Operational Lead NCTC

To take delegated responsibility from the Head of Culture Collections:
+ The planning, organisation and supervision of all technical and laboratory operations associated with the manufacture, quality and maintenance of National Collections of Type Culture (NCTC) inventory.
+ Delivering a service that meets the agreed quality standards so that service delivery is safe, effective and economical.
+ Staffing, training, and business management within laboratory.
+ Contributing to working groups across the UKHSA and others, as required.
+ For NCTC purposes deputise for Quality Assurance and Regulatory Manager
+ To provide professional leadership for members of staff for whom s/he is accountable, leading staff by example and in a manner which will encourage the development of a positive attitude by each member.
To take delegated responsibilities from the Culture Collections Operations Manager in accordance with UKHSA and NIBSC policies and procedures for the following:
Production / Quality Control
• Ensure separation of production and quality control functions of NCTC products and services.
• Manage and maintain a manufacturing schedule to ensure delivery of the manufacturing strategy and maintain prescribed stock levels.
• Manage the NCTC banking operations. Ensure that laboratory operations are conducted to high technical standards and in a manner compliant with current policies and procedures.
• Responsible for the planning of NCTC tests and calibrations and evaluation of results. Organise the quality control of new batches, both internally and by third party reference laboratories, and interpret these results in order to confirm authenticity and conformance with specifications. Ensure that all test data are recorded in the batch records and validate and authenticate results.
• Manage and maintain a manufacturing batch record system consistent with industry standards and the current quality management system.
• Manage stocks for manufacturing raw materials appropriate for the current manufacturing throughput.
• Design and implement a production planning system for the maintenance and replenishment of NCTC inventory in a cost-effective manner that assures continuity of supply.
• Design and implement a banking strategy/hierarchy, including stocking and replenishment levels, for the NCTC inventory.
Technical/Scientific Duties
• Prepare NCTC freeze-dried/reference material cultures distributed. Apply knowledge of clinical diagnostic microbiology in the quality control and stability testing of these specimens.
• Assist with the development and introduction of new cultures accessed into the collection.
• Take part in the collection and acquisition of appropriate cultures from within and clinical and diagnostic settings external to the UKHSA.
• Prepare work progress reports and co-ordinate and take part in the entry of data into the computer database.
• Deal with customer queries, providing them with information and advice relevant to work or query.
• Supervise and prepare work schedules for the laboratory staff.
• Ensure that supervised staff follows the set protocols.
• Perform COSHH and risk assessments, review SOPs, forms and documents as and when required.
Please see Job Description attached in the advert to review further responsibilities., You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
+ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
+ 1250 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how 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 to to move forward to interview.
Please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)
You will be invited to a face to face interview
Behaviours will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
+ Changing and Improving
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Leadership
+ Working Together
You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview
Interviews will be held week commencing TBC. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
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. 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). If based at one of our scientific locations, 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.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)
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.
Face to Face interviews
If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview
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)

• Computer literacy: competence in word processing and spread sheet software; database skills.
• A degree in biomedical science or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
• • Able to communicate and convey information, ideas, opinions, instructions clearly and concisely to staff at all levels, orally and written.
• Evidence of several years’ experience in clinical diagnostic bacteriology
• Ability to organise and co-ordinate work, Able to analyse and evaluate evidence.
• Evidence of supervisory experience and laboratory safety
• Evidence of Interest in future developments in microbiology
• Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences.
• Evidence of success in efficient and effective project and programme management
• Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend and appropriate course of action to address the issues.

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.
Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.
UKHSA provides strategic leadership and vision for protecting and improving the nation’s health. Its ambition is to lead nationally and enable locally a transformation in the health expectations of all people in England regardless of where they live and the circumstance of their birth. It will achieve this through the application of research, knowledge, and skills. It is a distinct delivery organization with operational autonomy to advise and support Government, local authorities, and the NHS in a professionally independent manner.

Alongside your salary of £55,799, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,164 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%