Cryostore Technician

Culture Collections is a world leading biological resource centre, which provides authenticated reference materials to scientists globally. The department contains five operational teams which supply cell lines (ECACC), clinical specimens (COVID Biobank), bacterial strains (NCTC), viral strains (NCPV) and fungal strains (NCPF) to scientific partners to support public health.
The collections are developed, managed, and maintained by highly trained, dedicated staff working in accordance with internationally recognized quality standards including certification to ISO 9001:2015.
Scientists across the world use Culture Collections’ cell lines and microbial strains as controls for clinical diagnostic and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, food, water and environmental microbiology testing, quality control testing, validation studies, and in disease research and drug discovery.
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, Reporting to the Cryostore Manager the primary responsibility of the post holder is to assist with the maintenance and movement of the Culture Collections stock and the maintenance of accurate inventory records.
The Cryostore is at the centre of the Culture Collections operation and contains the high value Culture Collections stock sold to customers. The role of the Cryostore Technician is safety critical.
The role requires the individual to work within a potentially hazardous environment which, while providing multiple layers of protection to operatives, requires strict adherence to comprehensive standard operating procedures and risk assessments.
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., 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 (including by 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.
Please note that this role comes with MPS increase of 10% from 01.06.2024 for 3 years.
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.
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.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own
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)

+ 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)

Alongside your salary of £23,489, UK Health Security Agency contributes £6,804 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%