National Collection of Pathogenic Viruses (NCPV) Virologist

Job summary

This post is positioned within Culture Collections on the Porton site. UKHSA Culture Collections provides authenticated bacteria, viruses, fungi and cell cultures and associated services to the biomedical research and diagnostic communities.

The National Collection of Pathogenic Viruses (NCPV) supplies well characterised, authenticated human pathogenic viruses of importance to human health to the scientific community according to national and international guidelines. The collection comprises viruses that require handling at UK Hazard Group 2 and Hazard Group 3.

The NCPV Virologist role is the focal point for in vitro virology within the team, utilising a wide range of core virology techniques and molecular methods required to authenticate the viral banks produced.

The postholder will be responsible for growing and authenticating viruses for accession into the NCPV catalogue. The postholder will also be responsible for providing technical support for inventory management and the dispatch of restricted products to customers.

Job description

• To be responsible for day-to-day culture, titration and authentication of Hazard Group 2 and 3 viruses in NCPV.
• Provide reports through the interpretation and analysis of data, using software and databases as necessary, to make new banks of virus available through NCPV and for associated presentations and publications
• Assist with the preparation and dispatch of restricted products to customers.
• To ensure that all work is carried out in accordance with the UKHSA’s Code of Safety Practice and to work within any Quality Systems that are applicable to the site (ISO 9001, ISO 17025).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The National Collection of Pathogenic Viruses (NCPV) supplies well characterised, authenticated viruses of importance to human health to the scientific community according to national and international guidelines. The collection comprises viruses that require handling at UK Hazard Group 2 and Hazard Group 3.

The NCPV Virologist role is the focal point for in vitro virology within the team, utilising a wide range of core virology techniques and molecular methods required to authenticate the viral banks produced.

The postholder will be responsible for growing and authenticating Hazard Group 2 and Hazard Group 3 viruses for accession into the NCPV catalogue.

The postholder will also be responsible for providing support for inventory management and the dispatch of restricted products to customers.

This post is positioned within Culture Collections on the Porton Down site.

Main Duties:

• Plan, implement and utilise a range of methods in support of activities associated with the operation of NCPV to ensure virus banking and quality control targets are met.
• Assist the NCPV team to identify, evaluate and adapt new technologies where appropriate and to ensure that all activities operate to a high scientific standard using current methods.
• Provide reports through the interpretation and analysis of data, using software and databases as necessary, to accession NCPV viruses and for presentations and publications
• To ensure that all work is carried out in accordance with the UKHSA’s Code of Safety Practice and to work within any Quality Systems that are applicable to the site (ISO 9001, ISO 17025).
• Take responsibility for the running of the NCPV Containment Level 2 laboratory and for the provision of reagents and consumables required for the NCPV project area.
• Assist with the training and supervision of junior staff allocated to the NCPV as required.
• Assist with product inventory checking and the preparation and the dispatch of restricted products to Culture Collections customers.
• Comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures, local policies and codes of practice and maintain up to date training records
• Fulfil the requirements of UKHSA Values and Behaviours: ‘Health, Safety and Wellbeing’
• Perform any other duties required by the line manager in line with the grade
• Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training and development needs with your line manager through appraisal or individual development plan. Attending internal or external training events

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Post graduate degree in a Biological Science. Or a degree in a Biological Science with extensive, relevant experience of working in a laboratory.
• Experience of growing and authenticating a range of HG2 viruses from different virus families
• Good knowledge and practical familiarity with a variety of virological techniques
• Good understanding and experience of safe working practices
• Experience of data generation, analysis and reporting
• Demonstrates a high level of attention to detail

Desirable Criteria:

• Specialist training/experience in cell culture and cell based viral assays and molecular techniques
• Experience of working in a CL3 laboratory
• Experience of lab supervision
• Experience of managing freezer inventory systems and stock control
• Experience of dispatch of restricted products
• Experience of having worked within a regulated environment. (e.g. ISO9001)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,422, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,682 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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%

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.

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 Strengths, Behaviours and Experience .

Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 6 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)

• 1000 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.

Longlisting:

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

1. Meets all essential criteria

1. Meets some essential criteria

1. Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile(s) ‘Meets all 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:

• Post graduate degree in a Biological Science. Or a degree in a Biological Science with extensive, relevant experience of working in a laboratory.
• Experience of growing and authenticating a range of HG2 viruses from different virus families
• Demonstrates a high level of attention to detail

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 - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a face to face interview at Porton.

If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Strength, Behaviours and Experience will be tested at interview through questioning.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Managing a quality service (Lead)
• Working together
• Making Effective Decisions

Interview 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 office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Porton.

When based at a lab, 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.

Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic 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 Terrorism Check (CTC).

Eligibility Criteria

External: This vacancy is open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service as well as internal applicants.

If this role is fixed term and you are not currently a Civil Servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment; you may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. Loans are normally agreed for a period of two years. However, this may be extended where required, subject to agreement between UKHSA and your home department. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy.

If this role is permanent, it may also be available as a loan (for existing Civil Servants only) or secondment arrangement, subject to business need and agreement from the hiring manager and, where applicable, the employee's home organisation.

Reserve List

If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. 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.

Incident Response Activity

From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day-to-day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.

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

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.

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

• £33,422-£40,731 (National)

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Nigel Poole
• Email : Nigel.Poole@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 UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: 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 here.