHSA policies and procedures
• Take a lead role in ensuring that health, safety and welfare is an afforded priority over other issues and to demonstrate a commitment to health, safety and welfare regarding self, staff and visitors
• Maintain a high standard of work, and contribute and lead on developing the services of the department so that service delivery is safe, effective and economical and follows best practice
• Lead staff to ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and other accreditation and certification standards
• Ensure that facilities are maintained in a compliant state and that the products/materials are supplied to appropriate regulatory requirements
• Act as Training Officer and Training co-ordinator for all staff in the department
• Calculate the direct costs of operations as a basis for defining product prices, and produce workload data and financial information as required
• Collaborate and participate in the marketing of the laboratory’s services, including participating in contract negotiations where appropriate
• Monitor and manage staff attendance, sickness reviews, performance management and any other necessary staff and disciplinary matters

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Education to MSc Degree or equivalent experience in aligned field (i.e. biological material production, pharmaceutical production, reagent production)
• Previous team management experience at on junior management level
• Knowledge of good manufacturing practice
• Experience in Project management and implementation
• Good numeracy, literacy and computer skills
• Experience of customer service
• Excellent communication skills
• Evidence of staff training or in Training Officer role; implementing and managing a competency-based training programme
• Able to work as part of a team yet also lead
• Ability to problem solve
• Accurate and clear record keeping skills

Desirable criteria:

• Previous production experience
• Previous experience in operating large-scale equipment ie autoclave / similar equipment
• Experience of working with those with learning disabilities and/or autism
• Knowledge of Oracle ordering systems

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,310, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,416 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 and Experience.

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 (11) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1200 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 1200 words. We will not consider any words over 1200 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:

• Experience in Project management and implementation
• Evidence of staff training or in Training Officer role; implementing and managing a competency-based training programme

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

You will be invited to a single face to face interview at Colindale.

Behaviours and Experience will be tested at interview.

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5–10 minute presentation. Presentation will be assessing:
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience in Project management and implementation
• Accurate and clear record keeping skills
• Good numeracy, literacy and computer skills

The subject/topic will be shared with you at the interview stage.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service – (Lead behaviour)
• 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 being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale.

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 our campus.

Based at our scientific campus, 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 disclosure and barring security check.

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.

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.

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

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@ukhsa.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