Principal Scientist - Polio Vaccines - £56,353 p.a. + benefits

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent contract. The role will be lab based in South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas., This is a unique and exciting opportunity to play a vital role in the Polio Vaccines Team based at the MHRA Science Campus leading high profile research projects that have direct global public health impact with key contributions to the WHO Global Polio Eradication Initiative and playing a key role in interactions with national and international stakeholders such the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the WHO, academic institutions and research funding bodies such as the Bill and Melinda Getas Foundation to establish scientific collaborations and help delivering our functions.
The role will underpin polio vaccine research, providing senior level expertise. This will include scientific direction, specialist knowledge and product management to a team of scientists. This team manage and direct prioritised R&D projects relating to polio- and other enterovirus- vaccines, including evaluation of vaccines material to better understand the impact through clinical use. A key requirement of the role is to accept increasing responsibility for the direction of the scientific research of the group.
The role will initiate new research whilst maintaining the current broad range of innovative research centred on the global polio eradication campaign, driving international research into the development of new, genetically stable oral polio vaccine (nOPV) strains and new approaches using hyper-attenuated strains and virus-free vaccines. It will lead evaluation of the genetic stability of polio vaccines during pre-clinical research, clinical trials and post-trial., + Develop an independent research programme in polio vaccine research in line with overall strategy of the MHRA WHO Polio laboratory, assisting the laboratory head with management and direction of the scientific research.
+ As an expert scientific lead, manage international collaborative research in key scientific projects such as the development of new, thermostable virus like particle (VLP) vaccines and hyper-attenuated S19-Inactivatedincluding management of in vivo preclinical evaluation and collaborations with industrial partners.
+ Management of resources, laboratory facilities and leading a team a team working with a continual improvement ethos. These include responsibility for bio-containment Level 2 and 3 laboratories, ensuring staff work safely with pathogens in compliance with Agency health and safety policies and legislation.
+ Engage with national and international external stakeholders, including WHO, regulatory laboratories, academic collaborators, as required to deliver expert services, training and/or scientific or technical advice. Communication with the scientific community and public health bodies, leading submission of publications in peer reviewed journals and presenting scientific data at national and international meetings., + Online application form, including questions based on the Behaviour, Experience and Technical Success Profiles and a statement of suitability, attached as a PDF of no more than 500 words demonstrating how you meet the person specification. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Our applications are CV blind, and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application. Please ensure not to include any personal identifying information on your supporting information.
+ Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.
Applicants are assessed on whether they meet any mandatory requirements as well as the necessary skills and experience for the role. Applications are scored based on the answers provided. You can view the criteria for this role in the job description.
Use of AI in Applications
Applicants must ensure that anything submitted is factually accurate and truthful. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own., + 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)

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+ A PhD or equivalent (e.g. MSc and relevant experience) and significant experience in leading relevant virus research.
+ Experience of working with viruses of high public health consequence and vaccines for outbreak/pandemic control such as poliovirus (preferable) and/or other RNA viruses including high level research and national and international collaborations; experience of managing complex projects and excellent communication skills for the effective collaborative activities.
+ Demonstrable aptitude for innovation in scientific research; in scope, direction and technical approaches. Independence of thought together with rigorous analytic skills when new projects and changes of course are required.
+ Experience in working with in vivo research models, including compliance with policies and legislation regulating such research.
+ Experience of working with viruses at high biocontainment and expert knowledge of the health & safety policies & governance underpinning the safe working in such circumstances., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.
The Science, Research and Innovation Group consists of 6 sub-Groups, Innovation Accelerator, Clinical Investigations and Trials, Research and Development, Standards Lifecycle, Control Testing/Quality Assurance and Health & Safety. The Vaccines Division is the largest within R&D consisting of around 70 scientists across 8 Research groups.
Within the Vaccines Division, The MHRA Polio group is a world leading laboratory with both World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Poliomyelitis and WHO Global Specialised Polio Laboratory Network status.

Alongside your salary of £56,353, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £15,215 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave on entry, rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff. PLUS 8 bank holidays
+ Privilege Leave: 1 day
+ Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
+ Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay
+ Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
+ Civil Service Pension Scheme. Please see the link for further information http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/ For enquiries relating to the Civil Service Pension Schemes please contact MyCSP's Pension Service Centre directly on
+ Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work-life balance
+ Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
+ Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund
+ Eligibility to join the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA)
+ Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
+ On-going learning and development